The first teaser for David Corenswet’s Superman shows the hero lying in the snow and bleeding at the start of the 2025 film trailer, and this depiction makes sense for the same reasons as similar moments for Henry Cavill’s Superman in the DCEU. The DC Universe – which has succeeded the DCEU franchise – will initiate its slate of live-action films with 2025’s Superman, which will introduce a new iteration of the Man of Steel. The film appears to be heavily inspired by previous live-action versions of Superman, particularly the Richard Donner iteration played by Christopher Reeve and Cavill’s DCEU version.

The DCEU’s Superman, while remaining accurate to the comic source material, was different from previous live-action iterations. The films injected a degree of relative realism into the Superman mythos, exploring how the world might react to a being like Superman. Clark Kent himself struggles with the world’s seemingly stubborn inability to accept him, but he nevertheless strives to protect humanity. Even after Clark Kent fully embraced his role as Superman by the end of Man of Steel, the DCEU continued to focus on his humanity in films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

James Gunn Has Already Explained Why He Had Superman Bleed In The Beginning Of The DCU Superman Movie Trailer

James Gunn’s Explanation Provides Reasoning For The Trailer’s Unusual Opening

Clark Kent’s humanity – despite his superpowers – will also be heavily focused on in 2025’s Superman. James Gunn directly addressed the choice to show Superman bleeding as one of the first images of the hero in Superman’s teaser. In an interview with Screen Rant, Gunn stated:

“We do have a battered Superman in the beginning. That is our country. I believe in the goodness of human beings, and I believe that most people in this country, despite their ideological beliefs, their politics, are doing their best to get by and be good people — despite what it may seem like to the other side, no matter what that other side might be. This movie is about that. It’s about the basic kindness of human beings, and that it can be seen as uncool and under siege [by] some of the darker voices are some of the louder voices.”

In the comics and most adaptations of the Superman mythos, Clark Kent is one of the strongest and most durable beings in the DC universe. While Superman is not technically invulnerable, there are very few ways to harm the Man of Steel. Among these are his iconic weakness to Kryptonite and any being with comparable strength and durability – and there are not many beings who fit this description. With this in mind, it is easy for readers and viewers to think of Superman as invincible and lose sight of his humanity.

James Gunn’s Superman Explanation Bares Remarkable Parallels To The DCEU’s Bleeding Superman Scene

The DCU & DCEU Versions Of Superman Are Already Alike In More Than One Way

James Gunn made a conscious choice to put Superman’s humanity front and center, showing viewers that his Superman will still struggle against his opponents, despite his powers. This choice is admirable but not unprecedented. Man of Steel used a similar approach in its depiction of Superman, portraying him as being outmatched when initially fighting trained Kryptonian soldiers – with Superman even being knocked unconscious by repeated strikes at one point. Superman is also shown to be vulnerable to the atmospherics inside a Kryptonian space vessel, with Superman coughing up blood and collapsing upon exposure to it.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice continues this portrayal, introducing Kryptonite to the DCEU and having Batman weaponize it into power-dampening gas grenades and a lethal spear. Before the film’s titular brawl, Batman states that he will make Superman bleed, and he makes good on this threat, bludgeoning a Kryptonite gas-weakened Superman throughout their fight and cutting his cheek with the Kryptonite spear. During the film’s climactic battle with Doomsday, Superman is once again battered by a being as strong as he is, and the battle ends with Doomsday killing Superman.

Superman’s Character Means Showing Him Bleeding Is Way More Important Than It Is For Other Heroes

Superman’s Powers & Purpose Mean The Decision Makes Sense For The DCEU & DCU

Both the DCEU and DCU were right to show Superman bleeding and wounded. While there are DC superheroes who are roughly as powerful as the Man of Steel (Wonder Woman, Shazam, and Martian Manhunter, for instance), readers and viewers may think of Superman as being so powerful that it is difficult to properly challenge and humanize him. By maintaining a strong focus on Superman’s humanity and pitting him against threats that can physically harm him, both the DCEU and 2025’s Superman show viewers that Superman is not unbeatable and is still a remarkably down-to-earth character, despite his abilities.