Fans have been eagerly dissecting every frame of the recently released CinemaCon trailer (as well as other promotional materials) in a quest to uncover potential plot details for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film. The intriguing theories that have emerged have certainly sparked excitement, and the internet could very well be on the right track. From theories related to Martha Kent’s absence in the teasers to speculation about the unknown masked hero who faces off against Superman, fans are piecing together tidbits of information from various sources. We’ve rounded up a few of the most compelling ones for you to join in the speculation.
Lois Suspects Clark Kent Is Superman
James Gunn has been elusive about whether Lois Lane is aware of Superman’s true identity in the upcoming movie, but there are hints in certain scenes that she might know that Clark Kent is, in fact, the Man of Steel—or at least be on the verge of discovering this truth.
For starters, the teaser contains a scene in which Louis gives Clark a knowing look as he enters the Daily Planet office, implying that she has her suspicions. But most importantly, there is a sequence in which she is seen kissing Clark Kent—sans glasses, at that—followed by another in which she locks lips with the Son of Krypton.
We also know that this story is not an origin story for the hero, and given that Lane is a seasoned journalist, it would make sense for her to piece together the truth about Superman’s identity. Still, it is unclear whether it will be something she realises as the story unfolds or if she is already aware of it from the start of the movie.
Ma Kent Could Be Killed Off Instead Of Pa Kent
Since Martha “Ma” Kent hasn’t yet appeared in any trailers for the 2025 Superman movie, fans are starting to think she may be killed off in James Gunn’s upcoming film.
This is particularly believable given that the teaser shows Clark comforting a dejected-looking Jonathan Kent while Martha is nowhere to be seen.
Even though it would be interesting to see how Supes would cope with life without his mother—mainly since television series and films have only really focused on Jonathan’s death—fans are still holding out hope that the trailer may be misleading and that Supes’ parents will both make it through the film this time around.
The Mysterious Villain In Black Is A Superman Clone That Turns Into Bizarro
Fans already believe that the masked antagonist shown with Lex Luthor in the trailers is Ultraman, thanks to a leaked list of toys published in October last year. However, speculation that the character could be a cloned version of Superman has been encouraged by insider @MyTimeToShineH’s revelations that Corenswet will be playing multiple roles in the upcoming movie. Given that we see him hold his own against the Man of Steel in the teaser, it is very likely that the disguised villain is some kind of Superman clone made by Lex Luthor to take on Supes and even infiltrate the Fortress of Solitude.
However, many fans have also suggested this could be a defective clone that slowly degrades into the villain Bizarro, which would certainly add an interesting twist to the storyline.
The Fortress Of Solitude Will Be Destroyed By Lex Luthor
In the trailers, Superman is shown mourning the destruction of one of his robots, most likely Kelex, his Kryptonian service robot from the “House of El” comics. But it doesn’t seem like the villain behind this attack is that much of a mystery.
Fans believe that Lex Luthor will destroy both the service robot and the Fortress of Solitude by using a kaiju to divert Superman’s attention and then infiltrate his base while the Man of Steel is distracted. And if you’re wondering how he’ll get past the security procedures, they’ve thought about that, too. It is possible that Luthor will employ the help of the previously mentioned clone to get inside the base and bypass recognition systems.
Although it is only speculation, there are quite a few scenes in the trailer that hint at this elaborate plan coming to fruition, including scenes of Luthor watching out a window as Superman flies past before marching forward with his own agenda and footage where Lex is shown wearing goggles in a snowy setting.
RELATED: David Corenswet Says Everything You Think You Know About Krypto Is Wrong
Superman Will Find Himself In An A.R.G.U.S. Prison
There is a scene in the teaser trailer when Superman punches his way out of what looks to be a glass jail cell, and this brief clip could possibly be linked back to on-set photos that surfaced in July last year.
DC fans might recall images of the Man of Steel in handcuffs, flanked by bad guys like Rick Flag Sr., The Engineer, and the mysterious Superman clone. However, the presence of US soldiers in the image suggests that the arrest could be connected to the Advanced Research Group United Support, commonly known asA.R.G.U.S. This organisation will have a more significant role to play in the new chapter of the DCU, so it will be interesting to see their involvement in Supes’ storyline.
It’s unclear if Lex is complicit in Superman’s captivity or somehow involved with the secret government organisation, but it undoubtedly creates an intriguing plot for the upcoming movie.
That said, even if many of these theories are perfectly plausible, James Gunn could easily surprise everyone with a totally different direction for his upcoming Superman movie. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time trailers have been somewhat misleading. So, be sure to catch the movie when it comes out in theatres on July 11, 2025.
RELATED: Isabela Merced and Pedro Pascal Go to War Over Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps
