James Gunn, whose filmography includes the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker, has once again made it clear that he has no interest in keeping his new DC Universe grounded for long. According to the DC Studios co-head, the stakes for his upcoming sequel are heading into the cosmos, and bringing together a hero and a villain to face a galactic threat would not feel right.
James Gunn says ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ will feature a reluctant team-up
Speaking from the set as principal photography officially began on April 20, 2026, Gunn confirmed that the sequel to last year’s Superman will force David Corenswet’s Man of Steel into an uneasy alliance.
“From the set of #ManofTomorrow. Shooting now,” Gunn shared alongside an image that teased the film’s direction.
The photo featured a Van Kull Prison badge for “Luthor, A,” confirming that Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor remains a central figure.
He added that the sequel will push the rivalry further as they confront Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. “Do you want to see a DC Universe without these kinds of stakes? The answer is no.”
For Gunn, the movie is inseparable from the high-concept sci-fi roots of the comics. He has repeatedly said he has no interest in “cameo p****,” yet the production reportedly features a massive ensemble, including Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Aaron Pierre as Green Lantern John Stewart.
In his view, any version of a Superman sequel that doesn’t feel like a “galactic-scale” event would simply fall short.
The studio has also become more outspoken about the visual identity of the film.
Gunn’s set photo revealed a new logo on the production slate that fuses the classic Superman “S” shield with Brainiac’s signature three-pronged symbol.
Recently, Gunn joked that his answer to fans obsessed over a bag of Ruffles chips in his set photo is that sometimes a snack is just a snack.
Despite the humour, he said he truly believes that too many modern franchises ruin the mystery of their films by over-explaining every detail before the first trailer even drops.
Instead, Gunn believes the dynamic between Corenswet and Hoult, this time working together against a common foe, remains the perfect way to evolve the story.
Although the film won’t arrive in theaters until July 9, 2027, the creator has continued building the world in other ways.
He sees the upcoming Supergirl and Clayface films, releasing later in 2026, as companions to the Man of Tomorrow journey rather than separate entities.
Gunn is also reportedly working on a new retrospective project about the first year of the DCU, which is expected to be released in late 2026 and look back at the making and legacy of the reboot that started it all.
