The DCEU (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) has been in the rear view for a few years now, with co-CEO James Gunn crafting a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and has featured a unique mixture of TV and film titles. Although Gunn wants fans to know he's not trying to recreate the MCU, even when it comes to Superman and upcoming DC movies.

Folks who have been watching the DC movies in order alongside the TV series know that each project has been quite different than its predecessors. Fans recently wondered on social media what the DCU is building toward, prompting Gunn to respond on Threads about his vision for the shared universe.

Honestly, I get his perspective. While Gunn and Peter Safran are indeed creating a new interconnected franchise, he also wants each new title to stand on its own. This can be seen in how unique each DCU title has been so far, even with some connective tissue between each one. The shared universe isn't focused on crossovers, although these will eventually happen in movies like Man of Tomorrow.

Clayface hit theaters over the weekend, reaching #1 in a body-horror infused movie that feels very different to what Craig Gillespie with Supergirl. Only time will tell if/when Tom Rhys Harries's title character pops up, with hardcore DC fans hoping to see him face off against the shared universe's version of Batman.

James Gunn regularly shuts down rumors on Threads related to the DCU, which is super satisfying for fans who are looking for some real indication of what he's got up his sleeve. Given how many questions and rumors are swirling about the shared universe, there are countless theories about what's coming next. Luckily the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker is super generous online with fans.

As previously mentioned, Man of Tomorrow is expected to be an exciting DCU crossover moment, with the Superman sequel set to include Lanterns star Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, as well as the return of Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle. Whether or not Clayface is included remains to be seen, but it is seemingly in the same universe.

Clayface is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Man of Tomorrow, that's expected to be released on July 9th 2027. We'll just have to see how many rumors Gunn shuts down before then.

David Corenswet put on a lot of muscle to play Superman, which makes sense when your job description includes lifting buildings and looking believable in a pretty tight blue supersuit. After watching him fill out the cape in James Gunn’s take on the character, I assumed there probably wasn’t much physically the guy couldn’t handle. Turns out I was giving Superman way too much credit in one department: running.

While discussing training for his upcoming football movie Mr. Irrelevant, Corenswet admitted that all the work he did to become the Man of Steel didn't prepare him for the sprinting required to play an NFL running back. The actor broke down the difference during a red carpet interview with People, which the outlet shared in an Instagram Reel. He had a head start after recently bulking up for Big Blue, so the strict diet and heavy training were familiar territory. Football-specific conditioning, however, was a whole different beast. As he explained:

Superman may be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but don't you dare ask him to run wind sprints. We may have discovered Kryptonite No. 2.

According to the Twisters actor, the training had a considerable toll on his body. He continued:

Honestly, I can't blame the guy for not being up on his running, as the whole thing sounds miserable. Shin splints? No, thank you. But it also makes sense, given how different the physical demands were. His preparation for a new DC movie centered heavily on gaining size and strength. For Mr. Irrelevant, he needed to move like an NFL running back.

That meant considerably more time actually running instead of pretending to fly. Mr. Irrelevant, which has already seen some strong test screenings, tells the true story of John Tuggle, who earned the slightly brutal nickname after becoming the final player selected in the 1983 NFL Draft. The New York Giants picked him at No. 335, and Tuggle made the roster and became an important special teams player before cancer cut his career short. He died in 1986 at just 25 years old.

The movie stars Corenswet opposite Isabel May, with Michael Shannon playing Giants coach Bill Parcells and David Krumholtz portraying Julius “Whitey” Horai. Jonathan Levine directs from a screenplay by Nick Santora. The actor's Superman physique didn't go to waste. The first images from Mr. Irrelevant showed him looking very much like someone who could survive an NFL training camp. But playing Tuggle required a different kind of athleticism than filling out the red trunks, and I kind of love that running was what humbled him.

It is also funny to realize the Pearl actor spent all that time making Superman look superhuman without necessarily needing elite endurance. Why would Clark run five miles when he can simply float there?

Fans can see whether all those sprints and shin splints paid off when Mr. Irrelevant hits the 2026 movie calendar on Dec. 25. Corenswet will then trade the football pads back for the cape when he returns as Clark Kent in Man of Tomorrow, currently scheduled for July 9, 2027.

Folks who have spent years watching the DC movies in order know that we're currently in the early stages of a new shared universe, one designed by co-CEO James Gunn. The first big screen adventure was Superman, which is streaming now with a HBO Max subscription. The Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker was recently asked if he'll be releasing a director's cut of the DC flick, and his response is truly cracking me up.

The first slate of DCU projects is called Gods and Monsters, with Gunn methodically expanding the shared universe with both TV and film titles. While there are plenty of upcoming DC movies to look forward to, a fan asked Gunn on Threads if we should expect a director's cut of Superman sometime in the future. He responded with:

I love this response. As the head of the studio as well as the movie's director and writer, it makes sense that James Gunn wouldn't have to make another version of Superman. Instead, he made the movie he wanted, which was the theatrical cut that was released back in July of 2025. Of course, it's hard not to imagine this is as a subtle dig to Zack Snyder.

Snyder is known for releasing director's cuts of his movies. That includes Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead, Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. Then there's Zack Snyder's Justice League, which was completed and released after fans campaigned to see it for years. James Gunn won't be following suit, as the version of Superman that arrived in theaters was the movie he set out to make.

Snyder is synonymous with his director's cuts, which are often longer but provide more context for the narratives he's telling. Batman v Superman's directors cut was superior to the one that hit theaters, and Zack Snyder's Justice League was also better... although it was much longer than the theatrical cut. Fans loved it, especially the ways that the new Knightmare scene teased his vision for the two scrapped Justice League films. There are still some fans who are hoping that Warner Bros. will #RestoreTheSnyderVerse some day. Although there's been no indication that the studio is actually interested.

James Gunn might not have been throwing shade at Zack Snyder, but I have to assume that fans out there will make that connection about his Director's Cut comments. Unfortunately for Snyder, he seemingly hasn't had the same freedom that Gunn has as co-CEO of DC Studios. Hey, it's good to be the boss.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Clayface on October 23rd as part of the 2026 movie release list. James Gunn is once again going to be behind the camera for Man of Tomorrow, which is currently expected on July 9th, 2027. I have to assume we won't get a director's cut of that movie either.

Superman has plenty of reasons to worry about Lex Luthor in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow. Nicholas Hoult’s bald billionaire has already proven he can make Clark Kent’s life miserable without throwing many punches. This time around, however, Lex is apparently ready to get his hands dirty, and David Corenswet had a funny and practical concern after seeing his co-star suited up in his powersuit.

We’ve known for a while that Hoult will finally don Lex Luthor’s famous Warsuit in James Gunn’s Superman follow-up. Gunn revealed the first look at the green armor from the set earlier this year, marking the suit’s first appearance in a live-action feature film after previous TV incarnations. Corenswet has now finished filming Man of Tomorrow and, while discussing what audiences can expect from Superman’s next adventure, he teased some bigger character work alongside all the comic book insanity. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, the actor said:

Going “a little bit deeper” sounds promising, particularly after the first movie established Clark and Lex as two people who fundamentally cannot stand what the other represents. Gunn has also said the upcoming DC movie remains heavily centered on Clark and Lex, even as the story expands around them. But I'm also very interested in the "crazy stuff" portion of the Pearl actor's answer because, well, look at that Warsuit:

When Corenswet was asked what went through his mind when he first saw his co-star wearing the armor, he apparently skipped all the superhero mythology and went straight to workplace safety:

That's such a wonderfully mundane concern for Superman to have. Forget whether Lex's armor can survive heat vision or whether its weapons can actually dent the Man of Steel. Corenswet looked at his co-star, wrapped in a giant piece of green machinery and apparently thought about what repeatedly punching all that metal would do to his hands. I mean, fair enough.

Of course, the Warsuit also gives Hoult's Luthor something he didn't really have during most of Superman: the ability to stand across from Clark and know he can go toe-to-toe with the superhero himself. Man of Tomorrow set photos from filming have already shown Corenswet's Superman and Hoult's armored Lex facing off, with the production using a substantial practical version of the suit rather than leaving it entirely to visual effects.

That's an exciting prospect considering how entertaining Corenswet and Hoult were whenever Clark and Lex shared space in the first movie. Their rivalry was already deeply personal. Putting Lex inside a massive suit that lets him actually swing back should add another fun wrinkle. And apparently cost Superman a little skin off his knuckles.

What we know about the Superman sequel is pretty limited, but Gunn described Hoult as the film's co-lead, and the real villain is longtime Supes baddy Brainiac. So, sure, Clark and Lex are probably going to share a punch or two between frenemies, but they're also going to have to presumably work together to bring down a much larger threat to Earth.

Of course, we'll have to wait for answers, as Man of Tomorrow is currently scheduled to hit the 2027 movie calendar on July 9.

These days, all the upcoming DC movies are under the direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s ever-growing comic book universe. It follows a tumultuous number of years when Zack Snyder was, and then wasn’t, the architect of the DCEU due to a ton of factors. Has Snyder had a chance to check out the new era of DC?

In a new interview, Snyder confirmed that he hasn’t seen Superman starring David Corenswet or other recent installments like Supergirl or Lanterns. Here’s why, in his words:

Snyder and Gunn are actually friends, and Snyder previously gave the new helmer of the DC universe big props for being “singular in his storytelling”. Snyder also applauded James Gunn for how “poignant and funny” his work can be, and how “great” having him in charge will be for fans. At the same time, he’s perhaps too close to it, as he spoke to on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.

Zack Snyder joined the Warner Bros. DC universe back in 2010 when he was hired to direct Man of Steel starring Henry Cavill. He then went on to make Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which came out in the summer of 2016. It was his next project, Justice League, which ended up causing the most behind-the-scenes issues.

While he was in production on Justice League, his daughter Autumn Snyder died by suicide at the age of 20. Zack Snyder understandably left the production, and he was replaced by Joss Whedon as director. Whedon and Warner Bros. made significant changes to Justice League, and following the movie’s release, a campaign for his “Snyder Cut” took hold.

Ultimately, the four-hour cut of Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released for those with an HBO Max subscription back in 2021. Snyder has since moved on from superhero movies (no, he doesn’t want to do Marvel either) and has directed movies like Army of the Dead, the Rebel Moon films, and his latest, The Last Photograph, which just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend.

When it comes to the new DC Universe, there’s a lot on the horizon. Next up is a horror-centric take on Clayface coming next month. Next summer, we’re already getting the sequel to Superman, Man of Tomorrow, and Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman is set to return in early 2028.

Snyder may not have seen James Gunn’s Superman, but it sounds like he has a lot of respect for his successor. Perhaps he’ll check it out someday once he’s had enough space from the DC Universe!

Skyler Gisondo is having a moment, for sure. He co-starred as Jimmy Olsen in last year’s Superman, from director James Gunn, and he has an upcoming DC show based on the iconic character. He’s also starring in the upcoming A24 film Primetime, which will hit the 2026 movie schedule on September 25. Then, of course, he’ll be in the upcoming DC movie, Man of Tomorrow, which will hit the 2027 movie schedule next summer. Whew! He’s busy, but we had a chance to catch up with him to talk about all things Primetime and DC, including Jimmy’s aversion to weird feet. Here’s what he told us about that and the upcoming The People v. Gorilla Grodd.

James Gunn is working hard to make each DC film or TV show unique, and The People v. Gorilla Grodd is a perfect example of this. We don’t know a whole lot about the show yet, but we asked Gisondo about Jimmy’s anti-foot fetish, which was the reason he broke up with Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio) in Superman, which Eve claimed was because she had “toes that look like someone spilled shrimp cocktail on them.” When we asked if Jimmy was over his problem, he told us:

Which is good, because the new show sounds like it’s going to be very different from anything else in the DC: it’s a mockumentary. That tracks, as the showrunners are Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, who developed the true-crime mockumentary series American Vandal, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription. Like Vandal, Gorilla Grodd is also a true-crime parody, as Gisondo explained:

That plays perfectly into the vibe–or lack of common vibes–James Gunn and Peter Safran are bringing to the relaunched franchise. Every project, from Superman to Supergirl to the TV shows like Peacemaker and The People v. Gorilla Grodd, has been a very different kind of movie or show. Gisondo is excited about it, as he told us:

I think I speak for many when I say I am very confident in the talent involved in The People v. Gorilla Grodd, which will be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription when it is released.

James Gunn's new(ish) DCU has been subject to a fair share of criticism, especially for Supergirl, with some fans even saying that he should step out of the way. To me, that’s silly for a couple of reasons. For one, he’s barely getting started. So far, Gunn’s DCU is made up of two movies (Superman and Supergirl), and two TV shows (Peacemaker and Lanterns), all of which you can watch with an HBO Max subscription. Creature Commandos is the lone animated series thus far, but I’m going to set that aside for now.

That isn’t the only reason to give Gunn some more slack. I just happen to love the way he is approaching each character uniquely, mixing and matching genres that fit the story. I think it’s a perfect approach.

Superhero Movies, Comedy Shows, And More

All four projects in the newly constituted DC Universe have had very different vibes. Superman is pretty much a straight-up superhero movie. That’s how it should be with Superman. He’s the most famous superhero of all time; he should get the superhero treatment. The rest are far from straight-up. Supergirl is an origin story, mixed with some comedy, wrapped in a hero’s journey of a flawed character. Sure, the villain sucked, and the movie isn’t perfect, but I had a lot of fun with it, and I think Milly Alcock is fantastic in the role.

On the TV side of things, Peacemaker is a really funny, explicit comedy that holds nothing back with one of DC’s most ridiculous heroes (and I mean ridiculous in the best way). John Cena is, of course, the exact right actor to play the role, and both seasons of the show are really fun. Lanterns, on the other hand, is a buddy cop show. It’s funny when it needs to be and serious when it needs to be. The good cop/bad cop roles are a little blurred, which keeps us on our toes, but it fits both characters well and fits the vibe of Green Lantern even better.

And The Changes Keep Coming

In what could be the biggest swing of this first phase, the upcoming DC film Clayface is a body horror movie. Again, it’s a great way to introduce a villain into the universe. It might not work, but I’m betting it does. It’s not going to make a billion dollars, but that’s not the goal. The movie, which hits the 2026 movie schedule next month during spooky season, was made for a modest budget (by superhero movie standards), and doesn’t need to make Spider-Man money to be financially successful. I love the approach here.

Next summer, we’ll be getting back into straight superhero stuff with Man of Tomorrow, and beyond that…well… we just don’t know yet. We do know that there is an upcoming DC TV show centered on Jimmy Olsen called The People v. Gorilla Grodd, and it’s being described as a true crime mockumentary. Another genre-bending approach that sounds perfect for the character as played by Skyler Gisondo.

Marvel has always played it pretty straight most of the time in the MCU, and that probably played into the superhero fatigue that we’ve all felt, though Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s insane box office performance this summer has quieted down that talk a bit. Still, Marvel pretty much plays in the same sandbox for each movie, so taking a very different approach, as Gunn is clearly doing, is a breath of fresh air.

Though the superhero movie rumor mill may be currently inundated with hearsay about Avengers: Doomsday ahead of the 2026 film’s release date, there is more than enough Man of Tomorrow speculation about the cast and more to go around , and I’m sure those conversations will only become more prominent as the months pass. As such, it’s always a plus when director James Gunn gives fans updates directly from the set.

Case in point: Gunn dropped quite the doozy by revealing that principal photography has now concluded for the Superman sequel, which kicked off production in April. That’ll allow for nearly a full year of pre-production and additional filming ahead of the upcoming DC movie’s release date of July 9, 2027, and is definitely worth celebrating for the cast, crew and fandom. I only wish I had a setting as gorgeous as they did to engage in such celebrating, as seen in the theory-sparking post seen below.

Nothing like a dip in some lovely waters to de-Lex Luthorize yourself. Or at least that's what I read in a book somewhere, as I'm not Lex Luthor myself. [Whistles menacingly...I mean innocently.] But wait! Is this really just an innocent look at the film's co-star cooling off, or could it possibly be a clue for the end of the entire movie?

I know, I know. It's probably the former. But here to make the case for the latter point is The James Gunn Instagram Post Comment Section. (Available to perform at weddings and other events.) Quite a few people chimed in with questions, assumptions and confident declarations that the filmmaker's pics imply that Man of Tomorrow will end with Lex Luthor being sent(enced) to the Salvation prison dimension that Peacemaker Season 2 ended on.

