How did Superman's 2025 reboot launch an entirely new DC Universe?

The answer

The 2025 Superman film, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent, was far more than a reboot - it was the deliberate first chapter of a new DC Universe (DCU), designed to compete with Marvel's cinematic empire. The film introduced a new incarnation of pop culture's most iconic superhero with a tone that balanced optimism and action, deliberately contrasting with the darker Zack Snyder era. Critics praised Corenswet's portrayal and Gunn's vision, and the film performed strongly at the box office. As the first entry in the new DCU, Superman established the aesthetic, tone, and continuity that will connect future DC films, much as Iron Man did for the MCU in 2008.