Latest news with #DailyPlanet
Tom's Guide
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
If you loved ‘Superman,' you need to watch ‘Smallville' — and you can stream all 10 seasons on Hulu
There's a new Superman in Metropolis, and while his face is new, he feels eerily familiar. Since the beginning, Superman has always felt like two characters: Kal-El and Clark Kent. Every hero has a secret identity, but few are as tricky to balance. Most actors tend to favor one over the other. But in 2025's "Superman," David Corenswet nails both. He brings classic charm and moral clarity while making the character his own. We meet him already established at the Daily Planet and as a hero — no tired origin story, just immersion. While Corenswet shines, what thrilled me most was the film's embrace of Clark's roots. Too often, Superman movies skip over what actually makes him Clark: the Kents. Watching certain scenes, I felt like I was back in 2001, reliving Tom Welling's journey from farm boy to hero in "Smallville." Now that Kansas is back in the spotlight, it's the perfect time to revisit Clark's coming-of-age. While "Smallville" is largely pre-cape, its monster-of-the-week structure gives us a deep dive into Clark's most complex relationship: Lex Luthor. And with Nicholas Hoult's sharp new Lex still fresh, now's a great time to binge-watch all 10 seasons of "Smallville" on Hulu — whether it's your first watch or your hundredth. One month free trial! Try Hulu free for 30 days and check out movies like "The Amateur" at no cost. Yes, Clark is an alien. But what most Superman movies overlook is the fact that he was raised human. The Kents didn't just give him shelter — they gave him his values. Like the new film, "Smallville" focuses on life on the farm, showing Clark's version of a 'normal' upbringing. The Kents may not be wealthy, but they raise him with humility, kindness, and a deep respect for life. In "Smallville," John Kent won't let Clark accept a new truck from Lex, even after saving his life. The lesson? You don't get rewarded for doing the right thing. Without that foundation, Clark could've easily gone the way of Nathan Fillion's Green Lantern — or worse, become someone like Lex, who masks selfishness with noble intent. The Kents in "Superman" (2025) are even more grounded. Their house is run-down, their farm modest. But what they give Clark is priceless: identity, purpose, a compass. 'It's who you are, not where you come from,' John tells him — a sentiment echoed throughout "Smallville." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I've said it for years: Michael Rosenbaum is the best Lex Luthor. Most versions dive too fast into villainy, skipping the complexity. Lex isn't just a criminal — he's a brilliant, obsessive, deeply broken man. "Smallville" took liberties with Clark and Lex's origin, but their bond is the soul of the show. It's layered, tragic, and unforgettable. No surprise the top "Smallville" fanfiction ship is Clark and Lex. Over time, Lex becomes obsessed with Clark's secret, and their trust slowly unravels. Rosenbaum gave us a slow, painful descent into darkness, as Lex's curiosity morphs into paranoia. Hoult's Lex in "Superman" echoes that same DNA: unhinged brilliance fueled by insecurity. Both actors capture Lex's deep need for power and control, laced with just enough humanity to make you flinch. I don't usually feel for villains — but Rosenbaum's Lex gets me every time. People love to complain that superhero movies are 'too political' now. But Superman's always been political. He's an alien immigrant who fights for the powerless — that's baked into his DNA. The 2025 film leans into that legacy, just as the original comics tackled war, corruption, and inequality. "Smallville" isn't overtly political, but it still explores power and morality — especially through Lex's rise in later seasons. If the movie's commentary hit home, you'll find quieter echoes in Clark's small-town struggles and Lex's ambition. And importantly, neither version gives us a perfect hero. Corenswet's Clark is cocky and stubborn, and some of the film's chaos is his own doing. Same goes for "Smallville's" Clark, who hides the truth from Lex and walks away when honesty might have changed everything. Superman's strength isn't just in flight or heat vision — it's in trying to do the right thing, even when he fails. And that drive doesn't come from Krypton. It comes from the Kents. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
What lessons can we learn from Superman about global crises and misinformation?
