If you haven’t heard, there’s a new Superman movie coming out today.

I’ve been following the promotion for this film- which has been everywhere- with great interest and just love that Superman is in the public eye as much as he is right now. There have been interviews with cast members and WB higher ups, short clips seemingly dropping everywhere, reaction videos to the IMAX screening last Tuesday (which I couldn’t make it to, but wanted to!), and a ton more stuff.

Superman and James Gunn are all over the place right now. And that’s a good thing! Superman was the first and greatest superhero in comics, and DC is much more than just Batman.

Leading up to this release, I’ve written about just how nervous I am about this movie, which from the outside looks like is going to be fair to mid. Gunn certainly has a signature style and tone for his movies that, if he follows suit, will not work for Superman. Even though he has assured fans that this film will not be The Suicide Squad or Guardians of the Galaxy, some clips really could have fooled me!

Some have even been outright cringe. But we won’t go into those here.

And then I hear a cast member or someone else associated with the film rattle off a spot on analysis of what makes Superman work as a character, and I’m encouraged once again. Gunn understands that heart and kindness are central tenets, and seemingly has made a good start with a lot of that. Reverence to the Reeve/Donner films has been nice too, as seen in the above “Good Morning America” clip (although I don’t think those films need to be worshipped either).

I’ve also said before that the cast looks great and their interviews have been wonderful, from David Corenswet on down to even Skyler Gisondo. So the movie definitely has a lot going for it!

Gunn created quite a ruckus online recently with his statement that the film would be political, something that has been kryptonite to some big movies in recent years, and I can see why. While that could end up being the case, it didn’t worry me much as it seemed Gunn was referring to the state of kindness in the world right now, not so much who the audience should vote for. So of course I’m still willing to wait and see, as opposed to other things that scream political from a mile away.

***COUGH Fantastic Four COUGH***

All that being said, Brian Bendis said a LOT of correct things about Superman’s character when he was first hired to write the books, despite a tonal clash from most of Bendis’ prior work. My fears were assuaged for a moment, enough to give his books a chance…

… and then promptly I realized that my initial fears about Bendis were well founded. I haven’t read the ongoing Superman books since. Great job, DC.

Gunn directing this movie could follow a similar path as Bendis’ Superman, but for now, I will choose to focus on the promotion that has gotten so much right about Superman and his world. It could end up being a good movie, it could be a bad movie, it could be a middling movie… we’ll have to wait and see.

Does it look like it could be the launch of a new DC Universe? Still too early to tell, but that seems even less likely right now. Gunn and WB certainly have their work cut out for them.

I plan on doing a reaction video for Twitter/X when I see the movie, probably tomorrow night. The jury is still out and I am reserving judgment, but you guys will know what I think about the movie when I do get around to watching it.

For now, I will just enjoy the fact that there is a new Superman movie coming to theaters tomorrow, and the character is everywhere. Let’s have some fun.