James Gunn has once again made it clear that he has no interest in keeping his DC Universe stagnant. According to the franchise’s architect, the sequel to his 2025 debut is ready to expand its cosmic reach, and bringing in Andor breakout Adria Arjona was the right move to spice up the Man of Steel’s world.
James Gunn says ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ will feature a complicated new dynamic
Speaking about the casting of Arjona, Gunn hinted that the script for the sequel needed someone who could stand toe-to-toe with David Corenswet’s Clark Kent. While the studio is keeping the official character name under wraps, reports suggest she is taking on the role of the alien queen Maxima. “I’ve been friends with Adria a long time,” Gunn explained during the process.
He added that once the screen tests in Atlanta were finished, it made the decision to cast her even easier. “Do you want to see a DC Universe without this kind of talent? The answer is no.”
For Gunn, the series is inseparable from the deep lore of the comics, and he has repeatedly said he has no interest in just rehashing old stories. In his view, any version of a Superman sequel that doesn’t introduce high-stakes interpersonal drama would simply fall short.
Arjona’s rumored role as a powerful monarch from the planet Almerac suggests a messy romantic pursuit that could complicate the life of the Last Son of Krypton. Gunn has also become more outspoken about protecting the vision for this new chapter, titled Gods and Monsters.
He and producer Peter Safran reportedly have a tight grip on the narrative flow, ensuring that even a Superman and Lex Luthor team-up against Brainiac feels earned. Recently, Gunn joked that his answer to people asking if he’s casting Batman or Wonder Woman for this specific movie is just to look at his social media denials.
Despite the humor, he said he truly believes that too many modern franchises ruin their focus by trying to introduce too many heroes at once, whereas he wants to focus on the core cast.
Instead, Gunn believes the dynamic between David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor remains the perfect center for the film.
Although the movie won’t arrive until July 9, 2027, Gunn has continued expanding the DC slate in other ways. He is overseeing the Supergirl and Lanterns projects, which he sees as companions to the Man of Tomorrow journey rather than a replacement.
Gunn is also reportedly working on a new retrospective project about the launch of the DCU, which is expected to be released in 2026 and look back at the making and legacy of the first film while looking ahead to the future.