We delve into how Superman's cinematic returns reflects the pressing issues in the real world. Image: IOL Superman is better than all of your favourites combined. Okay, now that I have your attention. Superman has been in South African and worldwide cinemas for a few weeks, prompting fans of both James Gunn and Zack Snyder to come out in full force. Previous adaptations leaned into moral ambiguity, questions of existence, and had flashy fights in dim lighting as well as a storyline with a fight famously resolved by simply invoking the name "Martha." However, this Superman movie brings him back to his classic identity and concentrates on what makes us human, which is ironic, seeing as he is an alien. At its core, it's a message of hope - hope for the future, hope for mankind and hope for a better world. But then reality hits when you step out of the cinema: We don't live in Metropolis. We don't have Superman. And the world continues to grapple with war and misinformation. The past few years have been defined by global unrest, with headlines dominated by heartwrenching images of war and despair. War rages in Palestine and conflicts engulf African countries and other parts of the world. The Palestine-Israel war has resulted in thousands of deaths, humanitarian crises escalating, and reports of starvation. Additionally, media institutions struggle under the weight of political polarisation and misinformation in the age of AI. In light of this, Superman's dual identity as both a caped hero and journalist, Clark Kent, takes on an interesting and new relevance. When Superman is not saving the world, Clark Kent, a reporter for the fictional 'Daily Planet', is the embodiment of ethical journalism (okay, that ethics line gets blurred when he technically interviews himself, but we digress.) In today's media climate, where public trust in journalism dwindles thanks to AI and misinformation on social media, Kent's role serves as a reminder of what journalism could and should be. It's standing for what's right, even if there is a megalomaniac figure like Lex Luthor out to get you. And in the real world, there are definitely several Lex Luthors and Vasil Ghurkos. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading This intersection of truth and heroism comes at a critical time. A recent Pew Research Center study found that only 26% of Americans say they trust national news organisations 'a lot.' According to a Statista report, Nigeria recorded the highest trust in news at 68%, followed closely by Scandinavian countries like Finland, Denmark, and Norway. In contrast, Hungary and Greece had the lowest trust levels at just 22%, partly due to concerns over media independence. If we take a look at local statistics, trust in South African media has seen a slight decline recently, with an overall trust score of 55%, a 6 percentage point drop from the previous year's 61%. Disinformation on social media continues to rise, while global conflicts are increasingly shaped by information warfare. 'Hope isn't naïve,' said Gunn in a press statement last year. 'It's essential. Especially when the world feels like it's burning.' The upcoming film reportedly leans into these ideals of hope, positioning Superman not as this detached godlike figure with amazing powers and laser eyes, but as someone who wrestles with how to help in a world that sometimes resists truth itself. Of course, we know that Superman's return doesn't offer solutions to our global crisis. He won't swoop in to stop the war in Gaza, he won't get his tech friends to tackle misinformation, and he cannot help feed starving people. But while fictional, his story (specifically this one) gives a real lesson: true justice doesn't come from power, it doesn't come from money. It comes from compassion and humanity. Or in South Africa, we would just say "Just be lekker." IOL
Metro
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The best moment in Superman was almost cut - it would have been a disaster
The new Superman movie is at its most epic when we see Clark Kent's endless compassion – but filmmaker James Gunn has revealed he almost cut out the very moment that shows this best. After the immense pressure to bring one of the most beloved superheroes of all time back to the big screen it would have been easy for the new Superman to crash and burn. Especially in a cultural landscape saturated with superhero content from the likes of rival studio, Marvel (who have their own summer blockbuster, Fantastic Four, about to come out) – retelling Superman's story for old and new audiences is no easy task. Heck, it's only been three years since Henry Cavill last appeared as an iteration of Superman in a movie (Black Adam) so cementing David Corenswet as the newly-baptised Daily Planet reporter was already a tall order. Yet, if the glowing reviews and mightily impressive box office figures are anything to go by, Gunn's vision and the standout cast to