6 DC Superheroes About To Appear On The Big Screen For The First Time In Superman

With the release of its full-length trailer, audience anticipation for James Gunn’s Superman is reaching a fever pitch. Set to launch the film side of the DC Universe, its cast includes David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Isabella Merced as Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica/The Engineer, and others. Supergirl, as played by Millie Alcock, is also slated to appear, but she has not been shown in any of the film’s marketing.

From a reference to the iconic interview scene from 1978’s Superman: The Movie to Lex invading the Fortress of Solitude to the heart-to-heart between Clark and Pa Kent, the footage teases a loving take on Superman, honoring the character’s long movie history. However, it also teases some extra DC fun thanks to the cast including other heroes. The Superman trailer highlights Clark first and foremost, but its supporting ensemble still has some standout moments. In particular, Mr. Terrific shows off some of his cool gadgets—made by his own company, Terrifitech—while Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Metamorpho each demonstrate their special abilities.

Interestingly, many of Superman’s superhumans have yet to make a live-action debut on the big screen, including the entire Justice Gang. Because of this, many audience members will see these characters for the very first time in the film. Here are the five DC heroes (and one antihero) whose first major, live-action theatrical appearances will be in Superman:

6

María Gabriela de Faría As Angela Spica/The Engineer

The Engineer Is An Anti-Hero In DC Comics

The Engineer is an interesting case in Superman, as she will be a villain yet is normally an antihero. In the trailer, she is working alongside Lex, arresting Superman, and fighting both the тιтular hero and Mr. Terrific. This tracks because to call Angela a hero is a stretch. The Engineer is depicted in DC Comics as a member of The Authority, a group of superpowered individuals who take an extreme approach to fighting crime. Previously, DC Studios had teased a film centered on this team, though the latest updates indicate that the project is still in the development phase.

As for the Engineer as a character, her backstory is unique in that she willingly became a metahuman due to an obsession with superheroes. The second character to use the Engineer mantle, Angela, was a child prodigy who injected the original Engineer’s liquid nanotechnology directly into her bloodstream. As a result, she developed a wide array of mechanically-based powers. The extent of her abilities in the DCU is unknown, though she has been shown to generate armor that covers her body as well as saw-like blades that protrude from her hands. The Engineer’s inclusion will likely set up The Authority.

5

Anthony Carrigan As Rex Mason/Metamorpho

Metamorpho Is A Reluctant Hero

Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) in Superman (2025) — Image via Warner Bros.

Compared to the other heroes in Superman, Metamorpho’s situation is sadder. Because he was dating the villainous Simon Stagg’s daughter, the businessman set Rex up in retaliation, which leads to his mutated appearance and abilities. The source of his powers has changed some, with the original origin being an ancient artifact. Metamorpho’s powers allow him to basically transmute into any element, which is represented in his character design by different parts of his body consisting of a different chemical compound. In the Superman trailer, he appears to be held captive by Lex, using his powers to subdue Clark with kryptonite.

In an appearance on DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast, Carrigan explained Metamorpho’s atтιтude regarding his unwilling development of superpowers: “Unlike a lot of superheroes, he’s not crazy about the fact that he’s a superhero, right? He feels cursed by what he has.” Because of his newfound metahuman status, Rex can never take on a normal human appearance again, which contributes to why, despite being generally a good guy, Metamorpho declines to join the Justice League. Even though he is shown transmuting into kryptonite to incapacitate Clark, the reluctant hero is very likely to change sides by the end of Superman.

4

Isabella Merced As Hawkgirl

Hawkgirl Previously Appeared In The Arrowverse

One of a few characters on this list to have been adapted for television, Hawkgirl is possibly the best-known member of the Justice Gang. She was a core member of the team in the 2001 animated series Justice League, meaning a whole generation grew up with her. Additionally, Hawkgirl featured in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, where her history with Hawkman was a major element of the show’s storyline. The character’s background is complicated, involving ancient aliens, reincarnation, and a Romeo and Juliet story scattered through time. There are three iterations of Hawkgirl: Shiera Sanders Hall, Shayera Hol, and Kendra Saunders.

