WAKE UP! ON ETBLITZ | Meeting Trevor Newlin, “Superman”‘s Mr. Handsome, from here in East Texas, & more football previews
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wake Up! is here every day here on ETBlitz.com, and just has all kinds of things, from what’s coming up this week in local sports, links to other features here on the site, Classic ‘80s Saturday, and today, a feature on a local kid who is doing phenomenal in the acting world, from right here in the ETB coverage area. Wake Up! is presented by Cozy Coffee Station (Home | Cozy Coffee Station), and their locations in Kilgore (110 Midtown Plaza) and Gilmer (755 Highway 271 North). See their menu at the link on their website, and check them out on their socials – on Facebook at Cozy Coffee Station-Kilgore and Cozy Coffee Station-Gilmer, and on Instagram, @cozycoffeestation_Kigore and @cozycoffeestation_gilmer. Best of all, just go ‘see em, because their products are great!
Mr. Handsome (nope, it’s not me)
A few weeks back, I went to the opener of “Superman,” starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicolas Holt and Nathan Fillion, and a myriad (a bunch) of so many other talents, directed by James Gunn.
I’m a Superman movie fan – two of my favorite films ever were “Superman: The Movie” and “Superman II,” filmed simultaneously back in the late 1970s / early 1980, starring Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman.
So when the 2025 version hit, I’m there, with my daughter Ashtyn, on NIGHT ONE.
I’m on Facebook a day or two later, and a friend of mine – a friend of ours, if you’ve been reading long, Jeremy Newlin, who covers Sabine High School football – told me on a post that his son was actually in the film, and not as an extra.
Turns out, not only was Newlin not joking – his son does have a role in “Superman” – Trevor Newlin, from right here in East Texas, in ETBlitz country, is an young actor to keep an eye on.
Trevor plays a character called “Mr. Handsome” in the film. The character is also in the comics. Mr. Handsome is not exactly that, kind of like calling a big guy “Tiny.” He was a creature made in a Petrie dish by the sinister Lex Luthor, in a failed attempt to make a human being, and he helps Luthor hold Superman hostage briefly in the film.
While the Mr. Handsome character in the movie is nothing close to his name, Trevor Newlin is actually a fairly-normal guy. Oh, except that he fits into a tall, slender 6-foot-7 frame!
I talked with Trevor Newlin for Wake Up! on Tuesday night, and here’s how the conversation went.
ML: Trevor, I know that some of the actors who were chosen for this movie actually came to try out for other parts, or roles. Was that the case for you, or how did “Mr. Handsome” come to be, and to be Trevor Newlin?
TN: For me, it actually – there was no audition process for me. So, I had worked with a company called Legacy Effects (a special effects company) before, way back on “The Mandalorian,” Season Two, in the background. …I did a commercial with them for Amazon, and they brought me on from there to “Alien” (the 2024 film “Alien: Romulus,” where Newlin played a creature, a Xenomorph). Then, honestly, it was one of those, ‘Hey, we’re putting you up for ‘Superman.’ And so the studio approved it, (“Superman” director) James (Gunn) approved it, and away we went.”
ML: That’s cool! …The ‘Superman’ thing is kind of heavy. Like, with the history of that character in film, with Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman in those movies long ago. There was kind of a lot of pressure on you guys for this, making this film. Do you agree?
TN: Absolutely! I’ve said this in some interviews, but with David (Corenswet) stepping in as the new Superman and James at the helm of the new DCU (D.C. Universe) with (producer and DC Studios chair) Peter (Safran), I think it’s immense pressure. But I’m just really glad, for David especially, that everybody loves his Superman, and sees how genuine and awesome a person he is. For me, it was an exciting thing to be a part of another massive franchise, and obviously another reboot, too, right? Because “Romulus” was kind of the same thing – there hadn’t been an “Alien” film, I think, in like eight years, and “Superman” was kind of a similar time frame. So, to be a part of two successful reboots that excited not only the old fans, but new fans, as well, is a really cool thing.