go with it (also starring Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor) has been an undeniable smash hit. When scrolling through people's takes on social media, discussing it with my friends, or even pondering it at 2am while staring at my ceiling – one reason jumps out above all others. Unlike so much of the superhero content of recent years that prioritises mammoth displays of strength and overly-involved action scenes that forget their characters' human alter egos – in Superman we see the opposite. Yes, it's about battling the enemy, but it's more about preserving the world you love in the big and small ways. We may not all be capable of shooting lasers from our eyes and flying from disaster to disaster but we are all capable of small acts of kindness, no matter how unexpected. It's hardly a new perspective, plenty of people have been praising the movie's human first approach, making Superman's greatest strength his non-super qualities (whether the love he learnt from Ma and Pa Kent or the fierce protectiveness he feels for all living creatures). It harks back to the Clark we know and love from the prequel series, Smallville (coincidentally David's favourite version) who, during one episode, declares his greatest powers are his parents. We've teamed up with Camp Bestival Dorset to give one lucky Metro reader and their family the chance to win family weekend tickets, worth up to £1,172! Created by families, for families, Camp Bestival combines all the fun of a fantastic family camping holiday with everything you would expect from a perfect and action-packed festival adventure. Headliners include music legend Sir Tom Jones, pop icons Sugababes, plus a carnival-filled live show from electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. Simply enter your details here to be in with a chance of winning four tickets to this epic experience. You have until midnight on 23 July to enter. Good luck! * Open to GB residents (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18+. Promotion opens at 18:01 on 16/7/25 and closes at 23:59 on 23/7/25. Entrant must submit their first and last name, email address, date of birth and postcode when prompted via the entry form available on (available here). 1 prize available of a family weekend camping ticket, including two (2) adult tickets and up to four (4) child and/or teen tickets in any combination as chosen by the winner to attend Camp Bestival (Lulworth Castle, Dorset) from 31st July 2025 to 3rd August 2025. Maximum 1 entry per person. Attendance is governed by the Camp Bestival Terms and Conditions. Full T&Cs apply, see here. No scene proves this better than the small, blink-and-you-miss-it moment when Superman dives to save a squirrel while battling the mid-movie Big Bad. Even in the cinema it elicited a delighted response from the audience with a fond chuckle escaping nearly everyone's lips. It's miniscule moments like this that made the movie, and Superman's characterisation, so fleshed out, grounded and realistic. In many ways, it is just as important as the grand speeches about what it means to be human and the sequences of Superman single-handedly holding up crumbling buildings. Which is why it was so shocking to learn that Gunn almost cut it out of the final version. He told Rolling Stone: 'We showed it to test audiences and some people did not like the squirrel. They're like, 'Why the f**k is he saving a squirrel? Why is he taking time out, saving a squirrel?'' Not sure who they chose to participate in the test audience but they may have missed the point of the movie entirely? Luckily, Gunn stayed strong with his vision, adding: 'There was a cut where I cut it out and I'm like, 'I really miss the squirrel. He's gotta save the squirrel.'' Thank goodness he did, as many fans have reiterated. 'The whole point behind him saving the squirrel was to show his kind heart & willingness to go out of his way for everyone – even the most innocent & tiny of creatures,' X user miss_mjoy shared. 'I liked that no creature no matter how small is seen as insignificant to Superman The squirrel was peak,' the blue elite agreed. 'It's VERY clear some people don't understand Superman in the slightest. 'Why would Superman save a squirrel' BECAUSE ALL LIFE IS PRECIOUS!! BECAUSE ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!' gooberboober42 echoed. 'People that show no sympathy for the squirrel don't understand anything about Superman,' Spideyloui added. More Trending You get the point. The moment may seem insignificant to some – after all if Gunn had gone ahead with the cut it wouldn't have been a notable plot omission – but there would have been something missing. It's a small but mighty part of the beating heart of this movie that has made it so special to people so quickly – and that lack of soul certainly would have been noticed, and perhaps even detrimental. It's more clear than ever that superhero fans are yearning for less carbon cutout powerhouses and for more fallible heroes with the best intentions – and that's what makes scenes like this so important. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Fans are convinced James Gunn just revealed 'perfect' next Batman actor MORE: Games Inbox: What is the next big game for Nintendo Switch 2? MORE: Superman forced to cut two scenes after they were deemed 'overly sensual'
