Superman Trailer Breakdown: Meet the 12 Villains in James Gunn’s Superman Reboot

The summer movie season is heating up, and James Gunn’s Superman is taking center stage. With the brand-new trailer now out, fans finally get a closer look at David Corenswet’s Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan’s fierce Lois Lane, and more. But who are the villains in the new Superman movie?

From Lex Luthor’s mind games to Ultraman’s brute strength, this reboot is loaded with mystery, action, and political intrigue. Let’s dive into the biggest reveals and threats facing Superman in the DCU’s bold new beginning.

12. Superman vs. Kaiju: A Monster-Sized Threat

One jaw-dropping moment in the trailer shows Superman battling a massive kaiju-like creature, toppling buildings in a scene that rivals Man of Steel’s destruction. This fight occurs near the LordTech building, with Lois Lane on-site. Is this another creation of Lex’s or something more cosmic? Its appearance raises questions about how many enemies Superman will face—and who’s truly pulling the strings.

11. Justice League International Enters the Picture

Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) debuts as the head of LordTech, a tech giant sponsoring the Justice Gang—aka DCU’s first superhero team. We see Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern Guy Gardner in action. The team seems tied to government contracts, creating a blurred line between superheroics and political power.

10. Stagg Industries & Metamorpho’s Origin

Simon Stagg, a corporate villain from the comics, appears through his company, Stagg Industries. His involvement points to the origin of Metamorpho (Rex Mason), seen imprisoned alongside Superman. Stagg is likely responsible for Rex’s transformation, adding another morally complex figure to the growing roster.

9. Rick Flag Sr. Returns

Frank Grillo reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr. from Creature Commandos, now serving as Secretary of Defense. He’s a key figure opposing Superman and seems instrumental in orchestrating his arrest. He’s expected to return in Peacemaker season two, possibly hunting down Peacemaker for his son’s death.

8. Black Orchid: A Mystery Character

A quick glimpse shows a black-and-pink suited woman, possibly Black Orchid—a plant-human hybrid character from DC Comics. If true, she may be another imprisoned metahuman and a potential wild card in Lex’s long game.

7. Lois Lane & Clark Kent: A Clashing Power Couple

Wondering how Lois Lane made it into this who are the villains in the new Superman movie list? It's because Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane already knows Clark’s secret at the trailer’s start. Their relationship is based on mutual respect and sharp wit, not damsel-in-distress tropes. However, as the trailer indicated, there will be some friction between them.

Will this force Lois to team up with Lex (even if it's for a while)? That remains to be seen. But with Lois and Clark, expect a dynamic bond where Lois challenges Clark on his actions just as strongly as Lex does. Their romance is central to the story, adding emotional weight to the explosive action.

6. Kryptonite & LuthorCorp

Superman is seen imprisoned in a glass cell surrounded by LuthorCorp guards, with Metamorpho nearby. Lex uses Kryptonite—possibly via Metamorpho—to weaken Kal-El. This setting solidifies Lex’s growing influence over both government and corporate sectors.

5. The Hammer of Boravia: A Brand-New Threat

One of the most intriguing additions is the Hammer of Boravia—a completely original character created by James Gunn. This heavily armored figure from the fictional nation of Boravia appears in a Daily Planet headline and later storms into Metropolis following a military invasion abroad.

Clad in a battlesuit reminiscent of mecha anime, the Hammer seems designed to challenge Superman’s role as a global protector. His arrival also ties into the trailer’s political tension, with even the U.S. Secretary of Defense warning Kal-El to stand down.

4. María Gabriela de Faría’s Engineer: A Dangerous Twist

Angela Spica, aka the Engineer, is getting a villainous makeover. While she’s a hero in the comics and part of The Authority, here she’s portrayed as a tech-enhanced enemy of Superman, fighting him in dramatic set pieces—including a stadium battle and a clash at the Fortress of Solitude. Her nanotech powers allow her to morph and reshape her body, and she’s even seen taking on Krypto. While redemption may be possible down the line, her allegiance lies firmly with Lex Luthor for now.

3. Ultraman (Or Is He?): Superman’s Dark Mirror

A masked powerhouse with a glowing “U” emblem has fans buzzing—is this the DCU’s Ultraman? Traditionally, Ultraman hails from Earth-3 and serves as an evil alternate version of Superman. While Gunn may not be exploring the multiverse just yet, this figure clearly poses a major physical threat to Kal-El. It’s possible this is a reimagined Bizarro, a clone, or a government-engineered anti-Superman weapon. Whatever the case, his strength rivals Superman’s—and he may be the film’s final boss.

2. Lex Luthor: Mastermind from the Shadows

Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor may not throw punches, but he’s orchestrating much of the chaos. Motivated by envy and a desire to protect humanity from alien influence, Lex views Superman not as a hero, but as a threat. He refers to him coldly as “it,” suggesting a deep-rooted disdain.

Lex is suspected to be working with ARGUS, Rick Flag Sr., and he may even be behind Superman and Metamorpho’s imprisonment. While not the main combatant, Lex’s ideological war with Superman could shape the entire DCU.

1. Superman’s Central Conflict: Kindness vs. Power

A standout line from Clark—“I wasn’t representing anybody except for me, and doing good!”—crystallizes James Gunn’s vision of the character. Superman isn’t a weapon or a god. He’s a man trying to do the right thing in a complicated world. This list of villains wouldn't be complete without Superman's inner dilemma taking center stage.

So Who is the main Villain?

With so many threats—The Hammer of Boravia, The Engineer, Ultraman, and the kaiju—Lex Luthor still seems to be the puppet master. But this isn’t a story about one big bad—it’s about Superman’s fight to remain a symbol of hope in a world full of fear, suspicion, and control.

James Gunn’s Superman promises a dense, politically-charged, action-packed take on the Man of Steel. With enemies on every front, allies walking a fine line, and Clark Kent’s ideals put to the test, this reboot could redefine Superman for an entirely new generation.

Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025. You can watch the official trailer below.