Comments For Salvation

• oh Lex Luthor sending to Planet Salvation? 🤔 - @alexandrematiasreal
• Salvation? - @mike_h849
• Is that where i think it could be 👀☮️ - @yvngbadger71
• That has to be Salvation - @venomhology
• Lex in salvation as the ending shot?
  Yeah I need the peak - @sanvidvaidya
• Oh this forest is DEFINITELY Salvation. - @helio.hd
• What the ?!??!? Was Lex thrown onto Salvation? - @sherry.dongg
• I would call these photos major quasi-spoilers, but I’ve been assuming said location since the ‘Peacemaker’ S2 (series??) finale. - @docdaytona_108
• Wheres my goat peacemaker - @ujjwalrko619

Could this location surrounding Gunn and his all-star crew potentially be one where Salvation-set scenes were filmed? Sure, in that it's outside in lush nature and not in the concrete jungle of Metropolis or the desolate cold surrounding the Fortress of Solitude. But it could also...just be somewhere outdoors on Earth. There's plenty of that kind of thing here, after all.

Also, I guess James Gunn could have filmed the last shot of the movie on the last day of production, and then felt safe enough to share that exact location with his social media followers, despite all of his efforts to keep spoilers as limited as possible. But is that really the most likely way that things went?

Even if this location is filmed to be Salvation in Man of Tomorrow, I highly doubt that the movie will end with Lex being sent there, if only because I don't for a second think that Gunn would show us anything this early that could realistically lead to such presumptions. So if I have to make an argument for the Salvation comments, I'd rather hope to see Lex and others show up on the pocket planet to find Peacemaker and bring him into the fight against Brainiac.

If Lanterns' John Stewart is in the mix, and also maybe possibly Blue Beetle, I don't see why John Cena's skull-crushing vigilante should be left out.

To lean even more into the conspiracy theory-ness of it all, look at the two DCU stars who commented on the post:

• STEVE AGEE: 👏👏
• ROBERT PATRICK: 👏👏👏

Both are Peacemaker stars, naturally. I don't want to go all-in on theorizing that one or more other stars from the show will be in Man of Tomorrow, but this would be a good starting point if I did. Or I guess Gunn's wife Jennifer Holland would be the best starting point. In any case, I still don't wanna.

Man of Tomorrow is set to join a bunch of other 2027 releases when it hits theaters on July 9.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC universe is still in its early years, but it’s just officially added a new series to its roster. It kind of sounds like The Office, but set at the Daily Planet, and I’m here for it. But there’s already one character from Superman that I hope makes an appearance. No, it’s not Superman... but that’d be cool, too.

What Is Jimmy Olsen's HBO Max Show?

It was reported last year that the guys from American Vandal were going to be behind a Jimmy Olsen TV show, which James Gunn is involved in too. Now it’s official! HBO Max just put out a press release that has confirmed Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen will lead a mockumentary-style series called The People v. Gorilla Grodd.

It will follow Jimmy as he directs his own true-crime documentary on the hyperintelligent ape from DC Comics. If you watched the ArrowVerse, you might remember the goofy character was a big villain throughout The Flash. I think this is sort of the perfect villain to make a very unserious mockumentary set in the DC universe that could be great counterprogramming from the rest of what the universe has to offer so far.

Jimmy Tatro, who was actually in Season 1 of American Vandal as well as Scream 7, You’re Cordially Invited and Theater Camp, will play Grodd. The press release also seems to suggest that Wendell Pierce's Perry White, Beck Bennett's Steve Lombard and Mikaela Hoover's Cat Grant will be in the series as well. It’s expected to be eight episodes long, and sounds like the perfect way for DC’s Superman to give fans more of the Daily Planet with our HBO Max subscriptions between upcoming DC movies.

The Superman Character I'm Gonna Need Back

My absolute favorite part about Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen in Superman, was what was going on between him and Sara Sampaio’s Eve Teschmacher. Yes, it was a surprise among fans that Jimmy Olsen having “rizz” was a conversation that was happening around Superman, but it was so funny watching those two together. I’d love to see Eve make an appearance, even if they aren’t necessarily an item.

I mean, Eve definitely deserves better after what happened with Lex and Jimmy saying she has “shrimp toes”. But she was also hilariously the key to Lex being taken down. What if she ends up working at the Daily Planet – perhaps as their social media manager or something like that?

The People v. Gorilla Grodd isn’t going to be on the 2026 TV schedule, but DC fans can get into Lanterns. The Green Lantern series just premiered this past Sunday, and more episodes are coming out weekly.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet watched Stuart Fails to Save the Universe's fourth episode via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

As a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory fully embracing science-fiction story arcs, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was predispositioned to be among the nerdiest shows on the 2026 TV schedule. (A distinction I use lovingly.) But wowie zowie, the fourth episode delivered a tour de force on that front, with one particular shot pretty much spoiling that bonkers Matrix-infused ending, but only for those viewers who knew what they were looking at. It definitely helps to be a DC Comics fan.

To be sure, "Spoiler: Stuart Makes A Wallet" featured several moments throughout the episode that heavily hinted at something being off about the particular universe Kevin Sussman's character ended up in after the Magic World mayhem with Wil Wheaton and Melissa Rauch's Berna-demon. But none were so mindful and cleverly constructed as the comic shop wall where Stuart found the issue depicting his own story. It had nothing to do with that comic, though, and more to do with every other one.

Seemingly Every Comic On The Wall Is A Direct Reference To The Show And The Twist Ending

I've been an avid comic reader and collector for some years, so this piece of set-dec immediately caught my eye because of how seemingly unorganized and slapped-together it looked. Not only because certain series are represented through multiple issues, but because there are comics with current runs like the gloriously trippy Absolute Martian Manhunter placed next to series that wrapped years ago. So I looked a little closer.

Yes indeed, just about every comic I recognized had an easy correlation to make in regards to Stuart & Co. waking up inside the Matrix. Or outside the Matrix, technically. As much as I'd like to go into detail about every single issue, I'll try to keep it brief...ish. Let's start jumping around from the top-left corner.

• The Dreaming #17 (1996) - This is one of 6 (I believe) issues of The Dreaming's 60-issue run that appear on the wall. Without even going into deeper themes, the series name alone is the nose-tapper.
• Supergirl #2 (1994) - In this case, the comic serves as more of a visual nod to both the ending and multiplicity of the show, with an assortment of Supergirls shown inside various pods.
• DCeased #2 (2019) - This variant cover is based on the poster for A Nightmare on Elm Street.
• A. Bizarro #1 (1999) - While possibly a specific reference to the cloned Bizarro trying to find his place in life, I think it's probably more of a reference to dichotomies.
• Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 (2025) - One of six issues from this particular series, which is essentially about an FBI agent who can't figure out if the green martian taking over his mind is truly real or not. That's not quite it, but for the purposes of this comparison, it is.

Not convinced yet? What about references to these characters and stories?

• Firestorm - one hero comprising two different people, speaking to the duality of things.
• Kismet - DC character who can alter reality
• Psycho Pirate - has the ability to manipulate emotions, and create both duplicates and illusions
• Forever People's Beautiful Dreamer - self-explanatory
• House of Brainiac - The cover for this one is reflective of the Matrix-esque visuals, but also Brainac's clone-specific plotting
• Future's End and Convergence - involves mutliversal stories

And yes, Marvel did pop up a couple of times up there, most notably with the Avengers Forever 's variant featuring all the different Scarlet Witches.

There are a couple of comic books up there that I don't really know what the reference is supposed to be. One is the Super-someone comic up top that I can't recognize. And I'm not sure what's up with that Secret Avengers issue also on the top row. But I'm sure it's all connected.

I can't wait to see what other super-nerdy scenes and situations come up in future episodes, as well as finding out whether or not my theory about Jim Parsons' Sheldon is right or not. See you after the next one!

DC's Co-CEO James Gunn has been crafting a new shared universe for years now, with projects arriving in theaters and streaming with an HBO Max subscription. But after Supergirl's disappointing box office performance, there are questions about upcoming DC movies like the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. Luckily, the studio's president and CEO David Zaslav recently addressed the DCU's future.

Folks who have spent years watching the DC movies in order have watched as the DCEU was left in the rearview in favor of the newly formed DCU. A full slate of projects called Gods and Monsters was announced, but fans are wondering if those plans are still moving forward after Supergirl failed to perform in theaters. During a WB earnings call (via Investing.com), Zaslav shared an update on Man of Tomorrow, offering:

There you have it. While Supergirl failed to deliver financially, it sounds like things at DC are still moving forward with a number of thrilling projects. Man of Tomorrow and The Batman: Part II are filming, while the release of both Clayface and the Lanterns TV show are coming up soon. And if Zaslav thinks DC "feels very good," then who are we to argue?

These comments are likely going to be a big relief for the fandom, who might be worried about DC after a few recent updates. In addition to Supergirl's box office woes, The Batman: Part II was delayed yet again until 2028. Later in the same earnings call, David Zaslav went on to speak about the enthusiasm of folks behind the camera on DC projects, saying:

It certainly sounds like the studio isn't feeling discouraged and is confident that there's quality content coming on both the small and silver screens. Hopefully this will offer some relief to DC fans who might have been nervous about the studio's standing. And the Superman sequel is still going strong.

Man of Tomorrow started filming back in April, and fans are eager to see the title character and Lex Luthor unite in order to save the planet from Brainiac. Milly Alcock will also be reprising her role as Supergirl in the mysterious DC blockbuster.

Man of Tomorrow is currently expected to hit theaters on July 9th, 2027. But first up is Clayface, which will arrive October 23rd as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Lanterns, that'll premiere August 16th on HBO. Clearly there's lots to look forward to with DC.

I have accepted that Henry Cavill will (more than likely) never suit up for a new DC movie to play Superman again. There are not many new Cavill projects that could distract me from wanting one more flight in the cape, but his long-gestating video game adaptation of Warhammer 40,000 has always been high on the list. Now, one possible collaborator has pushed it even closer to the top. This is a team-up I’d be even more excited for than a Supes return.

Mike Flanagan is in talks to write, direct and serve as showrunner on Amazon MGM Studios’ Warhammer 40,000 series, which the British leading man is expected to star in and executive produce. According to TheWrap, Amazon declined to comment, so this is not official yet. Still, the possibility of Cavill and Flanagan building this universe together sounds almost suspiciously well-matched.

The former Man of Steel portrayer has never hidden how much Warhammer means to him. He has collected and painted the miniatures for years, understands the lore and appears capable of discussing the Imperium of Man at a depth that would make most studio executives quietly leave the room. When Amazon announced his involvement in 2022, he described the opportunity as a lifelong dream.

That enthusiasm is probably the biggest reason I have remained interested despite the slow progress. Cavill is not showing up simply because Amazon wants a recognizable face holding an enormous weapon. He knows this material, cares about getting it right and has enough nerd credibility that fans may actually trust him when he starts making difficult adaptation choices.

Flanagan could be the person who turns all that knowledge into a TV show people who have never touched a miniature, like myself, can follow. Let's be real, Warhammer 40,000 is dense. There are genetically modified Space Marines, hostile alien races, ancient machines, psychic powers and a human empire held together by war and religious fanaticism. The setting is proudly excessive, and I mean that as a compliment. However, several hours of characters explaining factions and military history would send casual viewers running for the nearest escape pod.

Flanagan is especially good at taking huge supernatural ideas and finding the sad, damaged people trapped inside them. Midnight Mass could have simply been a vampire story, but he made it about faith and addiction. The Haunting of Hill House had ghosts everywhere, yet the family remained the grounding point, and that's why it's still one of the best horror series ever made. And it's that sort of care that Warhammer needs. To get a feel for the vibes the series could bring, check out the Warhammer 40,000 cinematic trailer below.

This potential team-up also arrives at a useful time. Updates on Cavill’s adaptation have been slow, although Games Workshop previously confirmed that it and Amazon had agreed on the project’s creative guidelines. Bringing in a filmmaker such as Flanagan would be the clearest sign yet that the series is moving beyond ambitious planning and toward actual production. Amazon already has a working relationship with him, and his upcoming Carrie book-to-screen adaptation is set to hit the 2026 TV schedule later this year.

Of course, Flanagan already has plenty on his plate, not just Carrie but his long-discussed Dark Tower adaptation. His involvement with Warhammer is still only a possibility, not a done deal. Even so, Henry Cavill guarding the lore while Flanagan explores the horror, faith and damaged humanity beneath it feels like an ideal partnership. I would gladly cheer them on as they head into the grim darkness of the far future.

As for what's next for the former Witcher star, he's set to appear in the Highlander remake sometime on the late 2027 movie calendar.

You know, some people will never admit when they’re wrong, even when it’s just an opinion. But me? I have no problem re-evaluating something, and then changing my mind.

Case in point: The Snyderverse. I once despised it, and was glad to see it gone, but I’ve been rewatching some of the films, and I’ve had a change of heart. For example, I now like Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and I’m also now a fan of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. So, I thought I’d rewatch Snyder’s first movie in the defunct DCEU, Man of Steel, which I initially hated, and…

Well, I still don’t like it. I mean, I wouldn’t say that I still “hate” it, but I do still think it’s a good movie. Here's why.

Yes, Henry Cavill Is The Perfect Superman, But This Is Still A Bad Superman Movie

Similar to Michael Keaton as Batman, for many, there will never be a better Superman than Christopher Reeve, and cool. I get it. Reeve starred in the two best Superman movies, those being the 1978 classic and its sequel Superman II (Unless you consider the 2025 movie to be the best Superman film, which I disagree with, but you’re welcome to your opinion), so it's only natural that I consider Reeve the best Big Blue Boy Scout.

That said, I'm going to openly admit that I consider Ben Affleck to be the best cinematic Batman (unless you're counting Kevin Conroy's voice in Mask of the Phantasm, and you know, valid), and I think Henry Cavill is the perfect Superman. He looks good in the suit; he’s got the demeanor, the jawline. He’s just perfect as Superman. You couldn’t get a better specimen. So, why is the movie around him so bad?

Look, I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m not the biggest fan of the character, so including stuff like the Phantom Zone and having deepcut characters like Jax-Ur are probably why fans of Supe love this movie. There’s also a lot of action in the film (which I’ll get into later), which a lot of Superman movies sorely lack.

However, the tone feels so incredibly off. Everything is so dismal and full of despair. I know I base all of my Superman movies off of the first two Christopher Reeve films, and Man of Steel is anything but those. Still, how are you going to have the ideal Superman in such a depressing Superman movie? What gives?

I Like The Cast...Just Not The Roles That They're In

Though a lot of people pooh-poohed these Snyderverse movies at the time (including myself), I think one thing that everybody could admit is that these movies had excellent casting. Aside from Cavill, whom I already mentioned, Man of Steel also has Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, and Michael Shannon as General Zod.

Now, besides Shannon as Zod, who I actually think is even better than Superman II’s Terence Stamp, I just don’t vibe with the rest of the cast. It’s not like they’re bad. It’s just that…well, I don’t feel they fully immerse themselves in the roles. That might be more Zack Snyder’s fault, if anything, but I’m never really convinced that Amy Adams is Lois Lane. I mean, Adams plays a good enough journalist, but I just think actresses like Rachel Brosnahan or Margot Kidder are more convincingly the Lois Lanes.

While I get what Snyder was going for with Jonathan and Martha Kent with Costner and Lane, respectively, I just feel they are too big as movie stars to take them seriously as Kansas farmers. I much prefer Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter from the original, and especially Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell in the most recent Superman.

As for Laurence Fishburne? I mean, he’s fine as Perry White, but for such a good actor, I think he gets lost in this film, so there’s that.

Also, While It's Been Said To Death, This Movie Is Way Too Desaturated

Yes, the desaturation is a problem with all of the DCEU movies (Well, aside from the Aquaman movies, which are surprisingly colorful), but Man of Steel is just way too dark and colorless. Actually, I shouldn’t say that, since this movie has a LOT of blue…perhaps too much blue, really.

That said, I think this definitely dampens the mood and tone of this film. I’m not the first to say this, but Superman is NOT Batman. Ideally, a Superman movie should be the exact opposite of a Batman flick when it comes to tone. Just look at James Gunn’s Superman movie, to which we gave a pretty high review. Personally, I wasn’t in love with the film, but one thing I will say that Gunn DEFINITELY got right was the colors and tone.

2025’s Superman is super bright and expressive, very much like a comic book, and it works for the character. The Superman I know (and I think most others know on a casual level) has always been about stirring music and hope, so the films should reflect that. The original 4 Superman movies are like that (Almost to a fault in Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace), but Man of Steel is the antithesis of that.

I know the film’s fans think that makes the movie more serious and “adult,” but I just think it makes it feel like it’s not a Superman movie, which is not how I think I’m supposed to feel when watching a Superman movie.

And Yes, The Destruction At The End And Supes Killing Zod Still Rubs Me The Wrong Way

I knew going into this recent rewatch that I would probably still dislike all of the destruction and death, and I haven’t changed my opinion on that. It’s just way too much. Let’s start with the blatant IHOP product placement fight between Superman and the Kryptonian, Faora-Ui (Antje Traue). Sure, it looks like a Dragon Ball Z fight, what with characters flying through walls, but it also just feels like too much for me. Like, I understand, up to this point, we hadn’t seen battles like this in a Superman flick, and I applaud the new approach, but it just feels overblown to me. Admittedly, that’s likely more a "me thing".

