Before I begin, let me say that this is not a Snyderverse v Gunnverse argument. No, not at all. Instead, it is an observation of what I have seen up to date and hope for with respect to the portrayal of Superman. There have been many films that I have looked forward to — most all have been from Marvel — but this summer’s Superman has been on my radar for a while now.

The original Superman from 1978 was seen (mostly) by me in the theaters. I was on a date, and well, other things adolescent were on my mind during the movie, but what I saw on screen was a love letter to my heart.

Christopher Reeve’s Superman was Superman. From his simple upbringing in the wheat fields of Kansas to the bumbling efficiency of Clark Kent in Metropolis, Reeve embodied the role and his portrayal of the Man of Steel was near perfect. He was the Boy Scout who could literally move the world.

And after him… came others.

Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman in the Zack Snyder films was, again in my opinion, physically perfect. He had the looks and physicality of Superman, but, at least to me, there was something missing.

And that was what separates and distinguishes this interpretation of Superman from its predecessors. He lacked hope. He lacked joy.

And here we are now.

James Gunn’s choice of David Corenswet to play Superman does something that seemingly hasn’t been done since the original Superman movies. It looks like he’s brought back fun.

This isn’t an origin story. We meet Supes fully in his career as an established “superhero.” What’s more fun is that there are other heroes that are with him. In addition to that, we see a Superman who is vulnerable.

In the trailer, we see a beat up Superman, and we’re forced to ask, “Who’s powerful enough to do that?” Of course, since we didn’t write the story, all we can do is guess.

It’s my hope that this Superman does for millions of others what the Reeve’s version did for me: it will make kids believe again. They’ll believe that a man can not only fly but can overcome as well and still be hopeful that there is truth, justice, and a better tomorrow ahead.

We’ll know when Superman hits theaters on July 11.