Only 1 DC Villain Can Force Superman and Lex Luthor to Work Together in the DCU

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The DC Universe quickly establishes the conflict between Superman and Lex Luthor. Three years into his career as a hero, Superman experiences his first defeat by a villain called the Hammer of Boravia, a creation of Lex Luthor. Throughout the movie, Superman gradually uncovers Luthor’s larger plan – a major international conflict designed to provoke him. Ultimately, Luthor is exposed and defeated, ending with his imprisonment and a confrontation with Superman about his warped motivations.

Even though Lex Luthor is currently in jail, he won’t stay there for long. James Gunn has announced a sequel to the *Superman* movie, titled *Man of Tomorrow*. While Superman will still be important, the story will focus more on Luthor and his plans for the DC Universe. Superman will likely be responsible for keeping Luthor under control, and it seems likely they might even team up – but that would require a shared threat, and DC Comics has just the character in mind.

It Will Take a Major Threat to Get Superman and Lex Luthor on the Same Page

Despite Superman’s attempt to connect with him, Lex Luthor won’t be changing his ways anytime soon. He’ll likely use his time in prison to plot new ways to defeat Superman. If Superman faces a threat he can’t handle alone, he’ll need help from a brilliant strategist. While someone like Darkseid could potentially offer that, he’s far too powerful and would require the combined strength of the entire DC Universe to defeat. A more realistic option is Brainiac, another character obsessed with gaining knowledge.

Superman may unknowingly be linked to the villain Brainiac, as Brainiac is often depicted as the one who captured Krypton’s capital city, Kandor – and even destroyed Superman’s home planet in some versions. While the new DC Universe doesn’t have to follow this storyline, it would effectively showcase Brainiac’s threat. This could lead to Brainiac targeting Earth, intending to collect all its knowledge before obliterating it. This won’t please Lex Luthor, who is constantly striving to increase his own intelligence. To safeguard himself, Luthor will be forced to find a way to deal with the Brainiac problem facing Superman. This setup offers a compelling path for a sequel and could correct a significant oversight in past *Superman* films.

Brainiac Is Long Overdue for His Big-Screen Debut

It’s surprising that Brainiac hasn’t yet appeared in a live-action *Superman* film. While he’s been featured in live-action TV shows like *Smallville* and *Krypton*, and many animated projects, the new DC Universe needs to include him, especially as it moves away from the previous DC Extended Universe. Zack Snyder’s films avoided a direct sequel to *Man of Steel* by focusing on *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*, which, like the planned *Man of Tomorrow*, brought together characters with opposing viewpoints to battle a major threat. However, *Batman v Superman* ultimately failed because it tried to do too much at once.

Focusing on Superman and his world will keep the future of the franchise on track and avoid risky storylines. The upcoming movie could also portray Lex Luthor in a way that restores his public image, potentially even setting him up for a presidential run. And if introducing Brainiac is the key to making the DC Universe stand out, James Gunn and his team need to move forward with it quickly.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9, 2027.

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2025-09-14 10:10