First ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ Trailer Reveals David Corenswet’s Post-Superman Underdog Story

David Corenswet’s 2026 has been defined almost entirely by his breakout turn as the Man of Steel, but his next major role couldn’t look more different from Metropolis. Rather than capes and superpowers, Corenswet is trading in cleats and a mustache for a true-life football drama that’s been quietly building buzz since its CinemaCon debut earlier this year.

That film centers on a nickname most football fans already know well. “Mr. Irrelevant” is the label given to whichever player gets selected last in that year’s NFL Draft, and the movie tells the real story of John Tuggle, who earned that title as the New York Giants’ final pick in the 1983 draft before defying every expectation that came with it.

Now, Paramount Pictures has released the film’s first official trailer, timed deliberately to coincide with the start of the 2026 NFL season. The footage gives audiences their clearest look yet at Corenswet’s transformation into Tuggle, sporting sandy blond hair and a mustache that make him almost unrecognizable from his Superman persona, even if his voice still carries a familiar resonance.

The trailer opens with Tuggle being interviewed while riding in the back of a convertible during a parade, wearing an orange jersey emblazoned with his new nickname. From there, it moves through his uphill battle to actually make the roster, his budding romance with Katie, played by Isabel May, and a difficult turn when a doctor discovers a health issue that threatens to derail everything he’s fought for.

The footage closes on an emotional note courtesy of Michael Shannon’s Bill Parcells, the Giants’ legendary head coach, who declares that he’s learned more from Tuggle than from any other player he’s ever coached. It’s the kind of closing beat clearly designed to set up the film’s larger emotional payoff once it hits theaters.

First trailer for ‘MR. IRRELEVANT’, starring David Corenswet. The film follows John Tuggle, who was given the title of ‘Mr Irrelevant’ after being the last pick of the last round of the 1983 NFL draft. In theaters on December 25. https://t.co/uqe2ZFWcrI

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 13, 2026

Rounding out the film’s ensemble is David Krumholtz as Julius “Whitey” Horai, joining Shannon and May in supporting Corenswet’s lead performance. Behind the camera, Jonathan Levine directs from a script written by Nick Santora, whose previous credits include projects like ‘Reacher’ and ‘FUBAR.’

The film comes from Paramount Pictures and Skydance Sports, produced in association with Domain Entertainment alongside Megamix and Blackjack Films. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Levine, Gillian Bohrer, and Santora all share producing credits, while Frank Lamm handles cinematography and Kris Bowers provides the film’s score.

Early buzz around the project has reportedly been strong, with test screenings apparently generating near-perfect reactions ahead of the trailer’s release, though the film has not yet received an official MPA rating. Given how thoroughly Corenswet has already established himself as a bankable leading man this year, expectations for ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ carrying that same momentum into awards season conversations seem reasonable.

‘Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story’ is set to hit theaters on Christmas Day, giving families a feel-good sports underdog story to close out the year. For Corenswet, the timing couldn’t be better either, arriving right as anticipation continues building for his return as Superman in the upcoming DCU sequel ‘Man of Tomorrow.’

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!