The DC Universe saw one of its most controversial entries in The Flash, which was released in 2023. Despite years of build-up, a massive multiverse gimmick, and a returning Michael Keaton as Batman, the film was largely panned by fans and critics alike. Some praised the ambition and emotional moments, but the overreliance on CGI, weak script choices, and a mismanaged tone left many calling it a misfire.

Now, two years later, James Gunn is set to relaunch the DC Universe with Superman in July 2025, a film that’s carrying the weight of rebuilding fan trust. However, recent footage comparing frames from Superman with nearly identical ones from The Flash has sparked unease across the fandom.

It’s one thing to draw inspiration, but this felt less like a nod and more like a copy-paste job, especially from a film many would rather forget. Gunn’s project is supposed to mark a fresh start for DC, yet these early visuals hint at something worryingly familiar.

Now, let’s get one thing out of the way: all the speculations are based on the limited visuals provided through the trailer for Superman. Despite that, the resemblance is uncanny and worth losing your mind over if you’re a hardcore fan.

A side-by-side video comparison that’s now going viral shows a sequence from Superman that mirrors a visually criticized shot from The Flash. In the new footage, David Corenswet’s Superman dives into the sky in a pose, frame angle, and movement eerily similar to Ezra Miller’s Flash.

Every visual cue, from the camera angle to the composition of the shots and the characters’ appearances, resembles the stylized yet awkward CGI-heavy sequence from The Flash. While the upcoming Superman movie has a brighter color palette and seems to aim for more natural lighting, the composition of the scene is unmistakably reminiscent of The Flash.

This kind of mimicry would’ve made sense if The Flash was widely beloved for its visuals. But it wasn’t. So naturally, fans are questioning why Gunn’s Superman, meant to symbolize a bold new era, would lean so heavily on the imagery of a previous failure.

Another fan posted rather interesting details of the two movies. The fan outlined that cinematographer Henry Braham and Jason Ballantine, editor of The Flash, have also worked on Superman. So, the resemblance makes sense. However, that’s not the end of worries for Superman fans.

To make matters worse, it’s important to remember that James Gunn was one of the few major names to praise The Flash in the lead-up to its release publicly. Gunn called it “one of the best superhero movies ever made,” and even championed its emotional core and multiverse storytelling.

While it’s possible that he meant it from a filmmaker’s perspective, for most fans, this has become a red flag. If Gunn truly admired The Flash to such a degree, then the decision to visually emulate scenes from it, whether consciously or subconsciously, feels less surprising and more concerning.

In Gunn’s opinion, The Flash also “resets everything” for the DC Universe. With Superman set to be the foundation of DC’s rebooted universe, fans are understandably nervous. A movie that should’ve taken every opportunity to distance itself from the creative failures of the past is, at least visually, still echoing them.

If the frame-by-frame comparison is any indication of what’s to come in July, then the fans have all the valid reasons to freak out. However, having some patience till the movie hits the theatres would be a better thing to do.