Man of Tomorrow (film)

Development

In June 2025, ahead of the release of the first DC Universe (DCU) film Superman, writer and director James Gunn—who also produced the film with his DC Studios co-chair and co-CEO Peter Safran—said he was working on the script for a follow-up film that would not be a direct sequel, but would feature Clark Kent / Superman in a major role.^[23][24] Gunn stated that it would not be called Superman 2,^[24] and it would not be a World's Finest or Batman vs. Superman film featuring a team-up between Superman and Batman.^[25] Superman stars David Corenswet (Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) had options for a potential sequel in their contracts, but following the first film's release in July a direct sequel was not expected to be announced in the near future.^[26] In August, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that Gunn would also direct the follow-up film, and described it as the "next movie in the 'Super-Family'".^[27] Gunn said it was the "next story in what I'll call the 'Superman Saga'".^[28] He had finished writing a detailed treatment, similar to the "60-page treatments with dialogue and everything" that he wrote for his previous films, and had started turning that into a full script. Gunn added that DC Studios was actively scheduling the film's production and it would begin filming "sooner rather than later".^[28][29]

Gunn, Corenswet, and Nicholas Hoult—who portrayed Lex Luthor in Superman—each posted a piece of artwork to social media in September 2025, announcing that the follow-up was titled Man of Tomorrow and was scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. Corenswet and Hoult were expected to reprise their roles. The pieces all feature Superman and Luthor, the latter in his armored suit from the comics, and were respectively drawn by DC Comics artists Jim Lee, Jorge Jiménez, and Mitch Gerads. Commentators believed the artwork indicated that the two characters would team up or have a rematch in the film.^[3][30] Gunn said he had finished a draft of the script and was rewriting it,^[31] and that Lois Lane would have an important role,^[32] while journalist Jeff Sneider reported that Skyler Gisondo was expected to reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen from Superman.^[33] Gunn soon added that filming was scheduled to start around April 2026, and explained that they were able to move so quickly because they "knew immediately where we were going" with the story. He said Man of Tomorrow was "as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie" and would include the pair working together against a bigger threat.^[1] In late September, Gunn released a picture of the completed second script draft. The cover features an anatomical illustration of a brain, leading to speculation that the comic book villain Brainiac would be in the film;^[34][35][36] Gunn previously considered using Brainiac in Superman.^[37]

Upon the announcement of Man of Tomorrow, Gunn stated that the second season of his television series Peacemaker (2025) was a "prequel" to Man of Tomorrow that directly sets-up the film's events;^[38] Hoult makes a cameo appearance as Luthor in the Peacemaker episode "Ignorance Is Chris", in which A.R.G.U.S. leader Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) offers Luthor "an opportunity for redemption". Gunn said this was an important moment for the entire DCU.^[39] The Peacemaker season 2 finale "Full Nelson" introduces the organization Checkmate and the inter-dimensional prison Salvation. These were two important aspects to Gunn's overarching DCU story that he had planned out before being hired as co-head of DC Studios, with the series Lanterns (2026) also touching on both story points and Salvation being a major aspect of Man of Tomorrow.^[40]

Pre-production

In November 2025, Grillo confirmed that he was preparing to return as Flag for a major role in Man of Tomorrow.^[9] Brainiac was confirmed to appear as the main antagonist,^[2] while Gunn was storyboarding the film.^[41] Lars Eidinger was cast as Brainiac in late December, after a "worldwide search" from which Eidinger emerged as the frontrunner.^[10] Eidinger was approached by Gunn over Zoom about submitting a self-tape for the role, which the actor said they became "obsessed" with, before an in-person audition with Gunn in Atlanta, Georgia. Eidinger underwent a 3D modeling scan of his body and spent two hours getting the character's makeup applied and mask designed. He also watched Superman to prepare for the audition.^[42][43] In January 2026, Gunn said that casting was underway for smaller roles and a prominent female character, but debunked speculation that this was for Wonder Woman. He added that Eidinger's casting was the most important new addition to the film, and that the other supporting roles were characters previously introduced in earlier DCU projects.^[44] The following month, the Ohio Department of Development revealed that Man of Tomorrow would be partially filmed in Cincinnati, Ohio. The production was awarded nearly $2 million through the state's tax credit program, after Superman was also filmed there.^[45]

Leading up to the start of production in the following months, several Superman actors were revealed to be reprising their DCU roles for Man of Tomorrow, including Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl,^[8] Brosnahan as Lane, Gisondo as Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica / The Engineer,^[6] Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mister Terrific, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern.^[7] In March, Aaron Pierre was revealed to be reprising his role of the Green Lantern John Stewart from Lanterns,^[6] and in early April, Adria Arjona, Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler, and Grace Van Patten performed screen tests in Atlanta for the role of Maxima, for which they were the finalists. Arjona previously starred in the film The Belko Experiment (2016), which Gunn produced.^[7] Deadline Hollywood initially reported that Arjona, Marisa Abela, and Ella Purnell were testing for Maxima, before Gunn refuted that.^[46] He stated that the production had one major role left to cast, but would not confirm whether this was Maxima.^[16][46][47] Sneider reaffirmed that the four finalists had tested for Maxima, reporting that she would have a small role in the film before having a larger role in an eventual third Superman film. He questioned whether some of the actresses were testing for another role, such as Wonder Woman.^[48] After several tests, Arjona was cast later that month.^[15] Angelique Jackson at Variety acknowledged that Arjona had been suggested for the role of Wonder Woman by some fans, which Gunn had agreed with, but reported along with Deadline that Arjona was cast as Maxima.^[17][18] However, Borys Kit and Aaron Couch of The Hollywood Reporter and Umberto Gonzalez at TheWrap reported that it was unclear whether she would portray Maxima.^[15][16] Gonzalez acknowledged speculation of the film adapting aspects of the 1992 comic book storyline "Panic in the Sky", in which Superman and other superheroes fight Brainiac as he attempts to invade Earth, working with Maxima before she betrays him;^[16] Gunn previously said he was not specifically inspired by that storyline.^[13] Later in April, Gunn announced that Andre Royo, who starred in his film Super (2010), had been cast in the film for an undisclosed role.^[19] This prompted speculation that Royo would portray the character Martian Manhunter, who was briefly referenced in Superman.^[19][49][22] Gunn also revealed that Stephen Blackehart was reprising his DCU role as Sydney Happersen in the film.^[22]

Filming

Principal photography began on April 20, 2026,^[4] taking place primarily at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, under the working title Exodus.^[50] Sam McCurdy is the cinematographer, after previously working with Gunn on Peacemaker.^[44] In early May, Matthew Lillard and Sinqua Walls joined the cast in undisclosed roles.^[20][21] Lillard previously expressed interest in joining the DCU and starred as Shaggy Rogers in the films Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), which Gunn wrote.^[20] Later that month, Milly Alcock was revealed to be reprising her role as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl.^[14] Five days of filming will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio, between June 15 and August 21,^[45] with filming also set to occur at Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia, to stand-in for the Daily Planet newsroom,^[51] as well as in Atlanta, Georgia,^[2] and the United Kingdom.^[9] Grillo will shoot his scenes for ten weeks between the UK and Georgia,^[9] while Eidinger will film his scenes from May until the end of August.^[43] Filming will last through mid-2026.^[6]

Post-production

Visual effects supervisor Stéphane Ceretti is set to return from Superman and some of Gunn's prior films,^[52] while Fred Raskin will serve as the editor.^[22]