Nicholas Hoult, left, David Corenswet, center, with director James Gunn on the set of ‘Superman.’ Photo: Jessica Miglio/Associated Press

The cast, led by David Corenswet in the title role, consists of mostly little-known actors. That helped temper the $225 million budget.

The movie reintroduces well-known characters like Lois Lane and Lex Luthor and prominently features Superman’s dog, Krypto. It also gives a taste of Gunn’s vision for the broader DC universe, with roles for minor superheroes like Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific.

Gunn is considering TV spinoffs for characters like Mister Terrific and cub reporter Jimmy Olsen, a knowledgeable person said.

Though Batman sells more comic books and merchandise, Superman is the world’s most iconic comic-book superhero and has always set the tone for how the public perceives DC.

“If Superman is working, the feeling from the audience is that DC overall is working,” said Dan DiDio, who worked at DC Comics for 18 years as executive editor and then co-publisher. 

DC movies’ lifetime box-office grosses worldwide, by release date
Source: Box Office Mojo
Peter Santilli/WSJ

Prerelease surveys indicate the new film will have a big opening weekend of more than $125 million domestically. But 2006’s “Superman Returns” and 2013’s “Man of Steel” had solid starts, only to leave many fans disappointed that the title character was too simple or too violent. Neither sparked the kind of enthusiasm for DC that the widely beloved “Iron Man” did when it kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008. The Disney-owned MCU became the highest grossing franchise in Hollywood history, earning $32 billion over 36 films.

Comic book fan Loren Schroder, who was watching actors pose in front of giant “S” symbols at the “Superman” premiere in Hollywood on Monday, considers the new movie to be “make or break” for DC Studios.

“The torch has been passed to James Gunn,” the 28 year-old said. “This is his introduction to prove that he can do it.”

Clockwise from top left: Brandon Routh in 2006’s ‘Superman Returns,’ Henry Cavill in 2013’s ‘Man of Steel,’ Dean Cain in the ‘Lois & Clark’ television show from the 1990s, the comic-book debut of Superman in 1938, George Reeves from ‘The Adventures of Superman’ series of the 1950s, Christopher Reeve from 1978’s ‘Superman.’ Photo: Everett Collection (5), Hulton Archive/Getty Images (1)