If there is one thing in the world we are not lacking in, it is superhero origin films. It seems someone at DC disagrees, as they have just released the trailer for an animated Superman origin film, Superman: The Man Of Tomorrow. However, to twist things up for this go around, J'onn "The Martian" Manhunter will be joining in the fight against super-powered anti-hero Lobo and Parasite.
Superman: The Man Of Tomorrow, will follow Kal-El (Superman's birth name) as he is sent to Earth from his dying planet, and lands in the care of Jonathan and Martha Kent. He is named Clark, and it is quickly determined that Clark is not like other humans, in fact, he is not a human at all, given away by his incredible speed, strength, ability to fly, oh and lest we forget, the burning red lasers that shoot from his eyes.
Clark grows up in a loving home, but one that is worried about his safety, as Jonathan fears he will be ostracized because of his abilities, commenting, "whoever put him in that ship, had no idea, or care, how dangerous a world they were sending him to."
Clark grows up with a high moral compass and sense of duty, as he launches himself off into Metropolis, in a terribly awful first costume, to save the people from an impending unidentified object, which turns out to be the nefarious bounty hunter Lobo.
Struggling with Lobo who, depending on the artist behind him, can match Superman in terms of strength and durability, but in this film's case has the upper hand due to a ring filled with kryptonite (Superman's only weakness), Superman is aided by J'onn, the green shape-shifter and telekinetic, known as Martian Manhunter. Manhunter warns that Superman's world is in great danger, due to an invasion by an alien named Parasite, who can drain the abilities, energy, and life of his victims.
Being an origin story, this film is set before Clark Kent is known universally as Superman. During his off-hours, his secret identity is Clark Kent, an intern of The Daily Bugle, who is crushing on fellow reporter Lois Lane, but during his crime-fighting, he is known as, The Man Of Tomorrow. Based on the trailer, Kent will eventually don the moniker Superman during the film's run-time, as Lex Luthor asks him what the S on his chest stands for and Kent responds with, "Superman," as he flies off.
The Many Faces Of 'Superman'
Superman has been portrayed by a wide variety of actors including Kirk Alyn (1948), George Reeves (1951 - 1958), Christopher Reeve (1978 - 1987), John Haymes Newton (1988), Gerard Christopher (1989 - 1991), Dean Cain (1993 - 1997) Tom Welling (2001 - 2011) Brandon Routh (2006), and the current DC Universe version of Henry Cavill (2013 - Present).
For this animated film, the mantle of Superman will be voiced by Darren Criss, who has a ton of voice credits, including voicing Raphael for Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and also played Blaine Anderson on Glee. Criss is joined by Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch, Texas Chainsaw Massacre & San Andreas) as Lois Lane and Zachary Quinto (Heroes, American Horror Story, Star Trek) as Lex Luthor. Ike Amadi, who has a large assortment of video game voices, including Jax Briggs in Mortal Kombat, will voice The Manhunter.
This is the latest DC animated film, released ahead of the DC Fandom experience, scheduled for August 22nd. Fandom is a large, 24-hour virtual event, dedicated to gathering all DC properties, cast and crew, and making them accessible to fans. Basically, a virtual DC comic-con. Scheduled for the event is news and possible footage from Zack Snyder's upcoming director's cut of The Justice League, which will feature the last live-action movie appearance of Superman.
Superman: The Man Of Tomorrow is scheduled to hit digital services, DVD and Blu-Ray later this summer.