ML: And I hope I’m not mispronouncing her name, but one of your “Superman” co-stars, Isabella Merced, who was Hawkgirl – you had worked with in “Alien,” right?
TN: Yes! Yeah, it’s funny. At the “Alien: Romulus” wrap party, we saw each other, and we were talking. I was like, ‘Hey, we’re working on another project together!,’ and she said, ‘Oh! You’re Mr. Handsome, aren’t you?’ And I said yes, and she said, ‘That’s so cool!’ We really didn’t get to see each other – her scenes with ‘the Justice Gang’ shot separately from Nick (“Lex Luthor,” Nicolas Holt) and David (Corenswet) and I. But we did connect and actually talk about that a little bit.
ML (laughs): And it’s not bad having someone call you ‘Mr. Handsome.’ 😊
TN (laughs): No, no, not at all! I’ll take that any day of the week!
ML: Trevor, I’ve known your dad forever. And I’m not going to ask, ‘hey, you just fall into this?’ because I’ve known your dad forever. But is this something you had been planning on doing? Did you wake up and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to be an actor!’ 10 years ago, or how did it happen?
TN: Yeah, so it didn’t really hit me until like middle school, maybe early high school. It was Keasha Barnes at Sabine who told me after my freshman year in high school, she was like, ‘Why don’t you try a one-act play?’ I had never really gone that direction. I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up. And I still love dinosaurs to this day. So, I did the one-act play and did it from sophomore year until senior year, and from there, I was like, well, I love theatre, so I’m going to continue to explore that. I went to Kilgore College, there with Micah Gooding, and did a year over there. From that point, I knew I wanted to work in film and TV, but I wanted to get into voice-over and radio, and the place to be for that was at the time, Los Angeles. That’s where everything in Hollywood is made, right? So I moved to L.A. and went to film school. But falling into the role I’m in now is kind of a complete accident. I kind of feel like that happens a lot within the industry, and even in life. You’re kind of going a certain path and then something else opens up, and there’s new opportunity. But I fell into what I do now, and I love every bit of it. It’s a blast.
ML: I’ll ask you this: do you have a project or two that you can tell us, that you’re working on?
TN: (laughs): Unfortunately / fortunately, we live in the world of NDAs (non-disclosure agreements), but I do have some fun stuff coming up, some stuff in the horror genre and some in the non-horror genre, as well. When I can talk about it, I will, and hopefully, you guys will see me in theatres again at some point in the near future.
ML: I don’t know what James Gunn has planned, if we’ll see another solo “Superman” film. I’m sure there will be more DCU films. But I’m rooting for Mr. Handsome to make a comeback.
TN: I think we are, and a whole bunch of other people are, and it’s really exciting to see. When James created that character, he just kind of wanted a character that really stuck with people, and it seems like he’s got a little fan club going. …I think they announced today that he’s working on the “Superman” sequel, whatever that’s going to be. There’s no real way to know exactly what it’s going to be called or what it’s going to be about. But I do know that’s been confirmed by multiple sources – I think James even said it himself. So yeah, I would love to come back and find out where Mr. Handsome’s at – maybe in Metropolis, or in prison, or who knows? (Laughs)
ML: I would love to see that, too! Thanks for being a good sport and let me bother you a little bit. But I’m a fan now and we wish you nothing but the best! For us, it’s back to football, and our sports, and your dad, too.
TN: Thank you so much, and I appreciate that. I hope you guys all have a good year. I’ll be keeping up with it. I actually try to tune in because I know some of the schools will broadcast, at least on radio. But my dad always keeps me up to date, too.
+++++
Scrimmages Thursday night, one Saturday;
Carthage hosts Meet the Bulldogs Thursday
As we did yesterday in Wake Up!, here are the final scrimmages for the high school football programs that we cover, this time in alphabetical order. Carthage, now, doesn’t have a scrimmage this week; instead, Carthage fall sports teams, like football, volleyball, cross country, and fall tennis, will be on hand at the gym Thursday night for Meet the Bulldogs at 6 p.m. Here’s the scrimmage schedule, all on Thursday except Leverett’s Chapel (it’s Friday)
Arp: The Tigers are at home for their final scrimmage, and it’s Thursday night at 6 against San Augustine.
