James Gunn Drops First Big 'Man of Tomorrow’ Superman–Lex Luthor Twist

There’s good news for the many fans who watched Superman and were left impressed by the stellar performance Nicholas Hoult put on as Lex Luthor. Not only will Hoult reprise the role of the iconic villain in the recently announced follow-up film Man of Tomorrow, but he’s set to do so in a unique and interesting fashion.

Superman director and DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn recently joined the Howard Stern Show and opened up about the newest addition announced to the DC reboot. Specifically, he offered a few spoilers or sorts regarding what fans can expect to see when Superman: Man of Tomorrow officially hits theaters, which is expected July 9, 2027.

'Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ Set for Superman, Lex Luthor to Team Up

It’s safe to say that if you didn’t get enough of Hoult’s performance as Lex Luthor in the 2025 release Superman, fans can expect to see a whole lot of him in Man of Tomorrow. As Gunn revealed to Stern, the movie will feature Corenswet’s Superman and Hoult’s Luthor joining forces.

"It's a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat,” Gunn said.

It’s a great approach to the follow-up film by Gunn, and while he didn’t reveal who the “much, much bigger threat” is, many people have had some opinions on potential names. As ScreenRant suggested, it could be “Brainiac, Mongul, or perhaps even Darkside.”

Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor Starring in ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ Makes Perfect Sense

Following Hoult’s performance as Luthor, you’d be hard-pressed to find a high percentage of fans who walked away being anything other than impressed. Following the initial Superman release, many flocked to social media showing love to Hoult, echoing one fan’s sentiment that, “Nicholas Hoult is easily the best Lex Luthor in Superman history.”

Regardless of whether you view him as the best actor to ever portray the villain, there’s no denying that his performance was top-notch. In turn, what better way to launch a follow-up film to Superman than by putting Hoult’s character front and center alongside Corenswet, who also received rave reviews of his own.

Production for Superman: Man of Tomorrow is expected to begin in April 2026. DC Studios also has the upcoming releases of Supergirl on June 26, 2026, and Clayface set to hit theaters on Sept. 11, 2026.

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