David Corenswet as Superman in James Gunn's Superman (2025)
When James Gunn took the job to co-run DC Studios with Peter Safran, it was quickly decided that Superman would be at the forefront of the shared universe. David Corenswet landed the coveted role as the next Man of Steel and headlined 2025's Superman, where he endeared his portrayal of Clark Kent/Kal-El to an entire new audience.
Corenswet is confirmed to return next in Supergirl, DC's upcoming summer blockbuster set for release on June 26. The movie focuses on Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El , who audiences were introduced to in Superman's post-credits scene. And while Clark's return has been known for a while, the full scope of his role remained a bit of a mystery. Now, the second Supergirl trailer has provided a look at Superman's role. The brief glimpse at how he factors into the story is not only a good sign for the DC Universe's second movie but also how the franchise is operating as a whole. Superman's Role In Supergirl Looks Very Limited After not being seen or heard in the first trailer, Corenswet appears momentarily at the beginning of Supergirl's official trailer. Clark's voice is the first thing we hear, as he says, "Hey, I was just touching base to see when you think you might be coming back. You know, I'm just worried that you're not going to find your stride here if you keep going off-world all the time, Kara. I'm worried you're not going to find your people." It's during this that the trailer cuts to him talking to Kara through a monitor aboard her ship, giving us barely any time to actually see Superman. And what he says is telling. Superman has made Earth his home and does not sound likely to leave it and join his cousin on her intergalactic adventures. While she's still searching for her place in the universe, he's found his. This all suggests that Superman will have a very minor role in Supergirl. This video call may be his only scene, in fact. So long as Kara's fight with Krem of the Yellow Hills and quest to save Krypto keeps her in space, Superman won't be appearing. And even if she needs some extra muscle for her fight, it appears that is what Jason Momoa's Lobo is there for. There's no clear need for him to have a larger role, nor are there any signs that more meaningful Superman scenes are coming in the full runtime. If anything, perhaps we get one more in Supergirl's ending as she returns to Earth after finding her stride as a hero. Superman Having A Small Role Is Good For Supergirl & The DCU It would have been very easy for Supergirl to give Superman a larger role. He's a more well-known character, the face of the franchise, and holds a built-in connection to Kara to make a team-up feel more natural. But, having Superman operate as a major supporting character in his cousin's"solo" film would have also felt a bit desperate, like DC didn't have full faith in Supergirl's ability to capture audiences' attention. Kal-El having a large role could have risked overshadowing Kara in her own film. But if he's only in Supergirl for this video message, that is avoided. The majority of the movie will exist without Superman playing an on-screen role, even if his heroics and Boy Scout approach loom over Kara's journey. It's better for him to influence the story and arcs without being present rather than steal attention from viewers with a major physical presence. Subscribe for deeper DCU and Supergirl coverage Want deeper takes on Supergirl, Superman and the evolving DCU? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused coverage — in-depth analysis, scene breakdowns and context that unpack creative decisions across the franchise. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Furthermore, keeping Superman on the sidelines for the majority of Supergirl speaks to the DCU's desire not to rely too heavily on him. The shared universe will only achieve true success if it can make viewers care about all sorts of characters and stories. It can't just be Superman and, eventually, Batman and Wonder Woman. Those characters are vital to the DCU's future, but they can't support an entire universe by themselves. If Superman's role in Supergirl is as small as it seems, he's basically a cameo and nothing more. That decision suggests major heroes like Superman won't be counted on to have a pivotal role in every project to ensure audiences watch them. Supergirl Like Follow Followed 12 Superhero Sci-Fi Action Adventure Release Date June 26, 2026 Director Craig Gillespie Writers Ana Nogueira, Otto Binder, Tom King, Al Plastino, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bilquis Evely Cast See All
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