Beckville: Coach Cody Ross’s Bearcats hit the road to Garrison on Thursday night.
Gilmer: The Buckeyes take a trip to Whitehouse Thursday for a 7 p.m. start of their second scrimmage.
Gladewater: The Bears, along with first-year head coach Jermaine Lewis, will host North Lamar Thursday night, varsity at 7, at Jack V. Murphy Stadium.
Henderson, Tatum: These two ETBlitz coverage area schools meet each other Thursday night in Tatum, starting at 6.
Kilgore: The Ragin’ Red host Center Thursday for their last scrimmage, a 5:30 p.m. freshman and varsity start, and then varsity afterward.
Leverett’s Chapel: The Lions, the only six-man program in our coverage area, have a Saturday scrimmage, Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Galveston O’Connell.
Overton: Ore City is the destination for the Mustangs, Thursday night at 6.
Pine Tree: Coach Jason Bachman’s Pirates host former longtime district rival Marshall on Thursday night for a scrimmage, at 6:30 p.m.
Sabine: The Cardinals will be at home Thursday night for scrimmage No. 2, a 6:30 p.m. start against Edgewood.
Troup: Coach Sam Wells and the Tigers will host Alto this Thursday at 6 p.m.
West Rusk, White Oak: Two more programs in the ETB area scrimmage on Friday night, with West Rusk hosting White Oak’s Roughnecks at 6:30.
15 In 15 continues today,
wraps up on Thursday
Our 15 In 15, 15 football previews in 15 days, is coming close to an end here on ETBlitz.com – but we’ve got a big finish.
We looked at Tatum High School on Tuesday, and we have at least one preview today, maybe two. There are four more programs for us to preview prior to the start of the season: Arp, Leverett’s Chapel, Gladewater and Kilgore.
Here are the links to the previews that have ran so far, in case anyone would like to go back and read them, followed by a link to all of the schedules in one place.
No. 1: Troup (On Thursday, August 7): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL TROUP FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Tiger by the tail? LOL, not this one! | Troup aims to start, and finish, strong in ’25.
No. 2: Gilmer (On Friday, August 8): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL GILMER FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Glory days: A return to the big time for the Buckeyes?
No. 3: Overton (On Saturday, August 9): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL OVERTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Can Mustangs ride back to double-digit wins, and keep up winning ways?
No. 4: West Rusk (On Sunday, August 10): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | WEST RUSK / A decade of postseason runs? Well, let’s run it back, son
No. 5: Beckville (On Monday, August 11): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW: BECKVILLE | Records falling, winning being done — just another weekend for Ross and the Bearcats
No. 6: Sabine (On Tuesday, August 12): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SABINE / A reset, a new season, and this Cardinals team has talent (Presented by KILGORE MERCANTILE & MUSIC)
No. 7: Carthage (On Wednesday, August 13): 2025 ETBLITZ CARTHAGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Armed & loaded Bulldogs on Drive For 11 / Presented by ZIPPY J’S
No. 8: Henderson (On Thursday, August 14): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / HENDERSON | Meeks returns, and Lions fans, get ready for a ride | Presented by WHATABURGER
No. 9: White Oak (On Friday, August 15): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / WHITE OAK | In a stacked district, could Roughnecks challenge for title? | Presented by ENERGY WELDFAB
No. 10: Pine Tree (On Saturday, August 16): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / PINE TREE | Pirates want to make double-digit wins in a single season a regular thing, and to become a title contender | Presented by GOUDARZI & YOUNG
No. 11: Tatum (On Monday, August 18): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / TATUM | Lots of new faces, but talent there to help Eagles soar
And don’t forget to check out any of their schedules you’d like, sponsored by Kilgore Mercantile & Music, here at this link: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS! | Regular season begins next Thursday, Friday; here are schedules for all teams in the ETBlitz coverage area! | Presented by KILGORE MERCANTILE & MUSIC.