What is definitely NOT just a me thing though is the battle at the end with the Metropolis battle, and the eventual killing of Zod. I know people roll their eyes at Superman saving a squirrel in James Gunn’s Superman flick, but I could imagine a Superman who would do that over one who drags Zod across buildings, potentially killing people through collateral damage in the long run.

Then, you have the killing of Zod. I've heard people tell me, “Well, what other choice did Superman have? Zod was gonna obliterate that family,” and my answer to that is, why did it even have to come to that in the first place? Why did the screenwriters put Superman in a scenario where he had to snap Zod's neck? I'm sure there were other ways to write that scene that didn't compromise Superman's soul.

That primal scream of regret Superman gives after killing Zod still bothers me, since I don't feel he should have HAD to have killed Zod in the first place. Man of Steel is a story, and having Supes kill Zod was a creative choice that I still don't agree with. So, in the end, I like the eventual direction of the Snyderverse after this film, but I'm still not on board with this one in particular.

We’re all used to Big Brother players shouting out family members and friends during their live votes each week, but now and again, one of them will drop a reference that makes you do a double take. This week, that person was Rick Devens, who said happy birthday to his daughter, said hi to his wife and son and then name dropped popular director and DC executive James Gunn. Initially, most fans thought it was just Rick being goofy, but it turns out there’s an entire backstory here.

Rick and James Gunn apparently know each other in real life. In fact, there was a plan for Rick and his family to appear in the background of the upcoming Superman sequel Man Of Tomorrow, which Gunn has been on-set directing the past few months. Prior to the shooting day, however, Devens called Gunn and told him he wasn’t going to be able to come anymore for a reason he wasn’t allowed to share. That reason was obviously he was going to be sequestered in the Big Brother House.

Gunn posted a video of Devens shouting him out on Big Brother over on Threads, and when fans asked what the connection was, he talked about knowing Rick in a series of messages. He also said that even though Rick missed out on the Superman shoot, his family did not…

Everyone, even James Gunn, likes being shouted out on television, but the excitement here no doubt ran a lot deeper because Gunn is a noted OG Big Brother fan. As such, that reference definitely hit harder than it would have otherwise. I’m sure he’s loving this season too, given he’s got a friend on the show and also, it’s been objectively a glorious mess so far.

Part of the reason why it’s been such a mess has been Devens himself, who doesn’t know how to do anything other than play hard. He was a menace on both of his seasons of Survivor, finding idols and getting up to all sorts of weird schemes. There aren’t any Idols on Big Brother, but there are plenty of opportunities to cause chaos. To the surprise of no one, Rick has taken advantage of those, forming multiple alliances and taking part in what’s rumored to be one of the wildest nomination ceremonies in the show’s history, which is going to air this evening.

You can catch Devens on Big Brother throughout the Summer, which airs new episodes several times a week on CBS. You can also tune into the live feeds at any time, which are streaming on Paramount+. As for Man Of Tomorrow, you can catch James Gunn’s newest a little less than a year from now on July 9th, 2027. Sadly, Devens won’t be a part of it, but we can all look for his wife Becca and their kids in the background.

Flashback to 2021, and you couldn't find a bigger hater of the Snyderverse than me. Hell, I even danced on its grave when we received word that it was finally over.

However, flash-forward (DC pun not intended) to 2026, and I've actually come around on the failed DCEU. Maybe it's because I wasn't in love with James Gunn's Superman, or perhaps it’s because I have no interest whatsoever in Supergirl (and apparently, I'm not alone), but I've been giving Zack Snyder's DC movies another chance recently, and oh, man. I think I owe Zack Snyder yet ANOTHER apology.

You see, I already apologized for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and after rewatching the four hour long Zack Snyder's Justice League, I have to apologize again, because this movie is amazing. Here's why.

I Originally Thought This Movie Was Way Too Long. But Now, It Feels Just Right When It Comes To Pacing

You want to know what's crazy? Not too long ago, I rewatched Joss Whedon's version of Justice League, which is only two hours long, and it's so bad that it actually feels LONGER than Snyder's version, which is literally double the runtime. I think this is because Whedon's Justice League feels aimless and dull, whereas Snyder's version has direction and vision. And look, no offense to Whedon, as he was given the impossible task of reshooting aspects of Snyder's movie into something feasible for the big screen, but his version just does not work.

However, after rewatching Zack Snyder's Justice League, I am in awe at how he was able to take all of these characters and still have it all make sense. For example, in his version, Batman and Wonder Woman's quest to assemble a team really feels cohesive and organic, whereas in Whedon’s version, it all feels like a hurried mess, which is strange because it also feels plodding.

We get more backstory for all of the characters in Snyder’s version, as well as a true villain in Darkseid, who I'll get into later. Snyder's version is also (surprise, surprise) way darker in tone than Whedon's version, which is also something I now appreciate over the more upbeat Superman from James Gunn.

Honestly, it's really weird that all of the things that I once hated about the Snyderverse – the overseriousness, the darker tone, etc – I now view as pluses. However, I think there's one reason in particular why I love this movie now.

Cyborg's Story Is The Heart Of This Movie

One character who I always thought never got his time to shine when it came to the Snyderverse was Cyborg. Played by Ray Fisher, you could tell that he had a bigger role in Whedon's Justice League, but there was just something…missing.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League, however, almost the entire plot hinges on Cyborg’s role in the story. The fact that his role was truncated so much in Whedon’s version just goes to show you why that film felt like such a mess, because Victor Stone's (Cyborg) role is absolutely vital in Snyder's cut.

Stone's father, Silas (Joe Morton), is kidnapped, and Cyborg joins the team. He was a former athlete and had to be reconstructed after a horrible car accident, so his journey as a broken man to one of the saviors of the world is thoughtful and surprisingly heartfelt.

Also, being that Cyborg has such a connection to this film's Macguffin in the Mother Boxes, he’s essentially the most important character in the entire film, and I really appreciate that when watching this a second time.

I Also Find All Of The Characters-Even The Flash-To Be Interesting In This Film

You know, when I first saw Zack Snyder's Justice League, I still very much loathed all of the scenes involving Ezra Miller's The Flash. Upon a second viewing, I find that I actually like him, as well as pretty much every other member of the Justice League this time around. It might be because I, like others, actually enjoyed the eventual Flash movie that came out in 2023 (I even wrote about how it annoyed me that it didn't do better at the box office).

The Flash is incredibly important in this film. When the world starts to be destroyed, The Flash has to reverse the flow of time using the Speed Force, which allows Superman (Henry Cavill) and Cyborg to get the job done.

And, what about Aquaman? I liked Jason Momoa's first Aquaman movie - to a certain extent - but I found him super annoying in Justice League. However, I guess adding more screen time for him makes him more interesting this time around. I also think that learning more about the other metahumans and the Atlanteans makes him feel more at home here.

Not only that, but this movie has freaking Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix) in it. I mean, it's at the end, and it's pretty much just a cameo, but at least he's here. What's not to love?

I Also Love This Version Of Darkseid

I know I keep harping on Joss Whedon's Justice League, but a big reason why I feel that movie failed was that its main antagonist, Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), was super lame. It's just that he didn't seem like a worthy opponent for the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, or The Flash.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League…well, he's still pretty lame, but much better since you don't feel like he's the REAL final boss. The main boss would be Ray Porter's Darkseid, who is a way more terrifying villain and an existential threat to humanity.

Darkseid is all about that Anti-Life Equation, and we learn that he's been a threat to Earth for millennia, what with the Old Gods waging war against him to prevent him from taking over the planet. All of this backstory really elevates the danger he presents, making him feel like a truly worthy adversary.

Unfortunately, since this was pretty much the end of the DCEU, we never got to see Darkseid get his own movie where he got to be the central villain, but I really appreciate what we got in this movie. He’s absolutely horrifying.

In The End, The Further We Get Away From The Snyderverse, The More I Find That I Miss It

When looking at the upcoming slate of DC films (and TV–let's not forget about TV), I think there's a lot to look forward to (Especially when it comes to Clayface, which I can't wait for!) Yet…I kind of now miss the Snyderverse.

I don't know what it is. It might be because I used to pledge allegiance to the MCU, and I think I viewed the DCEU as a pathetic alternative. After getting off the Marvel hype train quite a while ago, I've since been reevaluating the Snyderverse, and I think I had it all wrong.

Was it too dark and broody? Maybe, but upon reflection, it was actually a novel alternative to the overly cheery MCU. I now find that I get nothing out of movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Guardians of the Galaxy upon a rewatch, and I view them more as artifacts than anything else.

Movies like Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Batman v. Superman? They just seem to get better with age. So, if you happen to be reading this, Mr. Snyder. I’m sorry! Your fans were right all along, and I’m happy that the powers that be eventually RELEASED THE SNYDER CUT!

The DCU is still in its infancy, as we're only two movie into the first slate of projects (titled Gods and Monsters). The studio's co-CEO James Gunn kicked things off with Superman, which featured a cameo from Milly Alcock's Supergirl. But the House of the Dragon actress revealed that filming that short sequence was actually way more awkward than you might have guessed. Let's break it all down.

While Supergirl recently arrived in theaters, we're still learning more about how James Gunn's Superman movie came together. During a recent video from the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Alcock was asked about filming her brief but memorable role as a drunk Kara Zor-El. She said:

While Krypto was a scene-stealer in the theatrical cut of Superman (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription), the reality of filming that sequence is another matter entirely. Namely because there was no dog, and instead Alcock was filming alongside a full grown woman. Oh, the glamor of moviemaking!

Fans who have been watching the DC movies in order were introduced to a very drunk Kara, who got her time to shine in Craig Gillespie's Supergirl movie. Later in the same interview, Milly Alcock got real about how "embarrassing" it is to be an actor... including when you're performing opposite a human pretending to be a dog. In her words:

Oh, to be a fly on the wall as the 26 year-old actress filmed that scene from Superman. Ultimately, I felt the brief sequence was a successful introduction, and showed the juxtaposition between Kara and her hopeful cousin Kal-El. So any embarrassing or cringe-worthy moments were worth it in the end.

Superman can be re-watched on HBO Max, and Supergirl is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release schedule. Luckily for fans of Alcock's character, she'll be back with a role in Man of Tomorrow. Hopefully filming that movie isn't quite as embarrassing.

In addition to serving as the first solo outing for Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El in the DCU, Supergirl also ushers in the debut of Lobo, played by the vivacious Jason Momoa. The reactions to the DC film have showered praise upon Momoa’s portrayal of the eccentric and violent bounty hunter and, at this point, the antihero seems to be striking a chord with fans. I’m particularly curious as to which major players Lobo will interact with next, and Momoa actually told CinemaBlend how he thinks Superman would respond to his character.

Lobo and Kara have a somewhat complex and humorous relationship, given that both of them find each other annoying on some level. However, without going into spoilers, they seem to find some level of mutual respect for each other by the end of the film. The Man of Steel is quite different from his cousin, of course, which is why CB asked Momoa how Superman might feel about Lobo. Ultimately, the fan-favorite actor’s take is as honest as it is humorous:

Honestly, I’m tempted to agree, as Kal-El and the “Main Man” are shown to have a somewhat tense relationship dynamic in comics and TV shows. My own first experience of seeing the two interact was in the DC Animated Universe via Superman: The Animated Series, in which Kal saw the motorcycle-riding Czarnian as more of a nuisance than anything else. Judging by Momoa’s comments, he’s of the belief that his character would bother Supes in the DCU as well:

Considering Superman’s strength and Lobo’s immortality, I’d say that would be quite a “tussle” for the ages. I really do hope, though, that David Corenswet’s Supes and Jason Momoa’s Last Czarnian do get the opportunity to cross paths in an upcoming DC movie. The question is just where and when that might happen. Given Momoa’s character is such a wild card, it’s hard to say where he might pop up next. The actor has revealed, though, that he’s open to doing a solo film – only on the condition that it’s rated R.

What I’ll say is that it would be a missed opportunity for Lobo not to return at some point and rub shoulders with the Big Blue Boy Scout or other major DC characters. The mere thought of Supes doing battle with the “Scourge o’ the Cosmos” is just too exciting not to consider. I’m confident that studio head James Gunn and co. will make that happen at some point but, until then, I’ll just remain satisfied that Jason Momoa achieved his dream of playing the cigar-chomping hitman.

Check out Lobo’s first appearance in the DCU by heading to a theater and checking out Supergirl. Also, grab an HBO Max subscription to check out Superman as well as the character’s DCAU-set show.

As the second theatrical feature stemming from studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl has as much riding on its success as any other upcoming DCU movies. A daunting responsibility that hasn’t been helped by alleged box office projections skewing lower than originally expected. Screenwriter Ana Noguiera knows a thing or two about flipped expectations, as she’d originally penned a script for Sasha Calle’s DCEU heroine before being tapped for the Milly Alcock-led project, and it’s a switch that she says helped inform the new film.

Though she’s likely legally barred from revealing any key details from her original Supergirl-centric storyline, Noguiera told EW that essentially nothing that she started with is in the 2026 movie release, but that didn’t devalue any of the efforts made. Specifically, she says having already spent so much time learning the ins and outs of the character’s superpowers was a boon for her second time at bat. (Not that kind of bat.) In her words:

At this point, Ana Noguiera brings up one of the most classic comic book questions of all time, and then answers it with a brilliant slice of comic book logic that James Gunn has also used when answering fan questions.

Fans of comic books and superheroes love to dig in and discuss (or pedantically argue) the peaks and limitations of Superman's powers, and the extreme circumstances that he may or may not be able to handle. But Noguiera amusingly makes it clear that there isn't a static and unmoving ceiling at which point Clark's powers run out, and there's no official power ranking number to give him.

Superman's overall power is limited only by any given creative team's imagination, and can be as widespread or as honed-in as writers want to make a story as strong as it can be. That's how he can fly so fast around the planet he turns time back in one instance without ever necessarily doubling back on that ability, unless another scribe sees it as fitting.

So if you ever happen upon an argument amongst comic fans about whether or not Batman could ever beat Superman, you can probably win that argument by stating "It all depends on who's writing the story," before clacking your heels together and spinning around a lightpost. Everyone will thank you, and no one will make fun of you.

Maybe you can find one of those conversations happening in theaters before or after Supergirl screenings. The movie has garnered all kinds of reactions from critics, as well as from those who attended early screenings, so it's anybody's guess at this point how many people will actually be watching in theaters and IMAX this weekend.

Supergirl will drunkenly sashay her way into theaters on Friday, June 26, but those wanting to get reacquainted with Krypto can do so by watching James Gunn’s Superman via HBO Max subscription.

With the DCEU behind us, moviegoers are invested in upcoming DC movies, which will expand co-CEO James Gunn's newly formed shared universe. The first slate of projects is called Gods and Monsters, with James Gunn's Superman being the debut movie. That blockbuster introduced David Corenswet's title character, and also featured a cameo by Milly Alcock's Supergirl. And it turns out that the Hollywood actor offered his onscreen cousin some advice about flying around on wires.

It's still early into the DCU, with Craig Gillespie's Supergirl being the second big screen adventure. Milly Alcock is stepping into the spotlight at Kara Zor-El, and during an interview with ET Corenswet revealed his first impression of the House of the Dragon star. In his words:

He's not wrong. Milly Alcock brings a ton of swagger to Kara, even during her brief appearance in Superman. The Supergirl trailer showed her drinking her way through the cosmos, and also kicking ass and taking names. But the first reactions to Supergirl also praised the actress for the heart she brought to the title character.

Later in the same interview, Corenswet revealed what advice he gave Milly Alcock about being a Kryptonian on the big screen. Rather than it being about character or fame, he spoke to her about the reality of flying on wires during long shooting days. As he told it:

While superhero actors make flying look easy, the reality of actually filming these sequences is something else entirely. The wires and harnesses needed to take flight are notoriously uncomfortable, and it turns out that it covers actors in bruises as well. This might be a testament to how tight and safe the rigs are, but it doesn't make them any less painful. Suddenly I'm very glad to be firmly on the ground.

Luckily for DC fans, the wait for Supergirl is nearly over. Fans will be able to see Milly Alcock take flight when the movie hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. David Corenswet will also appear as Kal-El, so maybe they'll be able to take to the skies together.

Milly Alcock already has a solid level of notoriety, thanks to her work on House of the Dragon. However, the Australian actress’ public profile could soar to new heights, thanks to her 2026 movie schedule entry, Supergirl. The latest film in the DCU sees Alcock play Kara Zor-El (following her wild cameo in Superman). Alcock recently spoke about being terrified over the prospect of finding more fame after her solo superhero movie debut, and she discussed working with co-star Jason Momoa, who’s definitely no stranger to stardom.

