DCU’s Superman, helmed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as the next Man of Steel, is all set to soar on July 11 worldwide. While excitement for this DC movie is pretty high, a noticeable section of the DC fanbase is being cautious about this James Gunn project, given what happened with the DCEU.
Yes, the early reactions to the film were mostly positive; however, we now have one official review of the upcoming DCU instalment from a well-recognised entertainment news platform. And things are… not looking good.
Whether it was intentional or accidental (we’ll never know), The Daily Beast, a prominent American entertainment news outlet, published its official review of Superman—only to delete it five minutes later, since the review embargo isn’t set to lift until July 8. But it looks like the damage is already done.
#Superman's first review is negative❗☠️
If more reviews echo the same sentiment once the embargo lifts, the entire DC universe could be in serious trouble.https://t.co/cmXvnANbZZ
— Mohammed Ihsan (@ihsan21792) July 4, 2025
This scathing review from The Daily Beast has sparked highly polarised reactions. Some believe it was a deliberate attempt to sabotage Superman’s growing hype, while others fear their worst suspicions about the DCU are being confirmed.
To make things worse, the review reportedly includes multiple spoilers, leaving many fans with a bitter aftertaste.
From the moment the film was announced, Superman became an easy target for diehard Zack Snyder fans, who still hoped to see Henry Cavill return in the long-buried Man of Steel 2. We’re not saying these individuals are orchestrating attacks on the film, but we also can’t ignore the vocal section seemingly eager to review-bomb it post-release.
This situation was even addressed by James Gunn in a recent interview. The filmmaker acknowledged the “opposing force” but said he doesn’t dwell on it too much and believes it’s healthy to have differing opinions.
Now, it seems this Daily Beast review has handed Snyder loyalists exactly what they wanted: a weapon to use against the new DCU.
While most early reactions to Superman were largely positive, with praise for its vibe as a live-action episode of Superman: The Animated Series, some viewers weren’t sold on the film’s humour, tone, and plot.
According to reports, Warner Bros. and DC Studios are working behind the scenes to mitigate the online fallout and protect Superman from being unfairly dragged. Still, the leak might push audiences and critics alike to view the film through the lens of The Daily Beast’s criticism, intensifying pressure on its critical reception.
Superman is positioned as the spearhead of James Gunn’s new DCU. A poor critical response, especially one magnified by leaks and online backlash, could seriously undermine momentum and public confidence in this cinematic reboot.
The ongoing tension between Zack Snyder’s fanbase and Gunn’s new vision for DC is clearly part of this storm. And this leak only deepens that rift, making it harder for Superman to unite DC’s fractured audience. Gunn’s earlier remarks about “opposing forces” and “healthy disagreements” are now being put to the test.
One early review alone might not sink a blockbuster. But a viral, negative first impression can spark damaging word-of-mouth, and that could hurt opening weekend numbers.
Let’s see if James Gunn’s Superman manages to rise above the noise and soar when it hits theatres on July 11. Stay tuned for more updates.
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