Which Hawkgirl Merced is playing has not been confirmed. However, statements made by Gunn imply Kendra is the Hawkgirl of the DCU. This version of the character debuted in 1999 as a member of the Justice Society of America, and her origin stated that her powers came from being possessed by Shiera. For the DCU, Hawkgirl will likely receive a simplified backstory, as a reincarnated Hawkgirl with the idenтιтy of Kendra Saunders before reawakening her memories. Her role as part of the Justice Gang will likely put her at odds with Superman, though she could eventually join the Justice League.

3

Nathan Fillion As Guy Gardner/Green Lantern

The Hal Jordan Green Lantern Has Previously Appeared In A Theatrical Film

Superman Teaser Trailer Guy Gardner Nathan Fillion

Like Hawkgirl, Green Lantern is another mantle ᴀssociated with multiple DC heroes. These characters draw their power from rings that channel their inner willpower. Though the first Green Lantern was Alan Scott, the second Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, is the most prominent. This is largely because the surrounding lore of the Green Lantern Corps as intergalactic peacekeepers developed during his heyday. When the time came to make a Green Lantern film, Hal was chosen to headline it. However, it was a critical and commercial failure, damaging the Green Lantern name significantly. Guy debuted as the third Green Lantern in 1968.

Since the film puts Green Lanterns at odds with Superman, choosing the biggest jerk out of the Corps contrasts with Clark’s more optimistic and kind personality.

Though Hal or the fourth Green Lantern, John Stewart, would both be more popular choices to adapt, Guy appearing in Superman makes sense for how Green Lantern will be depicted. He is rougher around the edges than the other Lanterns with noted aggressive tendencies. In Superman, Guy is part of the Justice Gang, a group of corporate, possibly government-sanctioned superheroes who operate differently from Clark. Since the film puts Green Lanterns at odds with Superman, choosing the biggest jerk out of the Corps contrasts with Clark’s more optimistic and kind personality well. Guy will also appear in Peacemaker and Lanterns.

2

Edi Gathegi As Michael Holt/Mister Terrific

Like Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific Has Appeared In The Arrowverse

Mr. Terrific is one of the best DC characters of whom casual audiences have next to no knowledge. One of the smartest figures in DC Comics, Michael holds a staggering 14 PhDs and is an Olympic gold medalist, who puts his intelligence and athletic skills to use as a superhero after the death of his wife and unborn child. He names himself Mister Terrific after a deceased Golden Age hero who used the same moniker. Outside of comics, his most substantial appearance was as a series regular on The CW’s Arrow, though his personality, name, and backstory were altered.

Michael features prominently in Superman‘s marketing, with his self-engineered T-spheres providing him with a variety of abilities, such as flight, shield projection, and more. According to Gunn, Mr. Terrific has a “pretty big” role in the film despite being a supporting character. Given that he is a part of the Justice Gang at the start of Superman, it’s possible that Michael becomes more sympathetic to Clark’s kinder approach to superheroics. As with Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific’s arc could be gearing him up to become a founding member of the DCU’s future Justice League, especially if he and Superman become more friendly.

1

Krypto The Superdog

While Krypto Has Been In A Theatrical Film, Superman Marks His Live-Action Theatrical Debut

Undoubtedly one of the most discussed inclusions in Superman, Krypto the Superdog is Clark’s childhood dog from his homeworld of Krypton. Though Krypto has appeared across various DC media in both live-action and animation, this marks his first time on the big screen in a non-animated format. Previously, Krypto headlined his own Cartoon Network series in the early 2000s, had a Smallville episode named after him, crossed over with Scooby-Doo, and made various other television appearances. Recently, he was the lead character in the animated big-screen release DC League of Super-Pets, which was a modest success.

That film, however, was aimed towards a younger audience and featured very little of the Superman-Krypto dynamic, which is set to be a key element of Superman. Per Gunn, Krypto is an energetic and somewhat naughty dog who Superman struggles to take care of, though they clearly adore each other. Throughout the film’s marketing, Krypto has been front and center. The first teaser opened with him dragging an injured Clark to the Fortress of Solitude, which drew both excitement and ire from fans.

Since then, Krypto has been seen excitedly pouncing on a battered Superman, protecting the Fortress, and cuddling with his owner in his childhood bedroom. His inclusion adds some levity and heart to the film, marking a decidedly different approach to the DC Universe than prior adaptations. Krypto and the other new heroes all debuting in Superman signify a bold new step forward for the fledgling franchise, proving Gunn is committed to building a dense world from movie number one.