I’d imagine that starring in a superhero-centric movie can be a double-edged sword. That’s because, while it’s likely satisfying when said film is successful, that buzz can also put additional attention on the actors involved. Stars who play comic book-birthed characters can gain particularly strong followings due to their roles (à la Robert Downey and Iron Man or Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman). Milly Alock recently spoke to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend and, after being asked if she was ready to be “idolized,” she said this:

I can understand the trepidation, as that’s a lot of pressure for a person to handle. And that’s just taking into account the more positive aspects of being in such a position. Unfortunately, there’s also considerable toxicity that can come with fandoms and, sadly enough, many female actors, in particular, are subjected to such negativity. Still, Alcock has a great outlook on dealing with toxic fandoms, and I’d like to think she’ll be prepared for any praise that comes her way following the release of her upcoming DC movie.

Thankfully, Momoa – who plays eccentric bounty hunter Lobo in the film – has been in Alcock’s shoes. In 2018, the Hawaiian actor found “baffling” new levels of fame after starring in Aquaman, which made over $1 billion at the worldwide box office. In the years since the film hit theaters, Momoa has discussed fame and how blessed he feels to have found it later in life due to having been able to be with his kids when they were younger.

The star enjoys his work, though and, per Alcock’s comments, he was a positive force on the Supergirl set. She explained:

Momoa was enthusiastic about taking on his previous DC role, but he seems downright thrilled to be playing the “Main Man.” Getting cast as Lobo was a longtime dream for the A-lister, and he seems to be making the most of it. He’s also addressed the notion of someone else playing Aquaman at some point, and he believes anything is possible on that front. There may come a time when someone else also plays Kara at some point in the future, but I’d wager that’s a ways off since Milly Alcock’s tenure is just getting started. Here’s hoping her stint as the Girl of Steel is marked with positivity and not too much stress from being looked up to by fans.

Supergirl opens in theaters on June 26, and those eager to see it can grab tickets now. Also, check out other DCU movie and TV installments by streaming them with an HBO Max subscription.

Summer is always a big time for blockbusters, and the 2026 movie calendar is certainly giving us a little bit of everything — we’ve got Star Wars, we’ve got a new Toy Story, and both the MCU and DCU will see representation. In fact, Supergirl is just the second feature in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, making the first reactions to the upcoming superhero movie especially important to fans. So what are people saying?

Last year’s Superman gave us a glimpse of the Man of Steel’s more jaded cousin Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), but now we’re moving far beyond that drunken cameo, and those who have caught an early screening have some pretty strong opinions about both Alcock as the titular antihero and Jason Momoa as Lobo. According to Drew Massey:

One X (Twitter) user says Milly Alcock proves she’s worthy of not just leading the DCU’s second movie but of carrying the future of the franchise. There are even aspects of Supergirl than this fan liked better than David Corenswet’s Superman:

Fay Watson of GamesRadar is one of many people getting Mad Max vibes from Supergirl, and she only wishes this kind of superhero flick would been available when she was a teenager. Watson says:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo disagrees that the upcoming DC movie is better than Superman, but he does concede that it’s the “perfect” follow-up, with stronger characters that drive the movie’s emotional stakes. In the critic’s words:

Erik Davis notes an aloofness to Milly Alcock’s Kara, which was reflected in her informal attire at the Supergirl premiere. Davis posts:

Early reactions really are heaping praise on Milly Alcock, while all signs point to Jason Momoa having a blast as Lobo. Chris Killian of ComicBook.com writes:

Junior Felix of That Hollywood Show also calls the actress “perfect” for the role, and his only complaint about Lobo is that there wasn’t enough of him. Felix writes:

Brandon Davis admittedly isn’t as high on the superhero flick as others, though Milly Alcock doesn’t seem to be the issue at hand. Davis explains:

It’s encouraging to see so many positive responses to Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa in Supergirl, and now I’m even more pumped to see what the reviews have to say when they come out next week. The movie hits theaters on Friday, June 26, so get ready to grab that Lobo popcorn bucket (if you can call it a bucket) and reserve that ticket.

There are very few things in life that cannot be improved by adding a top hat. Apparently, that includes someone as superhero-fit as former Superman Henry Cavill. Sure, I love seeing him suited up as the Man of Steel as much as the next DC fan, but come on. The actor is as dapper as it gets, and a top hat only helps the equation.

In an Instagram post, Cavill shared a photo of himself looking extra suave in a starched collar, tails and, yes, the aforementioned top hat. The look was not tied to any upcoming DC movies, or any 2026 movie releases at all, and was instead inspired by his day at Royal Ascot, which doubled as a plug for Longines, the watch brand he serves as an ambassador for. His caption read:

I mean, take a look at the image below. What can you say?

Instagram user Dr. Agustín L. Santos, PhD, pretty much nailed the collective reaction, writing in the comments, “Before this picture I was 100% straight. Now I have doubts.” Well said, Doctor. And he was not the only fan spiraling a little over Cavill’s top hat outing.

Fans Reacted To Henry Cavill’s Top Hat And Tails

As expected, the internet responded appropriately to the sight of the Man of Steel actor looking like he had wandered out of a Victorian romance novel with a gym membership and excellent bone structure. The comments section quickly turned into an appreciation post of the Witcher star, with fans saying:

• givehenrybettermovies: “Shows up mogging the entire world, looking like he owns three railroads half of Victorian England. Your fave could NEVER ✨”
• speedymama: “My son always says, ‘I'm straight, except for Henry Cavill.’ 😂”
• guilhermecapii: “I am so straight i can kiss cavil and not be gay”
• goran.impera: “Henry Cavill is the only right choice for James Bond”
• october_rain69: “The most British photo I ever saw”
• jennytreg: “Henry chill I’m at work”
• blacklung_x: “Bro never lost his prime🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥”
• stuarthughes24: “Very view to a kill vibe”
• saptorshi__ui: “Actor is so goated even mens also crushed by him”

Honestly, that about covers the temperature of the room. Some fans saw the next James Bond. Others simply saw the Argylle actor in a top hat and briefly lost access to normal thought.

I love revisiting Cavill’s time as Superman about as much as Zack Snyder does with all his shares, and fans can watch all of his DC films with an HBO Max subscription. But David Corenswet is now the Kryptonian hero and is set to reprise the role in Supergirl, which hits theaters June 26, followed by Man of Tomorrow on July 9, 2027.

That said, after seeing The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star in a top hat and tails, I’m dying to see him take on another big-screen action flick. For now, I’ll settle for catching him in Guy Ritchie’s most recent film, In The Grey, which is playing in select theaters and available at home on Video on Demand.

James Gunn knows comic book fans will inspect every inch of a new superhero movie for the slightest easter egg or "plot hole" or inaccuracy. That is part of the deal with a new DC film universe. Every costume choice, power detail and background prop becomes a debate. Luckily, he seems more than willing to answer the tiny questions with the exact kind of comic book logic that makes these worlds fun in the first place.

Recently, Gunn took to Threads to respond to a pair of fan questions about Kryptonian biology and superhero practicality, and both answers were delightfully comic book-y. One fan asked how Superman could shave if his skin is basically invulnerable, while another wondered how Supergirl, who is soon to headline her very own 2026 movie release, could have pierced ears if she is bulletproof. He did not treat either question like a problem. Instead, he leaned straight into the lore, replying:

This was in response to the fan who joked about Superman having a beard and shaving. Along with his response, the DC Studios co-head posted an old comic panel of Clark using his heat vision to burn away his facial hair, reflecting it off a piece of Kryptonian material.

Honestly, that is exactly the right answer and exactly the right energy. Of course, Superman shaves by bouncing laser eyes off alien metal. Why wouldn’t he? We are talking about a man who flies, wears a cape to work and gets his power from sunlight. At some point, asking for normal grooming rules feels pretty ridiculous.

The best part is that this is not even a new explanation. Comics have been solving these little practical problems for decades with wild confidence. Superman can’t shave with a normal razor? Fine, give him a Kryptonian mirror and eye lasers. Done. Next question.

If Supergirl Is Bulletproof, What’s With The Earings?

The Supergirl question needed a slightly different answer. A fan pointed to an image of Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El and asked how she could have ear piercings if her skin is bulletproof. Gunn explained in another Threads post that the answer had already been covered in her drunken Superman cameo. Here's what the filmmaker had to say:

That is a clean answer, and it does more than just shut down the piercing question. It also gives us a little extra texture for this version of Kara. She is not just a girl version of Clark Kent/Superman. She is her own character with her own distinct upbringing, and her relationship to power was different; apparently, there was a window when ear piercings were not a physics problem.

This Is The Kind Of Nerdy Specificity DC Needs

What I like about Gunn’s responses is that he is not swatting fans away but meeting them on their terms, with comic book precedent at his side. These questions are kind of goofy, sure, but they also come from people who are paying attention because they care deeply about the property and these characters. If fans are wondering how Kal-El shaves or how Supergirl got her ear piercings, it means they are already thinking of these characters as part of a functioning world.

Superhero franchises are usually at their best when the big emotional moments and the little quirky rules feel like they belong together. Stuff like being weak under red sunlight, using heat vision for shaving, and dealing with Kryptonian teenage issues aren't the main focus, but they add those fun details that make the world feel more real and lived in.

The former Guardians of the Galaxy franchise helmer has always been good at finding the sweet spot between absurdity and sincerity. His best comic book movie work understands that the genre can be deeply emotional and deeply ridiculous at the same time. These posts land in that same pocket.

The next DC entry in James Gunn’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters is Supergirl, landing in theaters on June 26. Be sure to check your local listings for showtimes and tickets. In the meantime, stream Superman and other DCU titles using an HBO Max subscription.

The superhero genre continues to dominate pop culture, and DC co-CEO James Gunn is bringing another upcoming DC movie to theaters with Craig Gillespie's Supergirl. Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order are hyped to see this new entry to the burgeoning shared universe, and for Milly Alcock to take center stage as Kara Zor-El. And the House of the Dragon star recently revealed an amazing connection her costume has to Christopher Reeve's Superman. Let's break it down.

After a quick cameo in James Gunn's Superman (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription), fans will get to know Kara much more in Supergirl. During an interview with Raiders of the Lost Podcast, Alcock revealed an awesome detail about her Supergirl suit. As she put it:

Well, my mind is blown. This is a truly epic way for Supergirl to pay homage to what came before, and Christopher Reeve's iconic tenure as Superman. Her suit already looks great thanks to its bright colors and connection to David Corenswet's Superman, but the fact that the cape is literally made from the same material as the one Reeve wore is incredible. And I have to assume it's going to please longtime fans who grew up with that original set of four movies.

Supergirl's first trailer showed Milly Alcock suited up, and she looks pretty incredible, cape and all. The fact that it's literally the same material used for Christopher Reeve's costume is an awesome bit of detail that pays homage to the franchise's history. And I can't wait to see how it looks when Gillespie's blockbuster gets its wide theatrical release.

Late actor Christopher Reeve made history bringing Superman to the big screen in live-action, and his movies are regularly re-watched to this day. He not only inhabited the title character's heroism and optimism, but was able to play Clark Kent through an incredible physical performance. Plus, he looked damn good in the suit and cape.

This is only the latest example of Reeve's Superman being invoked for new adaptations. Henry Cavill famously tried on Reeve's suit when testing for Man of Steel, and now the same cape fabric has been used for Supergirl. Clearly, the filmmakers behind these movies know their history and have respect for the OG.

Supergirl will hit theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see where Milly Alcock's character goes next, and if there are more homages to Christopher Reeve.

The superhero genre is showing no signs of slowing down, and the DC side of things have been going through major changes thanks to co-CEO James Gunn's new shared universe. While fans are looking forward to upcoming DC movies like Man of Tomorrow, Zack Snyder has been posting throwbacks from the DCEU, including lots of photos of Henry Cavill's Superman. The filmmaker recently put up another one, but some fans aren't happy in the comments.

Moviegoers who watched the DC movies in order saw as the former DCEU ended after Aquaman 2, making room for the newly formed DCU. We've been treated to a handful of projects from the DCU's first phase Gods and Monsters, but that hasn't stopped Snyder from looking back at his time directing for the studio. Case in point:

This a striking image of Henry Cavill's Superman, with the Man of Steel bathed in red light. And while there are plenty of folks in the comments section who still want DC to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse, there are also a number of comments criticizing the director for constantly putting out content like this on social media... especially as Man of Tomorrow is filming and Supergirl is about to hit theaters. You can see some of those responses below:

• Wait, every time there’s a DCU post about superman update or a picture posted by Gunn, you make another post to stir up attention 😂😂😂😂😂that’s so weird to notice - akarthedream
• Bro's coping with his own fans, move on bruh😭✌💔🥀 - eyeditz.ae
• Honestly, this is a bit rude with the cast of the new Superman production. It's like they're being put in the middle of an irrational dispute for something that was solved a couple of years ago. - juan_arrazola.96
• omg man you need to move on - anabtriizz
• This poster explains exactly why Snyder dosent understand Superman. - jackcadams

Zack Snyder has tons of loyal fans who were able to convince Warner Bros. to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League years ago. I've been reporting on the director's DCEU throwbacks for a while now, and this one is the first I've seen with so many people criticizing him. This might be a sign that audiences are invested in the new shared universe, and David Corenswet's version of Kal-El. Although the comments asking the studio to #RestoreTheSnderVerse are also present.

It should be interesting to see if these naysayers get louder on Snyder's social media as he inevitably releases more Superman throwbacks. He's made his love for Henry Cavill very clear, but there's a new actor playing the Last Son of Kypton. And it looks like David Corenswet has his supporters as well.

Corenswet will reprise his role in Supergirl, which hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Man of Tomorrow will then follow suit on July 9th 2027, with the actor once again takin center stage in his sequel.

Supergirl is set to soar into theaters in just a few weeks, marking yet another installment in the growing DCU. Of course, the film also signifies the first solo outing for Milly Alcock’s Kryptonian superheroine in this particular continuity. Alcock cameos as Kara Zor-El in Superman, and her brief scene quickly nails down how her personality differs from that of her more polished cousin, Kal-El. There are, of course, more factors that make the two powerful beings so different, and I love Alcock’s take on how Kara is a “contrast.”

During the closing moments of Superman, a drunken Kara darts into the Fortress of Solitude to pick up Krypto, who Kal-El has been watching for her. The scene is funny due to Kara’s nonchalant demeanor, but there’s an underlying reason for all that. Milly Alcock recently spoke with Empire Magazine about her upcoming DC movie and laid out the key components of Kara’s personality. After reading Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (which inspired the DC Studios flick), Alcock appreciated the character’s tragic backstory:

“Trauma” is indeed the key word here and, while it doesn’t define Kara, it is a big part of her and sets her apart from Kal. As laid out in Woman of Tomorrow, Kara witnesses Krypton’s destruction first hand and eventually seeks revenge for the loss of her entire family and civilization. Sure, Kara eventually proves to be a true hero but, unlike the instantly noble Clark, she’s initially driven by rage and personal anguish. I’m so glad Alcock seems to understand how important that part of Kara’s characterization is to her journey.

Director Craig Gillespie was also drawn to Kara’s tough exterior, as he explained to Empire. That honestly tracks for the man who helmed I, Tonya and Cruella, as those are both stories about layered women who’ve experienced their share of misfortune in life. Interestingly enough, Gillespie shouted out a beloved Marvel movie while explaining why he was so keen to take on his DC gig:

Based on the trailers for Supergirl, the eponymous character doesn’t exactly pull her punches as her famous relative would, which should make the story all the more interesting. The film will see Kara, with Krypto in tow, crossing paths with young Ruthye Marye Knoll and joining forces with her to take down the sadistic Krem of the Yellow Hills. Along the way, Kara will also rub shoulders with the eccentric, alien bounty hunter Lobo (played by a committed Jason Momoa).

Kara dwells in a corner of the DCU that’s a bit more precarious than that of David Corenswet’s Kal-El/Clark Kent, which is yet another difference between the two. Still, fans should remember that what aligns the pair is their shared pursuit of justice. I’m eager to see how Milly Alcock’s character takes her steps towards being a true do-gooder when Supergirl opens in theaters as part of the 2026 movie schedule on June 26. In the meantime, prepare yourself by streaming Superman with an HBO Max subscription.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, and moviegoers are definitely invested in upcoming DC movies, given how co-CEO James Gunn crafted a brand new shared universe. Superman was the first movie entry in that franchise, and its sequel Man of Tomorrow is already filming. Some photos from the set have started arriving online, and they confirmed a detail about David Corenswet's hero that I'm hyped for.

The first slate of DCU projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and Man of Tomorrow will be only the fourth movie installment in the burgeoning shared universe. Fans who have been watching the DC movies in order are invested, and set photos hitting Twitter have seemingly confirmed Superman will be wearing the same suit from his first movie in the forthcoming sequel. And personally I'm thrilled by this decision.

