James Gunn’s Superman Sequel Avoids the Problem That Doomed Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel

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James Gunn is progressing with another Superman film titled “Man of Tomorrow,” aiming to steer clear of the pitfalls that hindered the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The DCEU needs to regain trust after its earlier version failed to thrive, following a series of critical and commercial misses. The 2025 Superman release, despite earning more than $600 million at the box office, had a decent but not extraordinary performance. However, it was well-received by both critics and audiences alike. With this as a solid foundation, there’s now an expectation to further develop that success, particularly in theaters, where additional projects are already underway.

The character Superman will be succeeded by Supergirl and Clayface in upcoming stories. While they may not have the same level of popularity as Superman, they offer intriguing possibilities that showcase the depth and variety within the DC Universe. Audiences might embrace these new characters too. Following this, the focus returns to Superman with the movie “Man of Tomorrow”, the next chapter in the Superman saga. As for expanding the DCU, this progression seems more sensible compared to the previous approach regarding Superman.

Man Of Tomorrow Seems Like A Direct Sequel (& David Corenswet’s Superman Deserves It)

The film isn’t titled “Superman 2” or “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” but it undeniably serves as a continuation of the Superman storyline. Although Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, is prominently featured and seems to share co-lead status despite his villainous past in the initial movie, it’s clear that this isn’t just a standalone film. Instead, it promises to further develop David Corenswet’s Clark Kent into an even more formidable hero, deepening his connection with Lex, and likely exploring his relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) as well.

It’s reasonable to anticipate various other characters making a reappearance: Isabela Merced hints at her return as Hawkgirl, and it’s highly likely we’ll see more of the Daily Planet staff too. Additionally, Clark’s parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, are expected to feature prominently. There might also be insights into his biological parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. The title Man of Tomorrow implies a strong emphasis on Superman (and possibly Lex) learning to harness his powers for a better future, which logically continues the themes and character development from the initial film.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled at the prospect! Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman is nothing short of exceptional, and Gunn has masterfully crafted a world that truly embodies the spirit of the comic books. It’s only fitting that we delve deeper into his story, exploring Clark and Lois’ relationship, his transformation into a hero, and Superman facing new challenges – even if it involves an unwanted alliance with Lex. The journey ahead promises to be nothing short of extraordinary!

Henry Cavill’s Superman Never Got The Sequel He Deserved

Henry Cavill’s Superman missed out on an opportunity that could have been his, and it’s regrettable. Although Man of Steel was successful, earning more than the previous Superman films, it didn’t achieve the level of success Warner Bros. expected at the time. This was due to the high expectations set by the massive box office successes of The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises the year prior. Warner Bros. heavily promoted Christopher Nolan’s involvement as a producer, hoping for a significant launchpad for a new Superman franchise. However, despite making $670 million, the film received mixed reviews and didn’t meet the lofty expectations set by its predecessors.

Thus, Warner Bros began speeding up their efforts to establish a superhero universe similar to the MCU. The subsequent film transformed into Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, featuring Wonder Woman as well. Although it picked up on some themes from Man of Steel, it wasn’t exactly a direct sequel; instead, it served as a transition towards a team-up film, and could be seen more as a Batman movie than a Superman one. Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne was the primary character offering the audience’s viewpoint in this film.

Discussions over the years have centered around what a true sequel to “Man of Steel” might have looked like before it evolved into “BvS”. Initially, Metallo was speculated to be the villain, while Brainiac was also mentioned as a potential character by director Zack Snyder. Later on, efforts were made to produce a well-crafted sequel, with Matthew Vaughn and Christopher McQuarrie being among the directors considered at different stages. However, these plans never materialized. This pattern showcases one of the major downfalls of the DCEU: it hastily jumped into its shared universe without first establishing strong foundations. The quick transition from “BvS” to “Justice League” was detrimental to the overall quality of the series, regardless of personal opinions towards those movies.

The DCU Is Approaching Its Shared Universe Better Than The DCEU

In simpler terms, the DC Universe (DCU) appears to be more stable compared to the past struggles of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Although some projects initially planned by Gunn, like a movie for The Authority, seem to have been cancelled, the strategy is to develop each character individually. While these characters may interact or appear in other stories due to their shared universe, each movie and series will primarily focus on its main characters.

As a die-hard DC Universe fan, I must say, it’s refreshing to see the gradual unfolding of individual stories rather than a hasty convergence towards a grand team-up like a Justice League movie. Each standalone film and series is given the chance to shine independently, while subtly setting up the foundation for something grander down the line.

This strategy mirrors the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s approach better than the rushed shortcuts we’ve seen in the DC Extended Universe so far. I believe this method will serve the DC Universe well in the long run, setting us up nicely for films like Man of Tomorrow and beyond.

* Superman can be watched on Video On Demand right now.
* Supergirl will make its debut on June 26, 2026.
* Clayface is scheduled to premiere on September 11, 2026.
* Man of Tomorrow has been set for a release date of July 9, 2027.

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2025-09-07 20:10