One of the standout features of director James Gunn’s impressive new “Superman” film, which has become a major success despite shifts in the superhero movie box office, is how it embraces its comic book roots—particularly through the intricate detail and care in its designs and world-building. A particularly vivid showcase of creativity is the character of Mr. Handsome, the humanoid figure who pilots the cargo ship in Lex Luthor’s (Nicholas Hoult) pocket universe.

Even though Mr. Handsome has no dialogue and only serves as the pocket universe’s dutiful driver, this distinctively designed character holds a special significance for James Gunn. While Mr. Handsome does not engage in verbal or facial acting, portraying him required an actor with exceptional physical skill. That role was expertly filled by American actor Trevor Newlin.

For those keeping up with recent multiplex releases, you’ve likely seen the Texas native Newlin on screen—though you might not have recognized him. Standing at 6 feet, 7 inches, Newlin has rapidly made a name for himself by wearing prosthetic makeup and intricate monster costumes to embody physically imposing, semi-humanoid creatures.

Prior to embodying Mr. Handsome in “Superman,” Trevor Newlin performed as the Xenomorph in 2024’s “Alien: Romulus.” That same year, he also became the Monstrosity, the authentic, primal form of the being haunting Naomi Scott in the darkly comedic sequel, “Smile 2.” In both instances, Newlin’s precise and dedicated physicality significantly contributed to making the creatures convincingly terrifying; “Superman” represents another step in his apparent effort to help Hollywood bring back practical creature effects.

Reflecting on his experience playing Mr. Handsome, Newlin shared on Instagram, “What a joy it was to bring him to life … It’s been incredible seeing how many people love the character and I’m forever grateful that I had the opportunity to be Mr. Handsome.” According to the same Instagram caption, alongside Newlin’s performance, Mr. Handsome—an original character by James Gunn—was also brought to life by the impressive talents of Legacy Effects designers Scott Patton and Savannah Suderman, among other artists.

As Gunn revealed in a July 29 Instagram post, Mr. Handsome might be his favorite character in “Superman.” This becomes more understandable when you consider the character’s poignant, intriguing backstory: Mr. Handsome was created in a Petri dish by a 12-year-old Lex Luthor in an early attempt to engineer a human. Although the experiment wasn’t wholly successful, Gunn mentions that “he just might be the only one in the world Lex has any true sentiment for, as evidenced by the photo on his desk.” This photo of Mr. Handsome is a subtle detail reflecting the meticulous care with which “Superman” was crafted across all departments.