In the photos we can see David Corenswet suited up as Kal-El, doing some wire work as the Last Son of Krypton. While the quality of the Twitter footage isn't HD, he's pretty clearly waring the same suit that we saw in Superman.

It's common for superheroes to get new suits with each new movie, especially if the studio is also trying to sell toys and other types of merch. But it looks like Superman isn't going to change his look in Man of Tomorrow, making his third appearance in the same suit (including his appearance in Supergirl).

James Gunn shared the first Man of Tomorrow set photo back in April, so the cast and crew have already been working for months. And while he recently debuted Lex Luthor's Power Suit, the latest update is about what Kal-El will be wearing in the forthcoming blockbuster. And it looks like James Gunn is keeping it consistent with David Corenswet's Superman costume. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Not much is known about what Gunn and company have planned for Man of Tomorrow, but the filmmaker did tease that Superman and Lex Luthor will end up teaming up in order to vanquish a common enemy. That antagonist is the iconic villain Brainiac, who will seemingly be enough of a threat to Earth that these two former foes end up putting aside their differences.

All will be revealed when Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9th, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, fans are going to have to be patient while waiting for more information. In the meantime, Supergirl will arrive in theaters on June 26th.

Man of Tomorrow is officially filming, as the upcoming DCU Chapter 1 installment kicked off production in Atlanta this past April. Unsurprisingly, writer/director James Gunn has been keeping fans in the loop with occasional behind-the-scenes tidbits. The filmmaker’s latest tease is quite a doozy, though, as he revealed the first look at Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor in his power suit. My excitement over this first look is through the roof, and it can only be matched by the various fans who’ve since reacted to Gunn’s post.

Gunn showed off the sweet-looking costume by way of a post he shared to Instagram on Monday. The simple shot shows Hoult clad in Luthor’s classic green armor while standing on sand against a dimly lit background. Gunn shared this show “live from the set of Man of Tomorrow,” I have to say that this is a “fit check” I can certainly get behind. Check out the post for yourself and try to contain your excitement afterwards:

This live-action variation of Lex’s armor – most commonly known as a “warsuit” in the comics – looks pretty much as some would probably imagine. Nevertheless, that doesn’t in any way dim the hype I’m feeling for this aspect of the upcoming superhero movie. Clearly, I’m not alone as plenty of admirers took to the comments section to share thoughts of approval. Take a look at some of the glowing responses:

• I can’t stop smiling. 😍- heyitsjennalynn
• THE WAR SUIT! Nicholas looks incredible!🙌🏽🔥 - giselle_barajas1234
• Lex is looking 👌 - dcworld_
• The cosplayers (including me) will have a hard time paying for a suit like this 🥹 - n4traven
• This looks like it was literally ripped straight out of a comic, I feel like a kid on Christmas!! 😍❤️ - kaleightalty
• Wow. Now this is amazing. Can’t wait to see Lex flying around and fighting in his armor. 😍 - wondervaughn_1
• In James Gunn we trust 🙏🏾🥹🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 - dreallenmusic

Lex Luthor’s warsuit made its formal debut within the pages of Action Comics #544 in June 1983 and, over the years, Luthor has used the armor in an attempt to match Superman’s abilities in battle. I’ve enjoyed seeing various iterations of the suit over the years and, honestly, my first experience with it was the version worn by the DC Animated Universe’s Lex. That version greatly differs from that of the comics, from which the DCU outfit takes major inspiration. James Gunn and his production team’s apparent dedication to replicating the costume is definitely admirable and much appreciated.

Since Gunn’s Superman sequel was announced, plot details have locked up tighter than any trinket in the Fortress of Solitude. The information that has been revealed, though, suggests that the Man of Steel will have to team up with Luthor in order to take down the villainous Brainiac (played by Lars Eidinger). Gunn has also shared some details on Luthor’s future in this continuity, and what’s exciting is that it sounds like he’s keen on making him a layered character as opposed to just a mustache-twirling antagonist.

The notion of Nicolas Hoult’s Lex and David Corenswet’s Supes working together delights me to no end, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out on the big screen. And, with the reveal of the suit, it’s clear to see that Luthor will have some serious assistance whenever he comes across any kinds of threats. I want to go into this film as clean as possible, of course, though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want James Gunn to drop any additional cool BTS photos in the lead-up to the release next year.

Man of Tomorrow is set to open in theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, check out Supergirl, which opens this coming June 26, and stream Superman and other DCU titles using an HBO Max subscription.

Euphoria Season 3 has offered up more than a few surprises, and that’s saying a lot for a show that’s generally known for having wild twists and turns. Amid Rue’s dabbling in high-stakes drug dealing and Cassie’s OnlyFans journey, there have also been some surprising pop culture references. Earlier this season, fans were treated to a 90 Day Fiancé nod, but what’s even more surprising is that the latest episode includes Superman in a way. Since then, DC Studios’ James Gunn has even responded to the nod.

One of the newest additions to the Euphoria cast this year is the legendary Sharon Stone, who plays network exec Patty Lance. The seventh episode of the season, “Rain or Shine,” features a scene that takes place in Lance’s office that’s located on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot. And one particular shot of the office shows a large Superman standee in Lance’s workspace, which is modeled after David Corenswet’s version of the Man of Steel. Take a look at the sweet Easter egg for yourself:

Such an unexpected DCU reference is cool enough on its own, but Gunn’s response is definitely the icing on the cake. The co-CEO of DC Studios was prompted to weigh in after Threads user @princejdcu shared a photo of the scene and referred to the backdrop as Gunn’s real-life office space. Journalist Brandon Davis then chimed in, saying that the office actually belonged to co-CEO Peter Safran. After that Gunn weighed in with his funny comment:

Seriously, I never would’ve expected Euphoria to have a DC reference of any kind, yet it makes sense that the show would utilize Gunn and Safran’s office. The Sam Levinson-created drama series is produced by HBO Entertainment, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, so that would explain the crew’s ability to film on the studio lot. However, is it weird that I now want to know what Rue, Jules or Cassie think about Gunn’s critically acclaimed Superman film?

There’s, of course, a reason James Gunn is apparently “never” in his office, and that’s because he remains busy in the field. Even now, he’s currently overseeing filming on Man of Tomorrow, which is the follow-up to his Supes film. The upcoming superhero movie also represents another installment in DCU Chapter 1, which is moving right along. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but what seems certain is that the movie is poised to further kick this new continuity into high gear.

As for Euphoria, the show may or may not be reaching the end of its run, as it’s yet to be confirmed whether its third season will also be its final chapter. There are still those who seem to be holding out hope that Season 4 might still happen, though. More immediately, there’s only one episode left in this season and, whether or not, it closes out the series as a whole, I’m led to assume it’ll offer some big moments. I’m also curious as to whether or not that episode will nod to other pieces of pop culture, superhero-related or not.

Watch the season finale of Euphoria, which airs on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. The episode will also be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, and that membership also provides access to James Gunn’s Superman and more DC content.

Brandon Routh donning the cape in Superman Returns should have been a career rocket launch, making the actor a consistent presence on the new movie release schedule. When the movie came out, he was stepping into one of the most famous roles in pop culture, becoming the first big-screen Superman after Christopher Reeve, in a movie built to honor that legacy. Though I think there’s a lot to defend about the flick, becoming a hit wasn’t meant to be for Returns. Now, an interview where he opens up about the aftermath of his take on Big Blue is going viral, with the actor recalling that he wasn’t given what he thought he had “earned.”

A clip from Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, where Routh discussed what happened after Bryan Singer’s 2006 DC movie, is running around the interwebs again. The actor said he expected the role to lead to something much bigger, but the offers he thought would come never really arrived. He explained:

That is a pretty raw admission, especially knowing Superman Returns made nearly $400 million worldwide but still wasn’t enough to guarantee a sequel. Routh has previously said the chance to continue as Superman slowly fizzled over the next few years, leaving him stuck in a strange limbo. Eventually, the Snyderverse came along, and now we’re deep into James Gunn’s DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. We’ve even had a new Superman since Routh, which he’s seen and had an emotional response to.

The Legends of Tomorrow veteran has spoken before about how difficult that period was for him. It even led to him using World of Warcraft as a coping mechanism while he avoiding dealing with his feelings. He has also credited his wife, Courtney Ford, with helping him face what the end of that Superman chapter had done to him.

The roles Routh mentioned are interesting because none of them were the obvious “next Superman” move. Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Chuck let him be funny, odd and more relaxed than the Man of Steel role ever could. They also helped keep his career moving while he figured out what came next.

The Out of Order actor has also been honest about needing to get better at the craft and the business. He has said he had to surrender to the process after realizing he was not always doing the audition work he needed to do. That kind of self-awareness is not glamorous, but it is probably more useful than pretending the cape fixed everything.

Eventually, he did find his way back into the world of new superhero movies and TV shows through The CW’s Arrowverse, playing Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom. Later, he returned as Superman in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, a moment that felt like a course correction for fans who always thought he deserved more time in the role.

That is what makes Brandon Routh’s comments so compelling to me years later. His Superman story was not the clean Hollywood rise people might assume it would have been. It was confusing, painful and full of career detours. But he kept going, and in its own quiet way, that feels pretty Superman, too.

The DC Universe is still in its infancy, but it's been making plenty of headlines. Co-CEO James Gunn has been crafting a new shared universe, with the first slate of projects titled Gods and Monsters. Fans have countless questions about the upcoming DC movies, including the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. And Gunn might have just confirmed that a fan favorite character will be back in the forthcoming blockbuster.

Superman performed well in theaters, and is currently available ot stream with a HBO Max subscription. One of the movie's stranger characters was Mr. Handsome, a creature created by Lex Luthor that resided in his pocket universe. Gunn posted from the set over on Threads, and heavily implied that weird monster would be back for Man of Tomorrow. Check out the post for yourself below:

Well, this certainly hints at Lex Luthor's creation is going to be making an appearance in Man of Tomorrow. Either that or it's an insider joke about Mr. Handsome's scene-stealing appearance in the first Superman movie. But since the blockbuster will see Lex and Superman unite against a common enemy, there's certainly the option for this creature to end up popping up.

After Superman was released, James Gunn revealed Mr. Handsome's backstory online. Namely that Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor created him when he was just 12 years old, and despite the character's unsettling appearance Lex kept him around. What's more, he even had a photo of Mr. Handsome on his desk.

Throughout Superman, Mr. Handsome was mostly seen transporting Lex around his pocket dimension/prison. It's unclear what his fate was by the end of the blockbuster, but he's obviously a favorite of James Gunn. And since the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker is running the shared universe and directing Man of Tomorrow, it seems logical that he would return in the sequel.

Not much is known about what Gunn has up his sleeve for Man of Tomorrow, but it looks like Lex and Superman will unite to battle Brainiac when it hits theaters. Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order are excited to see how this partnership plays out, and how that movie moves the shared universe as a whole forward. There are countless questions about what's going to go down in the DCU, and which actors will play beloved figures from DC comics.

All will be revealed when Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9th, 2027. But first up is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

While there are plenty of comic book projects in the works, the DC side of things has been going through major changes. The former DCEU (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription) ended with Aquaman 2, and co-CEO James Gunn has crafted a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, with the debut movie being Superman. And Gunn recently responded after fans poked holes in the blockbuster's narrative.

Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order were invested when Superman hit theaters, and helped to kickstart a new shared universe. The movie's opening title cards claimed that David Corenswet's title character just "lost his first fight", but some fans thought that ignored how Idris Elba's Bloodsport shot Supes with a Kryptonite bullet prior to The Suicide Squad. James Gunn responded to this on Threads, posting:

Well, there you have it. The Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker isn't taking any guff from fans who thought that Superman either ignored or retconned The Suicide Squad. Because Bloodsport attempting an assassination on the Man of Steel doesn't count as a "fight" according to Gunn.

While I wasn't expecting Abraham Lincoln's name to be brought up in the director's argument, I totally get what he was saying. Superman didn't actually come to blows with Bloodsport, and was instead targeted and shot by the villain, who was famously played by Idris Elba in The Suicide Squad.

While Peacemaker Season 2 retconned Justice League and the DCEU, it sounds like Bloodsport's history with Kal-El is still canon. Otherwise, why would James Gunn have to clarify that the Superman opening narration wasn't incorrect? We'll just have to wait and see if Idris Elba gets to return to the shared universe and reprise his role from The Suicide Squad.

We're still very early into the DCU's life in theaters and on the small screen. The second movie is coming this summer with Supergirl, and fans are eager to see what crossovers are going to be coming down the line. Hopefully, that means some characters from The Suicide Squad come back... other than the ones that have already appeared on Peacemaker.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl, which will be released on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, both Superman and The Suicide Squad are streaming over on HBO Max.

Moviegoers who spent years watching the DC movies in order have watched as the former DCEU ended with Aquaman 2 (streaming with a HBO Max subscription), and co-CEO James Gunn crafted a new shared universe. But filmmaker Zack Snyder has been regularly posting throwbacks from the DCEU, with the latest includes a shirtless Henry Cavill. And fans are definitely sounding off in the comments section.

While we've gotten the first few titles from the slate of first projects titled Gods and Monsters, there are plenty of fans still looking back at the previous universe. Zack Snyder has been adding fuel to the fire by regularly posting images from the three movies he directed. Case in point: this latest photo, which appears to be a cut scene from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Check it out below:

Lois and Clark Kent were living together during Batman v Superman, and were shown being affectionate and even sharing a bath together. The above image shows the Man of Steel catching some z's without a shirt, as Amy Adams' character gently wakes him up. I guess Lois really is the key... to the hero waking up on time.

Snyder shared this image to his 728k followers on Instagram, a number that's constantly climbing as a result of his DCEU throwbacks. Folks sounded off in the comments, many of whom are still hoping he'll somehow manage to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse and produce his two planned Justice League sequels.

• My Clark and Lois ❤️❤️ - zacksnyderfans
• BRING BACK SUPERMAN - st5m3obxld
• Will we ever get this scene released publicly? - cx_pr3st01
• Restore the snyderverse. We will stop at nothing- pulidop48
• Move on Zack! - kevportilla95

Of course, the latter of these comments is telling a very different story. That commenter told Zack Snyder to "move on" from his tenure making DC blockbusters. After all, Justice League's theatrical cut was released back in 2017, while the Snyder Cut finally got its turn in 2021. Aside from reshoots for Zack Snyder's Justice League, it's been a long time since he was actually behind the camera for DC. And that commenter seems to think it's time for both Snyder and his fans to give it up.

Some folks were not happy with this sentiment, and the responses included clap backs and even some middle fingers emojis. Zack Snyder's fans have proven themselves to be super loyal, so this should be expected. Still, it's a sentiment that some moviegoers have had about the movement.

While there's been no indication that the SnyderVerse will ever be restored, smart money says the discourse is going to continue... especially with the director fanning the flames with throwbacks.

Both the DCEU and DC are streaming over on HBO Max. The next upcoming DC movie heading to theater is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Fans have been anticipating Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to 2025’s Superman and one of the upcoming titles in DCU Chapter One. The past few weeks alone have seen a slew of updates drop in the lead-up to the start of production. Well, writer/director James Gunn officially confirmed that the cameras are now rolling on the upcoming superhero movie. And, even with this brief shot, fans are under the impression that a great moment from the comics is going to be recreated.

What Did James Gunn Share From The Man Of Tomorrow Set?

Gunn took to his Instagram on Monday to share the set photo, which seems relatively straightforward (on the surface). The image shows a chessboard laid out on a metal table along with a bag of chips and an additional item, which seems to have the Superman insignia overlaid with Brainiac’s. Also on the table is a pass from the fictional VanKull Department of Corrections, which is marked for Alexander “Lex” Luthor.” Check out the photo:

At the end of Superman, Lex was arrested and sent to Belle Reve Correctional Center, and his fall from grace was further shown on Peacemaker Season 2. That DCU show, however, also showed Luthor making a deal with Rick Flag Sr., which involved the corporate magnate securing a transfer to VanKull. So this new set photo seemingly indicates that fans will get to see a bit more of Lex while he remains incarcerated, which makes sense.

The comments section of the post suggests that fans are already hyped about what’s to come. Some have also picked up on something that strikes me as well, and those who’ve read a certain 2021 comic may be pleased if this assumption pans out.

The DCU May Be Putting A Spin On A Moment From The Comics

Lex Luthor has long played mind games with the Man of Steel, but there was an instance in which he literally attempted to play a game with him. In a portion of 2021’s Superman: Son of Kal-El Annual #1, Superman visits Luthor in prison in an attempt to retrieve some information. Lex mostly deflects but also asks his longtime adversary if he’d consider sitting down for a game of chess. Supes begrudgingly sits down to play, and Luthor eventually criticizes his first move, which is to move a knight forward.