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Superman': Mikaela Hoover recalls the reactions being real for 'T-Craft' scene; reveals cast had no idea
The 'Superman' cast had an unprecedented and amusing work day when they got to experience the magic of high-tech flying T-Craft, possibly in the most authentic way. Mikaela Hoover , who plays a colleague of Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), revealed that the entire cast didn't know anything about the T-Craft before filming the scene, making all the reactions quite genuine. 'Superman' cast members gave real reactions to T-Craft According to People, the fictional aircraft, which is played by the character Mister Terrific ( Edi Gathegi ), is used by Lois Lane at the end of the film. She invites her colleagues at the Daily Planet newspaper on board, one of whom is the gossip columnist Cat Grant (Mikaela Hoover). Revealing the behind-the-scenes drama, Hoover said that no one from the cast knew about T-Craft. 'When we got in there and we buckled our seat belts, we had no idea that [the T-Craft] was really going to lift up or go down or right or left,' she claimed, before adding, 'We didn't know what was going to happen. So all of those reactions we had in the T-Craft are real." Mikaela Hoover's high-tech roller coaster ride Furthermore, the 41-year-old compared her feelings to being on a roller coaster ride or a topsy-turvy ride. Recalling the day, she said, 'One of the cast members has a weak stomach and was like, 'I'm gonna be sick.' It was quite the experience,' adding that the specific T-Craft scene with the Daily Planet employees was shot for an entire day. 'We were in there for a long time, and there were a lot of takes, but we got the hang of what was going to happen,' Hoover said. She continued that it was the initial time when they had no idea about how bumpy it would be or what was going to happen to all of them.
News18
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Yes, The Cast's Reactions In Superman T-Craft Scene Were Completely Real
The fictional high-tech aircraft was created by the film's character, Mister Terrific, played by Edi Gathegi. Who would have thought that another day at work could turn into a thrilling ride? Obviously, not the cast of the newly released Superman movie. The superhero action film, written and directed by James Gunn, features many scenes inside a futuristic aircraft called the T-Craft. The fictional high-tech aircraft was created by the film's character, Mister Terrific, played by Edi Gathegi, which is operated with the help of special T-Spheres. While the majority of the time, Mister Terrific was flying the aircraft, towards the end of the film, Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, took control of it. She even invited her colleagues at the Daily Planet newspaper for a ride on the T-Craft. Mikaela Hoover, who portrayed Cat Grant, a gossip columnist at the newspaper, shared that the cast knew nothing about the high-tech aircraft before filming the scene. 'When we got in there and we buckled our seat belts, we had no idea that [the T-Craft] was really going to lift up or go down or right or left," she told People. The 41-year-old actress continued, 'We didn't know what was going to happen. So all of those reactions we had in the T-Craft are real." She compared the experience of their flight on the aircraft to that of riding a rollercoaster or a 'topsy-turvy" ride. Further, recalling the day they shot the scene, Mikaela revealed that one of the cast members almost threw up because they had a weak stomach. She said, 'It was quite the experience," sharing that it took them an entire day to film the scene. The actress also mentioned that the cast initially was not sure about the ride, but later got the hang of it. Mikaela explained, 'We were in there for a long time, and there were a lot of takes, but we got the hang of what was going to happen. It was that first initial time going up in there that we didn't know how bumpy it would be or what was going to happen to us all." Superman, which was released in the theatres on July 11, featured David Corenswet as the titular character, with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Nathan Fillion as a Green Lantern. Speaking about her role in Superman, Mikaela hoped that her character and the Daily Planet gang would be seen in future instalments, if the makers decide to include her. She said, 'Of course, one can only hope that she continues on." Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
