Today’s Superman teaser trailer gave audiences their first look at David Corenswet as the new, vulnerable, dog-loving Man of Steel.

In the new film, coming July 11, 2015, from Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn, the Philadelphia-born, Juilliard-trained actor will play both a curly haired, blocky spectacled Clark Kent and the smooth Superman. He’ll romance Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, match wits with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, and be best friends with cute super-canine Krypto.

But before David Corenswet becomes known for Superman — a role that tends to take over actors’ careers — here are five roles in which he’s previously stood out. They range from highbrow horror to prestige TV drama, and suggest he very much has the chops to take over a role previously held by the likes of Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill.

The Projectionist in Pearl

Mia Goth and David Corenswet in Pearl – Credit: C/O

You may remember David Corenswet as the smarmy projectionist from Pearl. It’s actually a pretty significant, though short-lived, role in the Ti West horror masterpiece.

Not only does he show Pearl (Mia Goth) her first dirty movie, but he also has the audacity to break up with her with these fateful words: “You’re scaring me, Pearl.”

Also Read: Superman Teaser Trailer Finds the Man of Steel Bloodied in the Snow

River Barkley in The Politician

David Corenswet as River Barkley in The Politician – Credit: C/O

In Netflix’s Ryan Murphy co-created comedy-drama series The Politician, Corenswet has an 11-episode arc across both seasons as River Barkley, a student at Saint Sebastian High School who has, at different times, romantic relationships with Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) and Astrid Sloan (Lucy Boynton).

River is a popular boy at school, but he feels empty inside — we won’t spoil anything more here.

David McDougal in We Own This City

David Corenswet and Larry Mitchell in We Own This City – Credit: C/O

In this six-episode HBO crime drama, Corenswet played Investigator David McDougall of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force. The show follows Jon Bernthal as Sgt. Wayne Jenkins of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, which is being investigated for corruption.

We Own This City covers true events, and is based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Baltimore Sun journalist Justin Fenton.

Reed in House of Cards

Corenswet and Willa Fitzgerald in House of Cards – Credit: C/O

Though he only appears in one episode of House of Cards, it’s worth mentioning here because it’s the penultimate episode of the entire series — and it has a lot to do with the past of Madame President Claire Underwood (Robin Wright).

In a flashback, Corenswet plays Reed, Claire’s former boyfriend when she was 20 years old. Though Reed urged her to turn down a proposal from Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), Claire turns him down and marries Frank in the hopes that he will open doors for her.

For better or worse, he does.

Jake in Look Both Ways

Corenswet and Lili Reinhart in Look Both Ways courtesy of Felicia Graham/Netflix – Credit: C/O

In this recent Netflix romantic comedy, Corenswet appears opposite Lili Reinhart‘s Natalie as Jake, the guy she could have been with if she had moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams instead of getting pregnant by her good friend Gabe (Danny Ramirez). The movie looks at both ways Natalie’s life could have turned out if that one life-changing moment had gone differently.

Main Image: David Corenswet as River Barkley in The Politician courtesy of Netflix.

Liked This List of 5 David Corenswet Roles to Enjoy Before Seeing Him as Superman?

Christopher Reeve as Superman. Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

You might also like this list of the 12 Best Superhero Movies Before the MCU.

Main image: Corenswet in Superman. Warner Bros.