The Kryptonian hero eventually poses the hypothetical question of what he and Lex could accomplish if they worked together, with Luthor even admitting he’s had the same thought. Shortly after, the game is interrupted by the warden, and Superman steps out without finishing the game, which angers Lex. Overall, adding a scene like this to MoT just seems so obvious, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a variation of it is included. From a narrative standpoint, it would also make sense.

Gunn previously teased that Man of Tomorrow would see David Corenswet’s Supes and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex team up to stop a common enemy. That foe has since been revealed to be Brainiac, who’s being played by Lars Eidinger. With all of that in mind, the notion of a scene in which Luthor and The Last Son of Krypton ponder the merits of working together while playing chess would track with the story.

Of course, all of this is just speculation on my part right now, but I’m hopeful that we’ll see Superman and Lex Luthor play chess at some point in the film. For now, keep in mind that Man of Tomorrow is set to soar into theaters on July 9, 2027. Those who want to catch up on the DCU movie and TV entries that have already been released can stream them with an HBO Max subscription.

Thankfully, James Gunn didn’t let this year’s Superman Day celebrations go by without dropping a seemingly huge reveal for the upcoming DC blockbuster Man of Tomorrow, in the form of previously unreleased casting news. Or, to be more specific, the filmmaker shared a behind-the-scenes pic from the sequel with an awesome actor whose presence has been a secret until now, and it marks a reunion for Gunn.

The Superman director took to Instagram to share a post with trainer Paolo Mascitti, editor Fred Raskin, Sydney Happersen portrayer Stephen Blackehart, and the current man of the hour: The Wire and Empire vet Andre Royo! I can only hope the latter gets to rock the same hairstyle he’s displaying in the post below.

As James Gunn alluded to, it's been 15 years since the last time he worked with Andre Royo, who'd portrayed the buddy and diner cohort to Rainn Wilson's Frank in 2011's darkly comedic superhero movie Super. I'm thinking the actor and filmmaker's latest collab will give the actor a bigger stake in this film's plot.

Interestingly enough, one of Royo's most recent roles has been within the grander DC universe. He voiced the villainous Arnold Wesker, a.k.a. Toyman, for the podcast audio drama Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind, which boasted Christina Ricci and Billy Magnussen as the titular baddies.

Though Gunn didn't unleash a slew of details about who Royo will be playing, I have a couple of ideas for who the Truth Be Told co-star could be portraying in the next chapter of the Kryptonian hero's DCU saga. And it should surprise no one that both guesses come directly from the comic books.

Could Andre Royo Be Playing Metropolis Gangster Bruno Mannheim?

The basic Who vs. Who set-up for Man of Tomorrow has long been locked in place, as the movie will see David Corenswet's Superman and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor more or less joining forces to stave off the devastating threat of Lars Eidinger's take on the classic villain Brainiac. But what's a modern comic book movie follow-up without at least 17 villains making appearances?

To that end, I think it would be excellence, and not so illogical, for Andre Royo to join the DCU as high-powered orginized crime boss Bruno Mannheim, who is often depicted as the head of the underground syndicate Intergang. Though that group has ties to the New Gods and other characters who haven't been tapped for live-action debuts just yet, I think it'd be easy enough to bring Bruno into the fold without immediately needing to deliver an exhaustive backstory for his rise up Metropolis' criminal power rankings.

Within the comics, Bruno and his crew are often at odds with both Superman and Lex Luthor (as well as other Metropolis baddies), so if Royo is indeed playing that role in Man of Tomorrow, I'd be interested to see which side he'd align himself with. I guess if Brainiac is intending to destroy everything, there wouldn't be much of a criminal enterprise for Bruno to maintain control of.

Though Bruno, his father Moxie and others in the Mannheim family were originally depicted as white characters, Superman & Lois set a new precedent for live-action by having The Walking Dead vet Chad Coleman bring his intimidating presence to the role.

I'd Love If Andre Royo Portrayed A Version Of The Villainous Milton Fine

Given Brainiac's introduction in Man of Tomorrow, I can only assume that James Gunn will bring in more characters from the villain's mythos than just the alien himself. There's a whole lot to pick from, too, and I think it'd be awesome to bring Andre Royo into this universe to portray the technological brilliance of Milton Fine.

Different iterations of Fine exist, from a metahuman circus mesmerist to history prof to computer engineer, with the central hook that he is telepathically linked to Brainiac, who takes over the human to use as a mouthpiece and more. That could also be the smartest way to bring the alien threat into this story.

Given the presence of Stephen Blackehart in Gunn's pic, it's feasible that his character shares the screen with Royo's, and I could fully buy into Lex Luthor hiring Milton Fine to help with his anti-Superman agendas, only to later realize that his new hire is secretly a telepathic mole for Brianiac.

Royo could easily play an off-kilter scientist or technology fanatacist who gets psychically manipulated by otherworldly threats. Or really, any other character that Gunn trusts him with. So even if my two theores are completely off-base, I still can't wait to see how he joins the story.

This revealing post comes days after the news dropped that Man of Tomorrow added Adria Arjona to the cast, with that news previously having been "debunked" by Gunn. It's still unclear exactly who she'll be playing, though the main two options seem to be Maxima and Wonder Woman.

Fans can also expect to see Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. in the mix to follow up on his Peacemaker arc, as well as an appearance from Lanterns star Aaron Pierre as Green Lantern John Stewart. Other returning stars include Rachel Brosnahan, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Isabela Merced, and Maria Gabriella de Faria.

With filming set to kick off in earnest over the next week, Man of Tomorrow is set to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.

Man of Tomorrow – one of the upcoming films of DCU Chapter 1 – is set to start filming soon and, with that, casting news has been breaking as of late. Just days ago, it was also reported that writer and director James Gunn was screen-testing actresses for the role of Maxima. Ella Purnell, Marisa Abela and Adria Arjona were said to be in contention for the part, but Gunn refuted the report. However, there’s been a new development that seemingly counteracts Gunn’s claim, so what’s really going on here?

It’s been reported that Adria Arjona is officially joining the cast of Man of Tomorrow. That news comes by way of The Hollywood Reporter, and the trade claimed that Arjona was a finalist alongside fellow actresses Sydney Chandler, Eva De Dominici and Grace Van Patten. What’s interesting, though, is that the outlet doesn’t confirm whether or not Arjona is actually playing the role of Maxima. For now, her part is being referred to as a mystery role, which sparks plenty of questions.

Last week, after the initial Maxima report dropped, Gunn took to social media and said the details were inaccurate. The filmmaker (who was also named co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022) asserted that he had never met either Purnell or Abela. There is an aspect of that post that’s interesting in hindsight, though. Gunn confirmed that he had long been friends with Arjona, as he cast her in 2017’s The Belko Experiment. What the filmmaker didn’t do, however, was directly deny the notion of Arjona testing for a role.

Quite frankly, it’s difficult to sort out what exactly is going on here. In regard to James Gunn’s initial comments, maybe that was a case of semantics, and he was just being extra cautious with his words. Gunn does, after all, have experience with keeping details about major projects under wraps. The Guardians of the Galaxy helmer is known for being quite active on social media, and I’m curious as to whether he’ll address this latest piece of news head on.

There’s also still the matter of who Adria Arjona might be playing. It’s certainly possible that she’s portraying Maxima, an extraterrestrial conqueror introduced in the pages of DC Comics back in 1989. Coincidentally, though, there’s also been DCU-related speculation swirling around Arjona as of late. Many have been speculating that she could be a prime candidate for the role of Wonder Woman, though that’s been far from confirmed. Regardless, it seems she’ll be entering a superhero franchise in some form or another.

It’s looking relatively certain that Man of Tomorrow will have a major ensemble cast just like its predecessor, 2025’s Superman. David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult and more actors from that initial movie are expected to return for MoT. Also joining the fray this time around will be Lars Eidinger, who’s been cast in the role of Brainiac. The film will also include Aaron Pierre, who will reprise his role as Green Lantern John Stewart following his debut in the Lanterns TV show.

Story details on James Gunn’s upcoming superhero movie are slim, though it’s been teased that the Man of Steel will have to team up with Luthor to take down the technological threat that is Brainiac. If Maxima is indeed in the film, I’d be curious to see how she figures into the narrative. And, even if the character doesn’t appear, I’m eager to see what role the talented Adria Arjona ends up playing nonetheless.

Man of Tomorrow is set to soar into theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, check out Superman and other DCU offerings using an HBO Max subscription.

Despite not being one of the impending 2026 movie releases, James Gunn’s upcoming DCU movie Man of Tomorrow may already become one of the most talked about movies of this year, as it’s set to kick off rehearsals and filming in the next month. Fans are eager to see David Corenswet’s Superman teaming up with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor (especially with the latter in his comic-specific duds) to take on the sequel’s big bad, Brainiac, and we’re also hungry for info about any other new characters joining the DCU.

To that end, a new report from Deadline surfaced that claimed a trio of popular and talented actresses were being tested to potentially take on the role of comic book character Maxima: Fallout star Ella Purnell, Industry’s Marisa Abela, and Andor’s Adria Arjona. But before anyone could really start thinking about those prospects, James Gunn took to Threads to completely debunk the rumored actresses, prefacing it by saying that he’d always previously put faith in the outlet’s reporting as being well-handled. In his words:

If there was even an iota of legitimacy behind this trio being lined up as possible Maxima portrayers, Gunn likely wouldn't have responded to the news at all, or his post might have been more measured and playful with the wording. In this instance, however, the director seems genuinely perturbed that these rumors were publicized in such a way.

I can see how it might be easy to believe Adria Arjona would be a Man of Tomorrow candidate, since Gunn himself mentioned their team-up for 2016's The Belko Experiment, which he wrote and produced. Plus, she’s also set to co-star in another comic book adaptation, Prime Video’s upcoming series Criminal. But no dice on Man of Tomorrow, it seems. At least not for the role of Maxima.

This definitely isn’t the first time James Gunn has shot down DCU casting rumors, and it could almost amount to a part time job for him at this point. He’s previously debunked rumors that GotG’s Dave Bautista was playing Brainiac, though I don’t think he spoke out against the reports claiming Lanterns star Aaron Pierre is in the sequel. Which doesn’t make the Pierre tidbit automatically true or anything. But it does seem less far-fetched.

I Wish James Gunn Actually Would Cast One Of These Rumored Actresses Now

James Gunn casts who he wants for his projects, with one caveat for the DCU being that superhero-sized budgets are easier to manage with stars who haven't quite broken through to the A-list just yet, which is part of why the lesser-known Corenswet landed the Man of Steel role. Which is all to say, no one is ever going to tell Gunn who to cast, least of all noisy fans on social media.

But here's the thing. A lot of the false casting rumors for Man of Tomorrow and other DCU projects involve excellent actors who would presumably be great within this fantastical universe, and I've wondered in the past if simply being named in those rumors makes it more likely that Gunn will never cast them in roles. Even if it's not a fully conscious decision, his annoyance for unverified reports could feasibly be a factor.

Since that's something I'll never actually know for sure, I'll simply voice my wish for the Superman director to now put some consideration into working with Adria Arjona, Ella Purnell and Marisa Abela for Man of Tomorrow or another superhero project. Just because they won't be playing Maxima doesn't mean they might not be good for other comic book heroes and villain.

Ella Purnell's Sweet Pea character seems like she could have stepped right out of a James Gunn-written narrative, so she'd be my first choice for one of his next efforts.

Hopefully Gunn will also share some verified casting announcements for Man of Tomorrow in the near future as fans await its eventual release date of July 9, 2027.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, and DC co-CEO James Gunn has been methodically crafting a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is called Gods and Monsters, and includes both movies and streaming projects that are available with a HBO Max subscription. The next upcoming DC movie is Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, and while I think the movie looks great, I need the DC Universe to get off of Krypto's tail.

The full trailer for Supergirl recently dropped, and offered a look at the cosmic adventure Milly Alcock's title character will go on. The footage revealed that Krypto will be poisoned by the villainous Brigands, with Kara given just three days to find the antidote. The movie looks good, but I need the DCU to stop putting Krypto in danger moving forward.

Both Superman and Supergirl put Krypto in danger, and I'm ready to throw hands.

Fans who are watching the DC movies in order will recall that Krypto was actually put in a ton of danger in James Gunn's Superman as well. The pooch was kidnapped by Lex Luthor and imprisoned in his pocket universe, causing David Corenswet's Man of Steel to rage out a bit on the bald villain. While Krypto was able to be rescued, the fact that he's already back in danger as the main macguffin in Supergirl makes me feel bad for the little guy.

Narratively it makes sense that Krypto would be used to move the plot along for both Superman and Supergirl. Those two heroes don't have that many loved ones, and the superpowered dog is an innocent that they'd both throw hands for. But I'm hoping he manages to survive Milly Alcock's movie, and is left out of danger moving forward. Doesn't he deserve a break?

Krypto was based off James Gunn's own dog, which is why he was so mischievous throughout Superman's runtime. But he's actually Supergirl's dog, and their relationship is expected to be much deeper in the forthcoming blockbuster. As a reminder, you can re-watch the full trailer for Craig Gillespie's movie below.

Supergirl's cameo in Superman was meant to show just how king David Corenswet's character is; Krypto isn't even his dog but he was willing to lay down his life for him. But the dog means much more to Kara; he's all the family and memories of Krypton that she has. So the stakes are especially high.

All will be revealed when Supergirl hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that Krypto gets a break sooner rather than later.

The global success of James Gunn’s Superman put much attention on the impending sequel’s big villain, and fans went berserk when the director revealed the much-rumored Brainiac is indeed the threat that brings Supes and arch-enemy Lex Luthor together in Man of Tomorrow. German actor Lars Eidinger was cast for the role in December, but updates have been all but absent since.

Now, Eidinger has opened up about what sounds like a hectic and stressful audition process for the upcoming superhero movie for an interview with Kevin Kühnert for the program Don’t Misunderstand Me! (or Missverstehen Sie mich richtig! as it’s known in Germany). During that talk, he revealed a few details about what fans can expect, as well as how much effort he put into the possibly the highest-profile casting audition of his career thus far.

1. Eidinger's Audition Required 2 Hours In Makeup And A "Mask"

Ahead of turning 50 in January, Lars Eidinger was not expecting his life and career to take a shared 180 spin into the mainstream, but he says that all changed once James Gunn noted his interest in Man of Tomorrow and asked for a self-taped audition. The actor admitted he recorded the attempt no less than 15 times before he finally felt his free-flowing attempt was worthy of submitting. Spoilers: his patience paid off.

At that point, Gunn & Co. wanted to meet with their potential new star for an in-person callback, which led him to DC’s Atlanta studios, where he was immediately treated to a full-body 3D scan. (Though not before watching 2025's Superman on the flight over.) Saying he was legitimately confused at that point as to whether the extra efforts meant he'd already been cast or not, he also shared:

That's quite the interesting word to use there: mask. Especially if said mask was applied after so much makeup work was already in the mix. I won't jump to any immediate conclusions here, since there are several things he could have meant by that. Most versions of Brainiac feature unique and numerous elements on his face and head, so it'd make sense for the prop team to have a version of that aesthetic ready to go for exactly these audition purposes.

Perhaps facial applications will be handled spontaneously each day of filming, but I have to imagine he'll be fitted with a prefabricated headpiece to account for whichever specific look the movie will lean into. Not to mention whatever CGI flourishes also enter into it.

2. DC Already Made Sure To Keep This Brainiac Look A Secret

The info that fans are hungriest for about comic book movies tends to be the designs and looks of the previously two-dimensional characters, and that's certainly the case here. Plus, artists rarely stick with one Brainiac look for very long, which makes his big-screen debut all the more exciting. (The Absolute Superman approach, which James Gunn is keen on, is on a whole other disturbing level.)

Lars Eidinger, in addressing his audition-related confusion, spoke on the all-around lack of other people in the area. In his words:

I have no idea how many people would normally be walking around this studio on any given day, to be sure. And I also have no idea how many other actors were brought in to go through everything that Eidinger did. But it seems like there was intention behind making sure the actor was walking around without the chance for a bystander to see him and identify him, especially after he was sporting the Brainiac mask. The studio heads likely kept the on-hand crew list as limited as possible, on top of making sure his look was completely hidden as he went to and from his vehicle.

3. Lars Eidinger Will Be There For The Entire Shoot, So Expect A Lot Of Brainiac

For the five days after his offbeat audition, the White Noise co-star said he remained sure that he would get a call from his agent saying Gunn & Co. would be going with another actor. Instead, it was James Gunn himself who reached out to Eidinger and confirmed his inclusion in Man of Tomorrow.

