James Gunn Reveals First Details on Man of Tomorrow, Confirms Superman and Lex Luthor Have to Work Together Against a 'Much, Much Bigger Threat' — but Who Is It?

James Gunn has revealed the archetypal details connected Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to this year’s DC Universe kickstarter Superman.

In erstwhile interviews, Gunn had teased his adjacent writer / manager movie wasn’t going to beryllium a consecutive up Superman sequel, and present we cognize why. Man of Tomorrow volition spot Superman and Lex Luthor squad up to look a greater threat, with Gunn revealing: “it’s arsenic overmuch a Lex movie arsenic it is simply a Superman movie.”

Gunn was speaking astir the movie connected Howard Stern’s SiriusXM radio, confirming shooting begins successful April 2026 up of the film’s planned July 9, 2027 merchandise day — conscionable 2 years aft Superman came out.

"It's gonna beryllium retired successful 2 years, July 9, 2027, which is simply a comparatively a abbreviated clip betwixt sequels, due to the fact that we knew instantly wherever we were going," Gunn said.

"And it is simply a communicative astir Lex Luthor and Superman having to enactment together, to a definite degree, against a much, overmuch bigger threat. And it's much analyzable than that. It's arsenic overmuch a Lex movie arsenic it is simply a Superman movie. I subordinate to the quality of Lex Luthor, sadly."

The question present is who oregon what is this “much, overmuch bigger threat?” Much of the instrumentality speculation points to Brainiac, the long-standing Superman villain, but there’s notation of each sorts, including Darkseid, past seen threatening to destruct the Justice League successful Zack Snyder’s defunct DCEU, and General Zod.

But the bully wealth is connected Brainiac, a quality who would surely substance Luthor’s retired of power jealousy, which Gunn touched connected successful his interview.

"That's the halfway of Lex for me," Gunn added. "Three years ago, earlier Superman came along, helium was considered the top feline successful the world, adjacent with different metahumans and superheroes successful the world. And past successful 1 fell swoop, this feline comes successful wearing a silly costume, with dimples, and a charming smile, and a large chin, and he's forgotten."

You tin cheque retired IGN’s ain speculation successful our feature, Man of Tomorrow: What Do We Know About the Plot and Villain of James Gunn's Superman Sequel?

When Gunn announced Man of Tomorrow earlier this month, helium did truthful with an representation drawn by Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics Jim Lee, showing Superman alongside Lex Luthor, who's wearing a suit of powerfulness armor. Superman is leaning playfully connected Luthor portion holding a screwdriver, suggesting the confederation Gunn has present confirmed.

Man of Tomorrow. In theatres July 9, 2027. pic.twitter.com/hegJEuRMTk

Superman histrion David Corenswet besides took to societal media to station a antithetic image, below. This 1 was drawn by DC Comics' creator Jorge Jiménez, and precise overmuch looks similar Superman and Lex joining forces to combat this mysterious caller enemy.

But past we besides person Lex Luthor histrion Nicholas Hoult posting an representation of his own, drawn by Mitch Gerads, showing Superman warring Lex Luthor, which suggests the brace volition beryllium astatine likelihood for astatine slightest portion of Man of Tomorrow.

Superman is considered a container bureau deed and a palmy commencement for Gunn's rebooted DCU. It's made much than $600 cardinal successful theaters, making it the archetypal and apt lone superhero movie of 2025 to bash so. Most of that wealth was made successful North American theaters (Gunn has offered his thoughts connected wherefore Superman is doing amended domestically than internationally).

With confirmation of Man of Tomorrow, the DCU is taking shape. In film, DC Studios has Supergirl and Clayface coming retired successful 2026, and the adjacent Wonder Woman astatine immoderate constituent after. Man of Tomorrow slots successful July 2027.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].