‘Man of Tomorrow’ Gets a Massive Production Update, Setting Up James Gunn’s Next Big DCU Chapter

James Gunn’s second trip through the DC Universe is officially in the can. Following the massive success of 2025’s “Superman,” which pulled in over $614 million worldwide and reintroduced audiences to a more hopeful, optimistic take on the Man of Steel, Gunn wasted little time announcing his next chapter for the franchise.

That sequel, “Man of Tomorrow,” began filming on April 20, 2026, bringing back David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor to continue the story Gunn started building in his DCU relaunch. The project also marked a rare moment of dual duty for Gunn, who wrote and directed the film while simultaneously overseeing DC Studios’ broader slate as co-CEO alongside Peter Safran.

Production on “Man of Tomorrow” has officially wrapped, closing out a shoot that stretched across several months of set photos, teased footage, and steadily expanding cast reveals. The film centers on an uneasy alliance between Superman and Lex Luthor as the two are forced to team up against a far bigger threat, with Gunn previously describing the project as being just as much a Lex Luthor film as a Superman one.

That threat comes in the form of Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger, marking the character’s first-ever live-action film appearance. Gunn teased the setup during a CinemaCon video message earlier this year, with Corenswet promising audiences would “try saving the world with your sworn enemy,” while Hoult added that the story hinges on “a new villain and an unlikely alliance.”

The returning ensemble carries over much of the world Gunn built in the first film. Rachel Brosnahan reprises her role as Lois Lane, with Skyler Gisondo back as Jimmy Olsen and Isabela Merced returning as Hawkgirl. Nathan Fillion returns as Guy Gardner, Frank Grillo reprises Rick Flag Sr., and Aaron Pierre comes back as Green Lantern John Stewart following his work in “Lanterns.” Milly Alcock also returns, having played Supergirl in Gunn’s first film, alongside newcomer Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific.

Gunn’s approach to the character has consistently drawn comparisons to Grant Morrison’s “All-Star Superman,” leaning into a version of Clark Kent defined by genuine kindness and moral clarity rather than brooding angst. That tonal throughline appears to be carrying directly into “Man of Tomorrow,” with the film positioned to deepen the dynamic between hero and villain established in the first installment while raising the stakes considerably with Brainiac’s introduction.

Production photos leaked throughout the shoot gave fans an early look at Corenswet back in the full Superman costume, along with glimpses of Hoult on set as Lex Luthor, fueling steady anticipation online even as most plot specifics remained tightly under wraps. Gunn has generally kept a firm grip on details surrounding the villain’s role and the exact nature of the threat facing the film’s central duo.

With filming now complete, “Man of Tomorrow” moves into post-production ahead of its planned July 9, 2027 release, giving Warner Bros. and DC Studios roughly a year to finish the film before it lands in theaters. The project remains part of Gunn’s larger “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” initiative, the foundational slate meant to establish the new DCU’s shared continuity moving forward.

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