When asked about how many days he expected to be filming, Eidinger shared:

Not that anyone should have expected the actor playing the main villain of Man of Tomorrow to only be around the set for half of it. But given the character's alien and occasionally AI-related nature, it's certainly plausible that Brainiac will exist as a threat throughout the sequel without constantly needing to be there in full physical form. But hopefully this means we'll get as much of the villain as fans have been hoping for.

Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters on July 9, 2027.

Warning! Warning! Warning! There Are Spoilers Ahead for Project Hail Mary!

There was a clear divide in the theater when I saw Project Hail Mary, the latest blockbuster on the 2026 movie schedule. Some were old enough to have watched 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and 1978’s Superman on VHS over and over as a kid, and those who weren't. How do I know that? By how people laughed at a couple of jokes in the Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi flick. That first joke, especially. Here’s why it was obvious.

The Close Encounters Joke

Star Wars may have been the biggest hit in science fiction in 1977 (and of all time), but Close Encounters of the Third Kind, directed by Steven Spielberg, wasn’t all that far behind, finishing, appropriately, third in the year-end box office numbers (Smokey and the Bandit was between the two). It hasn’t been the most enduring of Spielberg’s movies over the years, but that’s what makes the joke in Project Hail Mary so funny–and why the smattering of Gen-Xers around the theater all laughed, while others seemed to have the joke go over their head (and I don’t mean that as an insult).

The most famous moments in Close Encounters of the Third Kind come when the invading aliens first play a five-note phrase of music (written, of course, by John Williams), and later, when humans figure out that they are trying to communicate with those tones. In Project Hail Mary, Grace (Gosling) attempts to do the same with Rocky, humming those famous notes for him as they learn to communicate with each other through the glass. It’s a fleeting joke, but one that really resonates with anyone who loves Close Encounters.

The Superman Joke

Later in the movie, which fans have been loving, Grace and Rocky build a habitat using panes of glass. As they are building it, Grace picks up a pane and smushes his face against it, and says that he feels like he’s in “the Phantom Zone.” Now, this is a joke that you don’t need to be steeped in Gen X culture to get. 1978’s Superman (and its sequel) is still wildly popular among people of all ages, and while James Gunn and David Corenswet re-invented Big Blue in their excellent version last summer, for many, Christopher Reeve will always be the GOAT.

The joke, of course, refers to the opening scene of Superman when General Zod, Ursa, and Non are condemned to the Phantom Zone. The criminals are confined in a floating glass prison that traverses the universe, with their screaming faces smushed against the glass, until they are freed by a nuclear explosion near Earth at the beginning of Superman II. Grace doesn’t have to dig as deep into late-’70s culture for this one, but it resonates the same way.

Drew Goddard, who wrote the script for the book-to-screen adaptation, was born in 1975, as were directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Andy Weir, who wrote the book Project Hail Mary, was born in ‘72. All from Generation X. It’s easy to see how these two jokes made it into the movie, and why Gen-Xers like me were delighted to see them.

Smallville has long been a beloved DCTV property, and that remains the case more than a decade after the show completed its 10-season run. That enduring popularity has been so palpable that there are those who’ve been eager to see a continuation series of sorts. A revival has indeed been discussed in some form or fashion and, as a longtime fan, I’d be down to see that come to fruition. Now, I feel even more passionate about now being the time for such a show after hearing some recent comments shared by Justin Hartley.

Why Should A Smallville Revival Happen Now?

The superhero media landscape has obviously become so much more vast since The WB/CW’s Superman prequel series flew onto the small screen in 2001. It was a novelty at the time and ironically went on to create the spark that led to the inception of the Arrowverse. Now, even that latter franchise is done, and that’s in great part due to the rise of the DCU continuity. DC Studios co-presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran are cooking up some cool stuff, but I’d really love for the pair to bring back Smallville.

There’s an endearing quality to the property, which certainly has moments of action and suspense, but also places a heavy emphasis on the characters. Speaking of which, the cast is downright impeccable, as I still consider Tom Welling an excellent Clark Kent. Michael Rosenbaum also crushes the role of Lex Luthor, and I could imagine him sliding back into it. Also, I have to mention the talents of cast members like Erica Durance (Lois Lane), Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang) and Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen), who I’d love to see back in the fold.

Quite frankly, a revival project wouldn’t even necessarily need to be a show, as a TV movie could work as well. By the time an older Clark appears during the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, he’s given up his powers for unknown reasons. A movie could focus on that story, which could essentially be his final fight as Superman. Whatever the case, I’d love to see more from this specific continuity, and I’m encouraged after hearing Hartley share his thoughts on suiting up again.

How Would Justin Hartley Feel About Playing Green Arrow Again?

Since hanging up Oliver Queen’s bow and arrow in 2011, Justin Hartley has seen a considerable amount of success. He starred on the hit NBC drama This is Us and, right now, he’s headlining the CBS drama series Tracker. Hartley recently appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show to discuss his latest show, and the host brought up Smallville. She then asked if Hartley would be open to playing another hero, and he not only explained (in the YouTube clip) that he would play Green Arrow again, but he also explained why he’d like to return:

What I think would be really cool though, now that I'm older, I have different life experiences and I would approach it differently and I think it would be a different story. I'd like to jump back into that Green Arrow suit…. Maybe not that exact suit but something a little hipper.

Hartley has spoken fondly about working on Smallville and, on that note, he’s shared positive thoughts on his experience playing Green Arrow. Considering how Hartley has changed in the time since he last wore that jade outfit, I’d love to see him get another crack at it in some way. (And, yes, I’d agree that his superhero suit could use an upgrade.) Of course, if a sequel show were to happen, it would probably have to occur after Tracker is done (barring any kind of master scheduling). Or maybe Hartley could just recur on that theoretical show. Whatever the case, since the Smallville cast is getting older, the revival would need to happen sooner rather than later.

On that note, Welling and Rosenbaum have been trying to pitch an animated sequel series, though their efforts have seemingly stalled due to the changing of the guard at Warner Bros. (which is also now set to be acquired by Paramount Skydance). So a new Smallville show may be only a dream right now but, for the time being, I’m holding onto hope that it’ll happen. For now, fans can check out all 10 seasons of the original show with a Hulu subscription.

It was just over a week ago that the first trailer for the new HBO series Lanterns arrived online, and while the preview didn't exactly make a big deal out of the show's ties to the larger DC Universe, we now have casting news that is providing that service. James Gunn's Man Of Tomorrow, the direct sequel to his 2025 Superman blockbuster, is now getting deep into pre-production, and today we have word that the film will include Aaron Pierre's John Stewart a.k.a. Green Lantern as part of its ensemble.

This update comes to us via THR, though the trade doesn't have any details regarding the size of his role in the plot (which is certainly not a surprise at this stage in the game). He is the second newcomer to join the anticipated feature, as we learned late last year that German actor Lars Eidinger has been cast as the villainous Brainiac. Man Of Tomorrow will see David Corenswet return to the role of Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman along with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Maria Gabriella de Faria as The Engineer.

This is an interesting development for the Green Lantern Corps of the DC Universe, as you'll notice that one name not included in the Man of Tomorrow cast yet is Nathan Fillion, who memorably played Guy Gardner in Superman. Fillion reprised his role in the first episode of Peacemaker Season 2, but he was noticeably absent from the aforementioned Lanterns trailer, which features a scene in which Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan makes mention of the fact that he has never met another human Green Lantern. The relationship between Gardner and his fellow emerald knights hasn't been made clear yet and will be a development to keep an eye on

Likewise, it will be interesting to see what this casting ultimately means for the density of DC Studio's continuity. Does Aaron Pierre's presence in Man Of Tomorrow mean that there is going to be any kind of direct link between the stories in Lanterns and the 2027 film? Are people going to need to watch the former to be fully up to speed and ready to watch the latter? Right now, we have far more questions than answers.

Man of Tomorrow is presently in pre-production and getting ready to get cameras rolling next month, so it's very likely that we will be getting a bunch of updates about the project in the coming weeks,which will also hopefully mean getting further clarity about what we can expect from the film. The blockbuster has been given a July 9, 2027 release date – making it the fourth DCU movie following Superman and the upcoming DC titles Supergirl (June 26) and Clayface (October 23). Lanterns, meanwhile, will debut sometime in August on HBO, and it will likely earn some extra attention now that we know one of its leads is set up for a significant part in the future of the canon.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, with a number of shared universes currently competing at the box office. Folks who spent years watching the DC movies in order will recall how the previous DCEU began with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (streaming with a HBO Max subscription). But we've already been treated to a new Clark Kent in the DCU, thanks to Gunn's Superman movie. And now Snyder has shared his thoughts on that project, and what the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker does right.

Superman hit theaters back in July, and was the debut movie project from the DCU's first slate of titles, called Gods and Monsters. That blockbuster had a much different feel than Man of Steel, and during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Snyder offered his take on what Gunn brings to the Last Son of Krypton. As he put it:

Not only has Zack Snyder seen Superman, but it seems like he's already looking forward to its sequel Man of Tomorrow. That upcoming DC movie is already in active development, and will find David Corenswet's Kal-El and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor united against a common enemy: Brainiac. And I can't wait to see what Snyder thinks about that blockbuster after its release.

While Snyder is known for bringing gritty DC stories to life with muted colors, James Gunn had a very different vision for Superman. The movie had plenty of comedy, bright colors, and focused on the character's hopeful nature. Later in that same podcast, the 300 director praised what Gunn brings to the table. In his words:

He's not wrong. James Gunn's work on both the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) and The Suicide Squad showed how well his unique director's vision translates to the big screen. While there's plenty of cool action and comedic beats, there's always a very human story at the heart of it. And as Snyder says, that's what makes him a great "steward" of the genre.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Zack Snyder, he's attached to a number of upcoming movies, albeit none of them being superhero projects.

These days, the future is looking bright for fans of DC Comics with all the upcoming DC movies on the way. From this summer’s Supergirl to 2027’s Superman follow-up, Man Of Tomorrow, there's a lot to be excited about. Still, it’s hard to forget what could have been with Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe continuity. To that point, Snyder recently talked about what he had in mind for his Man of Steel sequel.

In honor of the tenth anniversary of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder talked about his plans for Man of Steel 2 on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. When asked if he thought about giving Henry Cavill’s Superman a sequel before landing on the team-up film with Batman and Wonder Woman, Snyder said this:

Now, funny enough, James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow is set to include Brainiac, and German actor Lars Eidinger was cast to play the famed DC villain back in December. But, obviously, Snyder’s take would have been much different and, now, I'm so curious about what that would have looked like. During his recent interview, Snyder also said this in regard to how he viewed his DC story:

As Snyder explained, when he and Warner Bros. landed on doing a team-up film rather than Man of Steel 2, he didn’t necessarily think of it as straying away from a sequel for Superman. He felt like Batman v. Superman was a Superman film as much as his initial idea was going to be, and the character was always central to the universe to him. While the age of the "Snyderverse" may be over, the filmmaker said fans should “never forget” that they helped release the Snyder Cut of Justice League.

While fans will surely continue to wonder what a solo Man of Steel follow-up might've looked like, it sounds like what came next in the Snyderverse ended up being exactly what Snyder felt like the right next move was for his universe. Bu, did the filmmaker feel any pressure to build up a universe to compete with the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Snyder said Warner Bros was “very excited about Dawn of Justice” being on the Batman v. Superman title, whereas he didn’t “really need it” tacked on to the film.

Back in 2022, there was talk of Man of Steel 2 being developed before getting shelved due to execs handing the keys to James Gunn and Peter Safran. While Snyder's film isn't coming to fruition, at the very least, fans will get to see Superman do battle with Brainiac -- with Lex Luthor even assisting him -- in a movie, which is an exciting prospect. Man of Tomorrow is currently expected to hit theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, read up on other projects announced for DCU Chapter One.

In the five months since James Gunn revealed the title and early plans for his Superman sequel, fans have been treated to a steady stream of updates from the director, even if many are the updates are just to point out rumors that are off-base, or to justify why he hasn’t cast the DCU’s Batman yet. (Not exactly a Man of Tomorrow update, but still.) Now, Gunn has shined a bit of light on what influenced his take on the sequel’s villain Brainiac.

Since the point when Brainiac was fully confirmed and Lars Eidinger was cast to play him (even before that, really), the rumor mill was maxed out with fan-suggested comic book storylines that James Gunn would supposedly be using in the upcoming superhero movie. So when one fan asked him directly on Threads about whether a particular arc was a direct inspiration, the director decided to personally weigh in with some clarification.

Specifically the follower wondered whether the 1992 crossover event “Panic in the Sky” served as a lead-in inspiration to Man of Tomorrow, given that the story revolves around Brainiac and includes the rumored-for-live-action Maxima, not to mention it being Superman’s first chance in the post-Crisis continuity to head up a bigger group of heroes. While complimentary about the story in general, Gunn pointed out that his live-action Brainiac isn’t based on any one specific iteration.

On the one hand, that's a pretty clear bummer for that fan and anyone else with grand hopes and ideals about Man of Tomorrow bringing "Panic in the Sky" to life like never before, since this was the best shot possible for that story to get spun into a different medium. But on the other, I always tend to agree with the advantages of pulling character traits from a variety of different eras in a hero or villain's past.

If every live-action Superman only looked back to Christopher Reeve for inspriation, then there wouldn't be any measurable difference from one actor's performance to the next. But having a variety of inspirations and touchstones to lean into tends to make for fresher and more rewatchable storytelling. We also shouldn't expect Eidinger to mirror Supergirl's take on Brainiac 5 or any of the animated versions of the brilliant villian, but to rise up and make the character his own.

When Man of Tomorrow arrives, fans will be watching David Corenswet's Man of Steel partnering up with Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor to bring Brainiac down, and I cannot wait to see how those conversations happen. (Especially if Martian Manhunter actually IS in the movie.)

Barring any global catastrophes, Superman: Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters well after the 2026 release scendule is over, on July 9, 2027.

For months now, Superman has existed in a strange space where success and scrutiny coexist. Warner Bros. and DC Studios have repeatedly framed the film as a win: it had a decent box office haul, was critically well-received, and felt like a solid foundation for Chapter One of the new DCU under James Gunn. But recent comments from Netflix leadership suggest the story behind the movie’s early digital release may be more complicated than the official messaging implied.

The conversation reignited after entertainment analyst SyL shared a video on X of remarks from Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos during a U.S. Senate hearing regarding Netflix's attempt to buy out Warner Bros.. Sarandos contrasted Superman with another recent release, Sinners, while explaining how modern-day theatrical windows can be adjusted on the fly based on box office performance. His explanation was blunt:

That framing is sure to raise some eyebrows, because it clashes with how Superman has been publicly discussed. By most traditional metrics, the film didn’t bomb. It earned roughly $617 million worldwide on a reported production budget of over $200 million. Previous reports suggest that the movie generated around $125 million in profit for Warner Bros., which the studio has pointed to as proof of success.

But Sarandos’ comment suggests a different internal benchmark. In modern studio terms, profitability alone isn’t always enough, especially for a film positioned as a franchise cornerstone. Superman was widely expected to push closer to the billion-dollar mark, not just because of the character’s legacy, but because it was meant to signal a confident start of an era for new DC movies headed to the big screen.

That expectation gap matters. A shorter exclusive run can indicate a studio is trying to maximize a film’s total lifecycle value rather than betting on long-term theatrical legs. Sarandos’s remarks imply Gunn’s new superhero movie fell into that category, even if it performed well domestically.

This is where the tension with Gunn’s messaging becomes clear. To be fair, this isn’t the first time James Gunn has addressed why Superman arrived on digital sooner than expected. In a previous interview with Screen Rant, the DC Studios co-CEO offered a more logistical explanation that had less to do with box office legs and more to do with timing inside the larger DCU rollout. Speaking about the decision, Gunn tied the early digital release directly to Peacemaker Season 2 and accessibility concerns:

The Co-CEO of DC Studios' explanation for the early digital release reframes the move as less reactive to performance and more as a connective tissue decision, ensuring audiences could fully engage with the DCU before the next chapter arrived on streaming.

The Netflix CEO’s comments are fueling broader speculation about what Superman’s performance means for the DCU moving forward. A sequel, the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, has already been confirmed, and its villain cast has been announced, with Gunn teasing a storyline that forces the Man of Steel and Lex Luthor into an uneasy alliance. Warner Bros. has also publicly backed Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran by extending their contracts, signaling stability at the top.

In other words, James Gunn’s DC Universe isn’t “in trouble”—not yet. However, this reframing of Superman’s digital release highlights how success is being defined behind closed doors. This development is likely to create significant pressure on the planned slate of 2026 movie releases and beyond, especially if the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger goes through.

We will keep you up to date on the merger as it awaits regulatory approval. Until then, Gunn’s Superman is available to stream with your HBO Max subscription. As for the next DC film headed to theaters, that's Supergirl, which flies into cinemas on June 26.

