Superman‘s latest trailer not only confirms the first use of kryptonite in the new DC Universe, but also reveals that it marks another huge first for the Man of Steel’s 47-year movie history. James Gunn’s Superman movie has the difficult task of setting up an entire cinematic universe. Superman‘s packed cast of characters shows how the film plans to do so.

While Gunn has reiterated that the main focus of the film is being successful on its own, recouping its budget, and telling an impactful Superman story, it will also set up the DCU’s future. Superman fights many villains in the first movie of the DCU’s Chapter One, including a kaiju, Ultraman, the Hammer of Boravia, Lex Luthor, and more.

Interestingly, none of them are directly responsible for the use of kryptonite against him. Another character is, and it breaks away from the Man of Steel’s movie franchise tradition. Kryptonite has been used in many different ways in past Superman movies, but the upcoming DCU film does so in a way that differs from them due to two aspects.

A New Superman Movie Trailer Confirms The Use Of Kryptonite

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Gunn’s Superman movie spent a long time with little to no footage revealed. With the film’s release nearing, several Superman trailers and TV spots have made their way online. One of them confirmed an earlier trailer tease of how kryptonite would play a role in the DC movie, and even though I expected it, it’s nice to finally get confirmation.

Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho is one of the most intriguing characters in Superman. Not only due to his striking look, but also because of the reinforced prison cell we have seen him in and what he does there. On Twitter, the official Superman account shared a teaser that featured a closer look at Metamorpho using kryptonite against Superman.

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Metamorpho has the power to transmute any part of his body into the chemical/element of his choice. He had been seen from afar before with what appeared to be a glowing green hand that had transformed into kryptonite. The new Superman teaser confirms that, with a closer sH๏τ of Corenswet’s Superman twisting in pain as Carrigan’s Metamorpho approaches him.

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The confirmation that Metamorpho uses kryptonite against Superman might make him look like another of the movie’s villains. However, that is not the case. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Carrigan explained why Metamorpho is a more complex character than the trailers let on. According to the actor, he is an “agent of the bad guy,” but there is a “struggle to want to be good.”

Metamorpho does not seem to be a full-on villain in Superman. Instead, it looks like Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor has somehow gotten him to do his bidding. As Carrigan further explained his character’s situation, Metamorpho’s storyline became clear, saying, “He has to be doing this, and you see how painful it is.” Check out Anthony Carrigan’s full Metamorpho quote below:

“You’re in a situation where it’s having to hurt someone, having to be an agent of the bad guy. And at the same time, there’s this struggle to want to be good. What the film does brilliantly is it puts you in this situation of, ‘Oh! He has no choice.’ He has to be doing this, and you see how painful it is.”

So, it seems like Lex has found a way to force Metamorpho against Superman. There are already some theories among fans about how Metamorpho’s son, Baby Joey — confirmed by the Superman’s Friends and Foes tie-in book — might be in danger, and so he is forced to hurt Superman. This would mark a first in Superman movie history.

Metamorpho would be the first character to unwillingly use kryptonite to hurt the Man of Steel in a film. Superman has been hurt by kryptonite plenty of times in live-action movies; however, none of them were by characters coerced by someone else to do it. This puts a dark twist on the hero’s biggest weakness to start the DCU.

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Hoult’s Lex Luthor is expected to become a major force in the DCU moving forward. This is not a villain that will be killed off in his first appearance. As such, if he is willing to use someone else to hurt Superman with kryptonite in the DCU’s first movie, who is to say that he would not do the same again?

As David Corenswet’s Superman continues in the DCU for the next decade — and maybe more — we will have plenty of chances to see him cross paths with Hoult’s Luthor. Their rivalry can lead to many bad spots for the hero, and I can think of quite a few ways that kryptonite could be used creatively, changing Superman‘s movie history.