It’s clear that the story of the Man of Steel is not finished yet. After ‘Superman’ reignited the hope and optimism that fans had longed to see return to DC’s big screen, James Gunn and Peter Safran are already setting the stage for the next chapter of the DC Universe: ‘Man of Tomorrow’.
And now, the DCU tapestry of interwoven tales is becoming even smaller, with Frank Grillo confirming his return as Rick Flag Sr.
Frank Grillo Breaks Silence On His DCU Future
This was indirectly announced by Frank Grillo himself through his Instagram story. The actor reposted an article that confirmed several ‘Peacemaker’ characters in the sequel and added, jokingly, “Well, I hope @JamesGunn doesn’t get in trouble by… oh wait, he’s the boss.” Rick Flag Sr., played by Grillo, links various parts of the DC Universe. After his debut in the animated ‘Creature Commandos’, the character jumped to live action in ‘Superman’ and ‘Peacemaker’.
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So, it’s clear that he will continue to play a pivotal role across multiple DCU projects. It is a bold step by DC Studios, creating narrative coherence not only between movies but also between animation, television, and film. Our new Superman, David Corenswet, is also returning, as is Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane. James Gunn has assured fans that Lois will not be a side character. In a Threads post, he made it clear that she will play an important role in the sequel.
Gunn described ‘Man of Tomorrow’ as a story where “Lex Luthor and Superman have to work together against a bigger threat.” The conflict between good and evil thrust into awkward partnership is very much Gunn’s style. Moreover, the film will be a combination of irony, moral ambiguity, and unwilling partnership that would redefine the relationship between the two most iconic DC characters. There is already speculation about the identity of the mysterious antagonist, with Brainiac as the most popular theory.
Jimmy Olsen Takes The Spotlight In His Own DCU Spinoff
After ‘Superman’ took flight on the big screen, the DCU television department is about to explore more of Metropolis. However, this time around, it is through the eyes of its most undervalued hero: Jimmy Olsen. The Hollywood Reporter reported that HBO Max has enlisted the creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda to write and executive produce the Jimmy Olsen spinoff series, starring Skyler Gisondo.
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The tone of the series is expected to blend investigative mystery with light-hearted satire, following Jimmy and other Daily Planet reporters (sans Lois and Clark) as they investigate bizarre cases involving super-powered criminals. Among those villains? The telepathic gorilla of the Flash, Gorilla Grodd, is said to be the main threat of the first season. That decision in itself is an indication of something different.
It showcases DC’s desire to grow the DCU with a more grounded feel and, at the same time, retain the wild, comic-book essence that makes it so special. In a cinematic universe that often goes between gods and street-level heroes, a journalist-focused mystery show feels refreshingly grounded. Additionally, the Jimmy Olsen project is not the only one. Gunn and Safran have also been developing other spinoff concepts, including one for Mister Terrific.