So far the slate of movies in the DC Universe franchise is largely Superman Family-focused. Superman was released last year, Supergirl arrives to the 2026 movies schedule in June, and while Clayface will follow a few months later, then we’re getting Man of Tomorrow in 2027. But Superman also showed that it’s easy for other superheroes to be prominently featured as supporting characters, and DCU fans are now wondering if Martian Manhunter, one of the Man of Steel’s long-time Justice League compatriots, is being teased for Man of Tomorrow thanks to a rather tasty social media post shared by the DC Studios co-head.

While many of you reading this might have a sweet tooth, especially for Oreos, if you found yourself in the DCU, you’d likely be eating Chocos instead. James Gunn went on Instagram to share set design focused around Metropolis’ favorite sandwich cookie, and man, would I like to be in that meeting room at Chocos headquarters. Check it out:

Chocos are a staple snack in the DC Universe, and now I wish I had some to dip into milk and enjoy after work. No worries, I’ll just grab some Oreos instead… but it won’t be the same. More importantly, Gunn’s Chocos post immediately got fans bringing up J’onn J’onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter, as he’s been fond of these cookies stretching back to Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire's run on the Justice League comic book series (later Justice League International). Here’s a sampling of comments that accompanied the numerous gifs of J’onn:

• The Martian Manhunter is coming? - @ungeekcool_
• Martian Manhunter’s favorite cookie!!!! - @evilbriandies
• In my head canon J’onn J’onzz is the head of Marketing for Chocos - @dcfilmnews
• The best member of the league - @crithon
• The day Martian is cast is the day I scream bloody murder!!! I’m ready! Give me Martian and I’ll take a package of chocos - @thedailykryptonian

James Gunn tagged the official Superman account in his post. It’s not much, but that may be a subtle indication that the Chocos love is tied to Man of Tomorrow, which will see David Corenswet’s Superman having to team up with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor against Brainiac, who will be played by Lars Eidinger. Because there’s now a cosmic threat for these adversaries have to begrudgingly combat together in the upcoming DC movie, it would make sense to bring in another extraterrestrial character.

As laid out in his superhero moniker, J’onn J’onzz hails from Mars, and maybe Brainiac had something to do with the Martian race being wiped out.

Martian Manhunter has previously been portrayed in live-action by Phil Morris in Smallville and David Harewood in the Supergirl TV series, and Harry Lennix’s General Swanwick was revealed to be J’onn in disguise in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It’s safe to say, though, that including J’onn in Man of Tomorrow would introduce him to more people than ever. So fingers crossed we learn whether or not he’ll be in the movie ahead of its July 9, 2027 release.

For now, you can look forward to Supergirl being released on June 30, then Clayface on September 11. The Green Lantern-focused DCU show Lanterns will also premiere on HBO sometime in the late summer.

Although David Corenswet currently holds the mantle of cinematic Superman following his debut as the Man of Steel last year in the still-youthful DC Universe, it wasn’t that long ago that Henry Cavill was wearing the red cape. Cavill first appeared as Clark Kent/Kal-El in 2013’s Man of Steel and went on to reprise the character three more times (counting both versions of Justice League). Now a Hollywood producer has shared that during the heyday of Cavill’s time in the DC Extended Universe, he ran into the actor and heard him say “one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard anyone say ever.”

Alan Powell, the co-founder on Monarch Media, shared this story on his Instagram page, explaining how around the time that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was coming out, he was at a hotel where he ended up holding the door for a lot of people coming and going. Powell ended up standing there for a “good solid 60 seconds” until someone took over for him. The producer continued:

That definitely qualifies as a badass line to drop on someone when they recognize you for playing one of pop culture’s most famous superheroes. This encounter took place close to three years after Henry Cavill first played Superman, so between people recognizing him from Man of Steel and all the billboards and other advertisements for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it would have been difficult not to notice Cavill nearby if your attention wasn’t otherwise occupied. The same would have gone for Ben Affleck, if not more so, as he had a much bigger profile than Cavill before becoming the DCEU’s Batman.

Alan Powell talked about his encounter with Henry Cavill around the same time that Zack Snyder, who directed Man of Steel, Batman v Superman and the original version of Justice League, shared a photo of the actor in the “original Superman suit,” i.e. the one Christopher Reeves wore in his film series. The last time we saw Cavill playing Superman was in the Black Adam post-credits scene, and originally the plan was for him to appear in more DC movies. However, when James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to run DC Studios, it was decided to reboot the character again, bringing Cavill’s Superman tenure to an end.

While it remains to be seen if Henry Cavill could play a different character in the DCU, just like how Jason Momoa is now Lobo following his time as Aquaman, at least we’ll get to see him in all sorts of other movies coming up. He has the Highlander reboot, In the Grey, Enola Holmes 3 and the live-action Voltron all lined up, though none of them have release dates yet. And you can always revisit Cavill’s Superman appearances your HBO Max subscription while you cross your fingers hoping you’ll run into him someday like Alan Powell did.

There’s a little over two weeks to go until 2025 is finished, but we’ve been done on the Marvel and DC front for a while now, at least when it comes to big screen and small screen offerings. Both companies delivered a unique assortment of movies and TV shows this year, and I’m looking forward to what they deliver to the 2026 movies schedule and 2026 TV schedule.

But, before the year comes to an end, I’m here to go over my 11 favorite moments from Marvel and DC’s movies and shows over the last 12 months, and will be doing so in chronological order. Fellow fans, let’s take one last trip down memory lane with these projects before we get more hyped for what’s to come next year. Obviously, SPOILERS are ahead.

The Bride Exacting Revenge On Ilana In Creature Commandos

Creature Commandos just barely made the cut on this list, as only two of the eight episodes from the HBO Max subscription-exclusive show’s first season aired in 2025. Thankfully, the Season 1 finale made sure to show us The Bride exacting revenge on Princess Ilana Rostovic for killing Nina Mazursky. The heiress to the throne of Pokolistan murdered the amphibious human before her evil deeds came to light, but Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s female creation learned the truth. So she killed Ilana for taking away the only friend she ever made, thus also cutting short the despotic monarch’s attempts to conquer the world.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Time-Twisty Origin

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was already a time-twisty show in the sense that it follows Tom Holland’s version of Peter Parker in a timeline where he was mentored by Norman Osborn rather than Tony Stark. Then the Season 1 finale kicked things up a notch by showing that the spider that fell through Doctor Strange’s portal and bit Peter months earlier was not only from the future, but infused with present-day Peter’s blood. It’s a classic bootstrap paradox that appealed to me as a time travel enthusiast, and it also laid the groundwork for Venom to eventually be introduced.

Brave New World’s Dogfight Over Celestial Island

While Sam Wilson’s climactic scuffle with Red Hulk was exciting to watch in Captain America: Brave New World, I walked away from the movie being more impressed by the dogfight that occurred over Celestial Island. Not only did Sam and Joaquin Torres have to stop two rogue pilots from initiating a war between the United States and Japan, they had to do so without killing the pilots because they were being mind-controlled by Samuel Sterns. The winged duo managed to save this particular day, though Joaquin was critically injured in the process.

Daredevil Vs. Muse In Born Again

Although we got to see Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock suited up as Daredevil in the heartbreaking opening moments of Daredevil: Born Again’s first episode, it wasn’t until the Disney+ subscription-exclusive show’s sixth episode that he finally put the costume back on. He did so after learning that Angela del Toro had disappeared, and he eventually tracked her down to Muse’s lair, where a fight quickly broke out between him and the serial killer. Although Muse escaped, it was nonetheless great to see Matt kick his ass with such acrobatic flair.

The Thunderbolts Becoming The New Avengers

While I appreciated seeing the Thunderbolts overcome The Void by comforting Bob so he could regain control of his darker half rather than more traditional violent methods, I got way more satisfaction out of seeing them deliver a metaphorical middle finger to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Her last-minute ploy to introduce the team to the public as the New Avengers may have saved her from being apprehended, but as Yelena informed her, “We own you now.” Let’s see Valentina try to pull any shady shenanigans after that.

The Emergence Of Mephisto In Ironheart

MCU fans have been speculating about Mephisto entering the franchise ever since WandaVision, and that finally happened in Ironheart. The demonic entity, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, was revealed to be the one who supplied Parker Robbins with his cloak, and Riri Williams later agreed to her own deal with this particular devil. Mephisto is one of the most powerful characters in Marvel lore, so hopefully Ironheart won’t be the only time we see Cohen play him.

Mr. Terrific Tearing Up The LuthorCorp Camp In Superman

While it feels weird to include a moment from Superman that doesn’t even involve the Man of Steel, I have to do right by myself and highlight the one where Mr. Terrific shined brightest. Upon landing at the LuthorCorp camp where Superman had been taken into Lex Luthor’s pocket dimension, Edi Gathegi’s character proceeded to wipe the floor with everyone who attacked him with his T-spheres and fisticuffs, all while keeping Lois Lane safe under a force field. Not only is this the Superman scene I’ve revisited most, I can thank it for introducing me to Noah and the Whale’s “5 Years Time.”

Sue Storm Pushing Galactus Into The Portal In First Steps

Like Mephisto, Galactus is one of the most powerful beings in existence, and the Fantastic Four never stood a chance in terms of outright beating him in First Steps. However, it was amazing to see Sue Storm use her force field to literally push back the Devourer of Worlds into the portal so he would be banished to the other side of the universe, with Silver Surfer flying in for the last-minute assist. Sue exerting such sheer willpower cost her her life, but luckily her infant son Franklin was there to revive her with his own powers.

Eyes Of Wakanda Tying Back To The First Black Panther Movie

For the most part, Eyes of Wakanda functions as a standalone series exploring the technologically-advanced African nation’s past. However, the finale threw in a fun time travel twist by having a Black Panther from 500 years in the future travel back to 1896 and tell two Wakandan War Dogs to leave a vibranium axe they discovered where they found it. By doing so, this averts the dystopic timeline that Panther hails from and sets up Ulysses Klaue and Killmonger to steal the axe in Black Panther, which, in turn, leads to T’Challa opening up Wakanda to the rest of the world.

Peacemaker’s Earth-X Nazi Reveal

At first, it seemed like the Earth John Cena’s Christopher Smith found in Peacemaker Season 2 was the perfect place for him to start a new life, what with his brother still being alive, his father being a decent human being, and Emilia Harcourt willing to be in a romantic relationship with him. Then the ball dropped: this was a world where the Nazis won World War II and controlled the United States. While I wouldn’t say this is my absolute favorite Marvel/DC moment of 2025, it was definitely the most shocking.

Marvel Zombies’ Bruce Banner Becoming Infinity Hulk

What does it take to defeat a zombified Wanda Maximoff still capable of using her chaos magic? Well, in the Marvel Zombies finale, it looked like a Hulk who’d absorbed the energy of the six Infinity Stones might do the job. Sadly, this was not the case and Wanda ended up stealing that energy for herself, but it was nonetheless cool to watch Infinity Hulk run rampant in this reality for a short time.

Feel free to share in the comments what your favorite Marvel and/or DC moment of 2025 was, and continue checking back with us in the new year for the latest and greatest news concerning the upcoming DC movies, upcoming Marvel movies, upcoming DC TV shows and upcoming Marvel TV shows.

The 2025 movie schedule offered up some excellent films across a wide range of genres, and those great pieces of work were accompanied by some superb performances from numerous actors. That includes a considerable amount of excellent work from more than a few Black performers. For me personally, it’s been wonderful to see so much Black talent on display over the past year, and there are 10 performances, in particular, that I really want to take the time to highlight. So, let’s discuss.

Michael B. Jordan Puts On An Incredible Showcase In Sinners

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners works on so many levels, and Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance as twins Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore is a major reason for that. Jordan is downright impeccable in the film, as he deftly portrays the siblings’ distinct personalities, making them feel like tangible characters and not clichés. There’s also a level of physicality he brings to the roles that really comes through in the third act. In short, this is wonderful work, and it’s not surprising at all that Jordan’s work has been praised so heavily.

Chase Infiniti Serves Up One Of The Best Feature Film Debuts Ever With One Battle After Another

I’m not sure anyone could’ve seen Chase Infiniti coming, but I’m so glad she’s now on the public’s radar. The young actress made her feature film debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, and her performance as Willa Ferguson is nothing short of phenomenal. Infiniti plays Willa with an adventurous spirit but also a sheer sense of urgency that shines through in the film’s tensest moments. Put simply, this is generational work, and I feel confident saying that Infiniti is going to be around for a long time.

Miles Caton Is A True Revelation In Sinners

Speaking of exciting new stars, Miles Caton made his own film debut in Sinners, and this young man is a certified talent. Caton plays aspiring blues musician Sammie “Preacherboy” Moore with an incredible level of sincerity and gravitas. As great as the film’s cast is, Caton is easily the emotional center and, of course, his singing abilities, which really shine through during THAT juke joint sequence, are immaculate. I’m excited to see where Caton goes from here.

Tessa Thompson’s Work In Hedda Furthers Her Status As A Skilled Leading Lady

In some ways, it honestly feels like Tessa Thompson was born to play the eponymous role in Nia DaCosta’s Hedda. As the socially savvy Hedda Gabler, Thompson is smooth as silk, giving off a wicked charm that’s just infectious. There’s also a level of tragedy to this character and, while viewers may not like her, Thompson’s meticulous acting helps articulate the protagonist’s pain. Here’s hoping that the Sorry to Bother You star gets more roles like this one – and has the opportunity to star in more period pieces.

Damson Idris Gives F1 A Sweet Boost With His Energized Performance

Someone could watch Snowfall and quickly get a sense of Damson Idris’ talents. Yet he really gives an electric performance in the racing blockbuster F1, in which he plays hotshot driver Joshua Pierce. Idris brings serious levels of swag to Joshua and perfectly balances his arrogance with his vulnerability. The British actor also deserves credit for not only going toe-to-toe with his seasoned screen partner, Brad Pitt, but for also getting in the driver’s seat for various scenes. If those two feats aren’t impressive, I don’t know what is.

Wunmi Mosaku’s Sinners Performance Is Both Soulful And Sweet

Annie is one of the complex female characters in Sinners, and she’s played with sheer conviction by Wunmi Mosaku. The Loki alum helps inject wisdom and spirituality into Annie and, whenever she speaks, she’s hard to ignore. What’s really amazing, though, is while Annie is a Hoodoo expert wrapped up in the supernatural elements of the movie, Mosaku’s performance as the wife and mother serves as a grounding element. Few performances this year are as emotionally affecting as this one.

Edi Gathegi Outshines Superman… In Superman

Don’t get me wrong, David Corenswet is wonderful as Superman’s titular character, but Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific really steals the show! Gathegi’s mask-wearing, tech-savvy hero serves as a voice of reason in the DCU film, dishing out facts as well as cheeky one-liners. As the Justice Gang member, Gathegi has a cerebral aura that interestingly makes him feel both relatable and larger than life. I don’t know what James Gunn has planned for the hero, but I certainly hope Gathegi gets to play him in plenty of upcoming DC movies and shows.

Naomi Ackie Adds A Delightful Dose Of Strength And Warmth To Mickey 17

Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 is just further proof as to why audiences need to stop sleeping on Naomi Ackie. The Blink Twice star plays security agent Nasha Barridge, the love interest of the main character, but she’s so much more. She’s also a woman with her own aspirations and isn’t defined by her romantic relationships (though she does enjoy them). Ackie is well cast in the role, as she can play both Nasha’s toughness and vulnerability excellently while also adding humor to the proceedings. Overall, Ackie really deserves her flowers.

Delroy Lindo Is Nothing Short Of A Scene-Stealer In Sinners

Sinners’ Delta Slim may be one of the best characters Delroy Lindo has ever played, and that’s saying a lot given the veteran actors’ body of work. In Ryan Coogler’s hit film, Lindo’s Slim provides a great deal of levity, which the actor exudes perfectly, but he also conveys the more tragic aspects of the drunken bluesman effectively. (He even has one of the movie’s most heartbreaking moments.) I was disappointed that Lindo didn’t land a Golden Globe nod, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a perfect performance.

David Jonsson Gives One Of The Year’s Best Performances In The Long Walk

If you haven’t heard of David Jonsson, then you should really take notice, especially after his work in The Long Walk. Jonsson’s performance as Peter McVries is next-level, as he breathes stunning life into a young man with a troubled past who’s holding onto optimism. The Rye Lane star plays Pete with a great level of conviction, as he delivers dialogue with authority (especially a monologue about the importance of hope). Jonsson is this film’s “beating heart” and a force to be reckoned with, and I’m eager to see what he does next.

As you can see, Black actors put in some serious work over the past year, and the performances listed here deserved to be celebrated. And there are more, of course. (Regina Hall, Jay Ellis, Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer and ASAP Rocky make up just a handful of the other great performers of the year.) Let’s hope the 2026 movie schedule yields even more stellar performances like these.