The first Superman trailer ushers in a new era of superhero movies

You think you’re ready to see the first trailer for To James Gunn Supermanbut you may not be. Do you have good lighting? Appropriate sound? A place where you won’t be embarrassed if you get a little emotional like shivers run up and down your spine? All of these would come in handy when watching what you’re about to watch.

On July 11 a the all-new DC Universe begins with the release of Superman. Written and directed by Gunn, it stars David Corrensuet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and many, many more. This is a film that has a tone on it, so it should have come out of the gate with an epic, confident trailer. And it delivers. Watch the first trailer for James Gunn Superman.

There’s a lot to digest and we’ll get to it all later, but first a public announcement. Earlier this week, Gunn and several of his co-stars spoke to the press on the Warner Bros. set. and Gunn said that what you just watched is as close to the movie as you can get without spoiling it. “I was incredibly strict with the trailer,” he said. “And it went through many iterations until I was happy with it. And there was only one thing that was at the forefront (and) that was that the trailer should be an authentic representation of what the film is. Obviously, it doesn’t have to be every single element in the film, but it should show what the core of the film is and the story we’re telling. And I think it does, but it took a lot of work to get there.”

That’s why you get the romance, you get the action, you get the heroes and the villains, and you get to see Superman at his most vulnerable at the start of this trailer. (Gunn confirmed to io9 that the opening scene takes place soon after the film’s drop-you-in-middle-action opening we revealed earlier this week.) Also, in a very interesting turn of events. the trailer doesn’t say it’s about “superman”. It says it’s for “DC Studios,” a decision we asked Gunn about at the event. “It felt good,” he said. “We had made these trailers and they did all this testing and I was like… I believe in testing. I believe in the testing process and we have already tested it Superman. But it’s also like you have to go with your gut and what feels right … (and it) seems to work.”

We think so, and you? Supermanwritten and directed by James Gunn, hits theaters on July 11 – officially kicking off the new DC universe. Let us know what you think of the trailer below.

Want more io9 news? See when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Warsand Star Trek releases, what’s next for DC Universe on film and televisionand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.