The DC Universe’s future just became a little clearer. With James Gunn confirming fresh details about the upcoming ‘Man of Tomorrow’, fans finally have a strong sense of where the next Superman story is headed, and who the villain almost certainly will be.
While 2025’s ‘Superman’ gave audiences their first look at David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, the next film promises to turn that rivalry into an uneasy alliance against a threat unlike any the DCU has faced so far.
Lex Luthor And Superman Will Have To Come Together To Beat Brainiac
In a recent interview on The Howard Stern Show, Gunn revealed that ‘Man of Tomorrow‘ will center on Superman and Lex Luthor working together. That single statement has sparked a tidal wave of speculation. However, to most fans, the answer is obvious: the villain is almost certainly Brainiac. If Superman has an arch-enemy, it’s Lex Luthor. But when the story demands a cosmic, nearly insurmountable threat, Brainiac is often the go-to adversary.
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A cold, hyper-intelligent android from the planet Colu, Brainiac has long been one of Superman’s most dangerous villains. Additionally, it’s not only because of brute strength, but because of his calculating mind and horrifying methods. Brainiac’s trademark obsession with “preserving knowledge” often leads him to shrink entire cities, trapping them in bottles to study while destroying the rest of their worlds.
For Superman, Brainiac’s existence is personal: one of the villain’s bottled cities is Kandor, a surviving fragment of Krypton. Pair that with Lex Luthor, and you suddenly have a story worth a lot. Brainiac’s intellect rivals and perhaps surpasses Luthor’s own. For a man whose ego rests on being the smartest in any room, the idea of facing a being who can outthink him at every turn would be intolerable.
Gunn himself teased this balance when he said the movie is about Superman and Lex “having to work together… against a much, much bigger threat.” From a narrative perspective, Brainiac forces both men to confront what defines them. Moreover, DC Comics recently told a similar story in the House of Brainiac crossover, where Superman and Lex formed a shaky alliance against the Coluan villain. So, the idea of finally seeing him in live action, after decades of fan demand, feels almost overdue.
‘Man Of Tomorrow’ Production, Returning Cast And The Road To The Justice League
Alongside the villain speculation, DC Studios has shared some concrete updates on the project. Gunn announced that production on ‘Man of Tomorrow’ is aiming to begin in June 2026, with the movie slated for release on July 9, 2027. Gunn will once again write, direct, and produce, with DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran producing alongside him.
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The film will bring back David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, now positioned as co-leads. While their rivalry remains intact, Gunn’s comments confirm that circumstances will force them to collaborate. Rachel Brosnahan is also expected to return as Lois Lane, alongside other familiar faces like Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen, Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, and Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner.
However, perhaps the most intriguing detail lies in the rumored additions. Industry chatter suggests that Supergirl, Lobo, and Peacemaker could all appear in the film, potentially recruited by Superman and Lex to form an uneasy team. Isabela Merced, who debuted as Hawkgirl, might also return. If these rumors hold true, ‘Man of Tomorrow’ won’t just be about Superman and Lex. It may also serve as a stepping stone toward the formation of the Justice League in the DCU.
