‘Man of Tomorrow’ is Looking Like the DCU's ‘Avengers.’ Here's Everything We Know

There's been a lot to like about James Gunn and Peter Safran's big reboot of DC Comics at the movies, better known as the DC Universe. Last year's Superman was a fun callback to the Golden Age comics of old, Kapow!-ing away the dour self-seriousness that has long dominated the superhero genre, exchanging muddy CGI and depressing plotlines for color and, well, fun — with the addition of zanier shit like a dog with a cape and superpowers. Meanwhile, the True Detective-style Lanterns hit HBO this month, and has already become a killer staple of our Sunday night TV schedules.The one unfortunate misfire: this summer's Supergirl, which went down like a jetliner without wings or a superhero to save it, drawing so-so reviews and just over $125 million at the box office. Still, it should hardly be enough to take the DCU totally off course — every superhero universe is allowed its Incredible Hulk moment. (Besides which, Marvel has had plenty of other duds.) A lot of excitement remains for the next movie on the slate, Clayface, a body-horror-infused reimagining of the shape-shifting Batman villain.But the big one is set for next July: a Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn has dubbed the next entry in his “Superman Saga,” rather than a traditional, out-and-out sequel. The difference? Superman has a “major role,” but it isn't technically “Superman 2,” per Gunn on BlueSky (via Collider). In other words: it isn't a Superman sequel because James Gunn says it isn't, damn it. Even if, for all intents and purposes, it clearly seems to be.So, what to expect from Superman's totally-not-a-sequel (that's actually, really a sequel)? They're staying tight-lipped on the plot specifics right now, but word is that it'll see Clark Kent (David Corenswet) and his age-old nemesis Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) team up against an all-timer of a comic-book villain: Brainiac, an alien cyborg who possesses insanely advanced tech and an intellect to rival a hundred Einsteins. He has long been one of Superman's most formidable rivals in the comics, but has yet to hit the live-action big time—until now. He'll be played by German arthouse mainstay Lars Eidinger, who described his Brainiac as “the incarnation of Satan.” And that's coming from a guy who has played a lot of Nazis.With the über-evil of Brainiac for contrast, it wouldn't surprise us if Luthor is positioned more as an anti-hero in Man of Tomorrow, especially since Gunn has expressed an interest in exploring Luthor's humanity, and “getting into [his] heart.” That might explain why Gunn has avoided calling Man of Tomorrow a Superman sequel—from the sound of it, this story might end up being just as much about Lex. (In announcing the movie's release date, Gunn shared some concept art depicting Luthor in a killer suit of Iron Man-style high-tech power armor, like he's worn to battle Supes in the comic books.)Elsewhere, many of the heroes introduced in Superman are set to return, including Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner—now one of three Green Lanterns roaming around Gunn's DCU, alongside Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre)—along with Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and Milly Alcock's Supergirl.It's also been confirmed that Pierre's John Stewart will make his big-screen debut in Man of Tomorrow, presumably continuing his character's to-be-concluded story from Lanterns, while Xolo Maridueña will come into Man of Tomorrow as one of the few heroes carried over from the DC Extended Universe, Blue Beetle, reprising his titular role from the 2023 film. Hit-Man breakout Adria Arjona has also been cast, allegedly as an alien love interest for Superman, Maxima— although some fans online still reckon that she's actually playing Wonder Woman. With all of those characters, it's starting to sound a little Avengers-coded. Of course, that stuck afterburners on the MCU. We'll have to wait until next year to see if the DCU can do the same.This story originally appeared in British GQ.