# Man of Tomorrow (film)
**Man of Tomorrow** is an upcoming American superhero film written and directed by [James Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-gunn), the sequel to *Superman* (2025) and the second Superman-centered theatrical release of the relaunched [DC Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-universe). It stars [David Corenswet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-corenswet) as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, who are forced to work together against the super-intelligent alien Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film in theaters on July 9, 2027.[1](https://apnews.com/article/fb7abe72c4609c0ab27a6f3f46c640bf) • [2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | James Gunn, who also leads DC Studios with producer Peter Safran[1](https://apnews.com/article/fb7abe72c4609c0ab27a6f3f46c640bf) |
| Release date | July 9, 2027, in theaters, announced September 3, 2025[3](https://www.thewrap.com/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-release-date/) |
| Premise | Superman must team up with his imprisoned adversary Lex Luthor to defeat Brainiac[2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/) |
| New cast members | Lars Eidinger as Brainiac and Adria Arjona as Maxima, an alien queen who has been both antagonist and potential love interest for Superman in the comics[4](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-starts-filming-james-gunn-35685/) |
| Returning cast | David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner), and Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific)[2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/) |
| Production | Filming began in April 2026 and principal photography wrapped on August 26, 2026[4](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-starts-filming-james-gunn-35685/) • [5](https://www.avclub.com/james-gunn-announces-principal-shooting-is-done-on-man-of-tomorrow) |
| Franchise context | Preceded by *Superman* (2025), which earned more than $611 million worldwide, and followed within 2027 by Matt Reeves' *The Batman Part II* on October 1[6](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/news/superman-sequel-release-date-man-of-tomorrow-july-2027-27167) |
## Announcement and title
Gunn announced the sequel's title and release date on social media on September 3, 2025, about six weeks after *Superman* opened. His post included concept art by [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics)' chief creative officer [Jim Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-lee) showing Superman leaning casually, screwdriver in hand, against [Lex Luthor](https://www.edgepedia.org/lex-luthor) in his green-and-purple warsuit, a visual that signaled the film's focus on the Superman and Luthor relationship.[1](https://apnews.com/article/fb7abe72c4609c0ab27a6f3f46c640bf) • [7](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/dc-movies/superman-2-is-coming-sooner-than-you-think-as-james-gunn-announces-the-official-title-and-release-date-while-teasing-a-superman-lex-luthor-team-up/) Corenswet and Hoult shared their own character art, drawn by Jorge Jiménez and Mitch Gerads respectively.[1](https://apnews.com/article/fb7abe72c4609c0ab27a6f3f46c640bf)
The title comes from one of Superman's long-standing epithets. Some early trade coverage referred to the project as *Superman: Man of Tomorrow*, and Rotten Tomatoes' slate guide notes Gunn's hesitancy to release a film with a subtitle.[6](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/news/superman-sequel-release-date-man-of-tomorrow-july-2027-27167) • [8](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/full-list-of-all-upcoming-dc-movies-with-key-details/)
## Story and cast
The premise places Superman in an uneasy alliance with Luthor, who is introduced in jail in the film's opening scenes; Gunn's first on-set photos showed a chessboard, a Van Kull Prison badge for inmate A. Luthor, and a bag of Ruffles chips. Together the two must confront Brainiac, a super-intelligent antagonist.[4](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-starts-filming-james-gunn-35685/) • [2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/) This marks the first time Brainiac has appeared in a live-action Superman film, after decades in which the character was pitched as the antagonist of sequels to *Superman Returns*, *Superman III*, and *Man of Steel* that were dropped or canceled.[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37833661) ComicBook.com also identifies it as the first time Superman and Luthor have worked together in live-action DC history.[10](https://comicbook.com/movies/news/james-gunn-confirms-how-long-man-of-tomorrow-takes-place-after-superman/)
The supporting cast blends returning *Superman* players with new DC Universe faces. [Milly Alcock](https://www.edgepedia.org/milly-alcock) returns as Kara Zor-El after headlining *Supergirl* (2026), in which she made her debut with a cameo; Aaron Pierre joins as John Stewart, a character he debuted as in the [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) series *Lanterns*. [Matthew Lillard](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-lillard) also joined the cast in a role that had not been disclosed when his casting was reported.[2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/) • [11](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/matthew-lillard-superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-36339/)
