A Desperate Alliance: James Gunn Confirms ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Will Force Superman and Lex Luthor to Team Up

The highly anticipated follow-up to the DC Universe’s new Superman film, titled Man of Tomorrow, is already generating immense buzz, and writer-director James Gunn has just dropped a bombshell that will redefine the dynamic between the Man of Steel and his greatest nemesis. In a recent interview, Gunn revealed that the film’s core plot will center on a reluctant alliance between Superman and Lex Luthor, who must join forces to confront a “much, much bigger threat” than either of them has ever faced. This is a bold departure from traditional Superman narratives and sets the stage for a high-stakes, character-driven story that is as much a Lex Luthor film as it is a Superman one.

This revelation comes after months of speculation and a cryptic social media post from Gunn that teased the team-up with the emojis “😈🤝😇.” Now, with the official confirmation, the DCU is poised to delve into the complex, love-hate relationship between these two iconic characters. The decision to make Lex a central protagonist in the sequel, rather than a singular villain, is a narrative risk that promises to pay off in exploring the different facets of heroism and humanity.

The Unlikely Partnership: Why a Team-Up Makes Sense

The idea of Superman and Lex Luthor working together is a classic comic book trope, but it has rarely been explored in a live-action film. Gunn’s approach allows him to build on the events of the first Superman film, where Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor was established as a formidable, if misguided, antagonist. Now, he’ll be forced into a situation where his genius and resources are necessary to save the world, even if it means cooperating with the alien he despises.

• A Brainiac-Level Threat: While the “much greater threat” has not been officially confirmed, all signs and fan speculation point to one of Superman’s most formidable foes: Brainiac. The character, a hyper-intelligent, planet-collecting alien, has never been a main villain in a live-action Superman film before. Brainiac’s intellectual prowess and alien origins make him the perfect villain to force the two intellectual rivals, Superman and Luthor, to collaborate. Luthor, who sees himself as the pinnacle of human intellect, would be pushed to his limits by an entity that is demonstrably more intelligent than he is.
• A Test of Ideologies: The team-up will create a fascinating ideological clash. Superman represents the ideal of compassion and self-sacrifice, while Lex embodies ruthless pragmatism and a belief in human supremacy. Their forced alliance will force both characters to confront their core beliefs. Can Superman trust his greatest enemy? And can Lex overcome his deep-seated prejudice against the alien he sees as a threat to humanity? This dynamic tension is the heart of the story.
• A Different Kind of Superhero Film: By focusing on this complex relationship, Man of Tomorrow promises to be more than just a standard superhero action movie. It’s a character study and a psychological thriller wrapped in a blockbuster package. The film’s plot, which is being described as “more complex” than a simple team-up, will explore the nuances of power, control, and what it truly means to be a “Man of Tomorrow.”

This is a major opportunity for the DC Universe to establish a fresh and compelling narrative direction for its flagship character. By making Lex Luthor an essential part of the story, James Gunn is not only honoring the source material but also setting up a long-term, engaging rivalry that can evolve and surprise audiences. As production gears up for an anticipated 2026 start date, fans are eagerly waiting to see how this uneasy alliance will play out on the big screen, and whether the two enemies can truly put aside their differences for the good of the world.

Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.