Both Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) have appeared in all the promotional footage teasing the highly anticipated Superman film. Eager audiences have even caught glimpses of Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). However, fans had yet to witness the Man of Steel going toe-to-toe with Luthor, but James Gunn has finally released a brand-new photo (below) with himself, Corenswet, and Hoult on the set of Superman, courtesy of Collider. It’s unclear what’s happening in the scene, but Superman is wearing his trademark Kryptonian costume, while Luthor appears dashing and dapper, despite not sporting his finely tailored jacket.
Unfortunately, the photo is clearly a behind-the-scenes image because Gunn and Corenswet are all smiles, and Hoult has his back to the camera. Rumors have caused fans to speculate online that Brainiac is actually the true villain of this summer’s long-awaited Superman movie, and footage of what appears to be an updated version of the alien’s tentacled spaceship in both the teaser trailer and sneak peek seemingly corroborate the conjecture. However, if Gunn’s big-screen adventure channels the All-Star Superman comic books at all, Luthor will be a force to be reckoned with.

Related

‘Superman’s Controversial Sneak Peek Has Received Some Incredibly Divisive Reactions

‘Superman’s sneak peek has clearly divided fans over how vulnerable the Man of Steel appears in the new footage, but everyone loves Krypto.

Regardless, the moment currently belongs to Luthor and Kal-El’s first face-to-face from the film, even if it is only a BTS image in which the filmmaker is clearly beaming. Apparently, though, everyone was having a great time while working on the set, even the bald baddie. Hoult discussed the “magic of cinema” sensation he experienced participating in Superman while appearing at this year’s CinemaCon. The actor said (per GamesRadar+):

“I was on a set where David was dressed as Superman. He was flying on to the set and the bright sun was illuminating him from behind – and it was one of those moments where I felt like I was witnessing the magic of cinema in first person and in real time. I was sitting there thinking, ‘I’m evil, I hate him, et cetera.’ But I also felt this little warmth in my tummy, and I had a little stupid grin on my face. I remember thinking, ‘This is magic.'”

Will ‘Superman’ Soar Past the Billion-Dollar Mark at the Box Office?

James Gunn’s Superman will officially mark his and Peter Safran’s DC Universe debut on the big screen when the film opens this summer. The pressure to deliver a hit must be weighing on the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker, despite the success he achieved working for the rival Marvel Cinematic Universe. The truth of the matter is that while the MCU has delivered multiple billion-dollar entries, the now-defunct DCEU, a.k.a. the Snyderverse, only managed to crack that financial milestone a single time: The Jason Momoa-led Aquaman made $1.13 billion.
Three other DC-related titles (The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Joker) outside the purview of the Snyderverse all eclipsed the billion-dollar mark globally, but a Superman movie has never been able to deliver on such a grand scale at the box office. However, the last two films to feature the beloved Kryptonian as a main character both performed strongly during their respective theatrical runs. Man of Steel (2013) made $668 million worldwide, while Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice brought home $872.4 million.
However, it is worth noting that Superman: The Movie’s (1978) $300 million take would have equaled $1.47 billion in today’s money when adjusted for inflation. Will Gunn’s big-screen interpretation of the Man of Steel be able to eclipse the billion-dollar ceiling? Honestly, it will be a victory for Gunn, Safran, and DC Studios if their film clocks in at or just north of $500 million. Depending on its budget, though, that still might not be enough for the film to turn a profit.
The last three DC movies (The Flash, Blue Beetle, Aquaman 2) were all utter disappointments during their respective theatrical runs, and only Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom ($439.4 million) got anywhere near $500 million globally. So, Gunn’s Superman has its work cut out for it when the film finally joins the 2025 box office on July 11. However, comic book enthusiasts love The Last Son of Krypton, so audiences should show up in droves to support the project.
Sources: Collider, The Numbers, GamesRadar+

Superman

Release Date

July 11, 2025

Director

James Gunn

Producers

Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran