Man of Tomorrow Need to Address a Major DC Fan Complaint From Superman

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James Gunn’s new *Superman* movie, released this summer, was a major success. It’s become the year’s highest-earning superhero film, received positive reviews from critics (earning a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes), and a sequel is already in the works, titled *Man of Tomorrow*. Gunn has hinted that the sequel will feature Superman and Lex Luthor teaming up to face a powerful new enemy. Filming is scheduled to start in April 2026, with the movie expected to hit theaters in the summer of 2027.

Despite James Gunn suggesting the story for *Man of Tomorrow* is mostly complete, there’s one thing fans hope this new film gets right that was missing from the previous *Superman* movie: a strong focus on Clark Kent’s role and personality.

Clark Kent is Not Just Missing from The Daily Planet, But from Most of Superman

While audiences generally enjoyed James Gunn’s version of Superman, the film did receive some criticism. A major concern was the limited presence of Clark Kent, Superman’s everyday identity as a reporter for the Daily Planet. He only appears briefly at the newspaper early in the movie, where his article and interview with Superman cause a stir among his colleagues. This scene leads into a memorable moment – Lois Lane’s interview with Superman, where he seamlessly switches between his Clark Kent and Superman personas while answering her questions about his involvement in a conflict between Jarhanpur and Boravia. Beyond a mention by his adoptive parents, the rest of the film focuses almost entirely on Superman’s efforts to stop Lex Luthor.

The film spends a significant amount of time showcasing the beautifully designed art deco offices of the Daily Planet, where Lois and Jimmy Olsen investigate Lex Luthor’s hidden agenda in the Boravia-Jarhanpur conflict. This version of Superman actually features more of the Daily Planet staff – including Perry White, Cat Grant, and Steve Lombard – than most other Superman movies. Jimmy Olsen also has a much larger role than usual, and his previous connection to Eve Teschmacher proves crucial to the heroes’ success. However, some viewers may feel that the extended scenes at Clark’s workplace while he’s absent contributed to a sense of the story feeling rushed.

The enthusiastic response to the new Superman film and its lead actor, David Corenswet, shows that the filmmakers are on the right track. Corenswet skillfully captured the difference between Clark Kent and Superman, reminding many of Christopher Reeve’s iconic performance. He also brilliantly portrayed the nuances of Clark’s personality, particularly during his important conversation with Lois Lane. Although director James Gunn had a lot to establish – both in terms of plot and the broader DC Universe – he’s created a compelling and intriguing portrayal of Clark Kent that leaves audiences eager for the next installment.

How Clark Kent Can Play A Bigger Role in Man of Tomorrow

Now that the foundation for Superman’s world within the DC Universe is established and the key characters have been introduced, we’re hoping James Gunn can focus on the challenges of Clark Kent balancing his life as both a regular man and Superman. The recent declaration of love between Clark and Lois, coupled with their decision to keep their relationship private at work, creates interesting possibilities. Superman has two significant secrets at *The Daily Planet* – his dual identity and his romance – and Lois knowing both opens up a new dynamic between them that hasn’t been fully explored in *Superman* films, mostly appearing in television shows. Considering Gunn’s filmmaking skills, we anticipate he’ll find plenty of opportunities for humor, emotional depth, or a combination of both as Clark’s story unfolds in *Man of Tomorrow*.

Having both Clark Kent and Superman present opens up exciting possibilities for their interactions, especially with Lex Luthor. It would be fascinating to see them exchange words while Luthor is unaware of Clark’s true identity, as established in previous stories. The new storyline, starting with Lois Lane already knowing Superman’s secret, allows for Luthor to either cleverly discover the truth himself, showcasing his intelligence, or for Clark to reveal it, potentially testing Clark’s trust in others based on Luthor’s response.

It would be compelling to see a billionaire become fond of Clark, only to be shocked when he discovers Clark’s secret identity. This knowledge would give Lex a powerful advantage, even while they’re cooperating in *Man of Tomorrow*, and would make Superman’s struggles more relatable – we naturally assume he’d worry about the safety of those he cares about. Ultimately, showing us more of Clark Kent would deepen our connection to a character that James Gunn has already made incredibly sympathetic.

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2025-09-23 20:10