## Production
[Principal photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/principal-photography) began in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 2026, which Gunn confirmed with an April 20 set photo.[4](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-starts-filming-james-gunn-35685/) • [12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37833661/fullcredits/) On June 1, 2026, Gunn posted a first look at Luthor's war suit.[2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/) He announced the completion of principal photography on August 26, 2026, celebrating with a photo of the film's "brain trust" and a shot of Hoult jumping into a lake after his last shot; the film then entered post-production.[5](https://www.avclub.com/james-gunn-announces-principal-shooting-is-done-on-man-of-tomorrow) • [2](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/) By mid-October 2026, Gunn said he had shown Safran the first director's cut a month ahead of his own expected schedule.[13](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/james-gunn-responds-rumors-dc-man-of-tomorrow-the-batman-part-ii-supergirl)
## Place in the DCU
*Man of Tomorrow* follows *Superman* (2025), which relaunched the franchise after a creative reboot, and the 2026 releases *Supergirl* (June 2026) and *Clayface* (October 2026). Its July 2027 release puts it before *The Batman Part II*, which opens October 1, 2027.[6](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/news/superman-sequel-release-date-man-of-tomorrow-july-2027-27167) The lineup of Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, Mister Terrific, and John Stewart around the central pair has led to wide speculation that the film functions as a large-scale ensemble entry, though Gunn has said the story centers on Superman and Luthor.[10](https://comicbook.com/movies/news/james-gunn-confirms-how-long-man-of-tomorrow-takes-place-after-superman/)
## The 2020 animated film of the same title
A separate work, *Superman: Man of Tomorrow* (2020), is a 1 hour 26 minute PG-13 animated film about a young Clark Kent interning at the [Daily Planet](https://www.edgepedia.org/daily-planet) while learning to protect [Metropolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/metropolis). It features early encounters with Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Martian Manhunter, Lobo, and Parasite, and it launched the "Tomorrowverse," the second connected DC animated continuity. Reviewers were largely positive, with a 93% Tomatometer from 14 critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.5 out of 10 from IGN's Jesse Schedeen.[14](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_man_of_tomorrow) • [15](https://saturation.io/budgets/superman-man-of-tomorrow-2020)
## References
1. [The 'Superman' sequel, 'Man of Tomorrow,' will arrive summer 2027, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/fb7abe72c4609c0ab27a6f3f46c640bf)
2. [James Gunn Says 'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' Has Wrapped Filming, Variety Australia](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-man-of-tomorrow-wrapped-filming-james-gunn-39773/)
3. [Superman Sequel Release Date, Title Revealed by James Gunn, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-release-date/)
4. ['Superman' Sequel 'Man of Tomorrow' Starts Filming, Variety Australia](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-starts-filming-james-gunn-35685/)
5. [James Gunn announces principal shooting is done on Man Of Tomorrow, The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/james-gunn-announces-principal-shooting-is-done-on-man-of-tomorrow)
6. ['Superman' Sequel 'Man of Tomorrow' Sets July 2027 Release Date, Variety Australia](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/news/superman-sequel-release-date-man-of-tomorrow-july-2027-27167)
7. [Superman 2 is coming sooner than you think, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/dc-movies/superman-2-is-coming-sooner-than-you-think-as-james-gunn-announces-the-official-title-and-release-date-while-teasing-a-superman-lex-luthor-team-up/)
8. [Your Full List of All Upcoming DC Movies, Rotten Tomatoes](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/full-list-of-all-upcoming-dc-movies-with-key-details/)
9. [Man of Tomorrow (2027), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37833661)
10. [James Gunn Confirms How Long Man of Tomorrow Takes Place After Superman, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/movies/news/james-gunn-confirms-how-long-man-of-tomorrow-takes-place-after-superman/)
11. [Matthew Lillard Joins 'Superman' Sequel 'Man of Tomorrow', Variety Australia](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/matthew-lillard-superman-sequel-man-of-tomorrow-36339/)
12. [Man of Tomorrow (2027) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37833661/fullcredits/)
13. [James Gunn Doesn't Hold Back About 'BS' Rumors Swirling Around Man Of Tomorrow And More DC Projects, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/james-gunn-responds-rumors-dc-man-of-tomorrow-the-batman-part-ii-supergirl)
14. [Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_man_of_tomorrow)
15. [Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020) Animated Film Budget, Saturation.io](https://saturation.io/budgets/superman-man-of-tomorrow-2020)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works) › Science fiction and fantasy films of the 2020s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license