Superman Sets Up an Iconic DC Villain for a Sequel

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In the upcoming DCU sequel, Superman has chosen a formidable adversary to face off against. The DC universe boasts an array of exceptional villains, ranging from the enigmatic Joker to the cunning Lex Luthor and the fearsome Darkseid. These antagonists offer both mental and physical challenges for the heroes they oppose. Superman’s rogues gallery includes some truly remarkable characters such as Brainiac, Doomsday, General Zod, among others. Although we have seen a few of them on screen, there are many more waiting to make their live-action debut. Given James Gunn’s extensive comic book knowledge and penchant for introducing lesser-known characters, it appears that we might soon witness one or more of these yet-unadapted villains in his Superman franchise.

To put it simply, Superman performs admirably in setting the stage for this new movie, making it readily available even for those with minimal familiarity with the character. In this story, he faces off against his age-old adversary, Lex Luthor, providing an opportunity for Superman to grapple mentally as Lex’s minions carry out the brute force. Throughout the film, Lex assumes the role of the main antagonist, with everyone else acting under his command. All the challenges that Superman must surmount are masterminded by Lex, whether it be a conflict in the Middle East or a monster wrecking Metropolis. However, there’s one unexpected move by Lex that might pave the way for a crucial DC Universe villain.

Superman‘s Ultraman Could Become Bizarro

In the third act of Superman, any doubts about Ultraman’s true identity are cleared up when it’s disclosed that he is actually a clone created from Superman himself. Lex Luthor discovered a strand of Superman’s hair during one of their battles, which was all he needed to initiate the cloning process.

In essence, Ultraman possesses similar abilities as Superman and withstands any attacks from the latter’s clone, which Lex Luthor has been manipulating throughout the movie, altering his costumes. This clone presents a significant danger to Superman due to its resilience. However, Clark manages to defeat him by having Krypto destroy the cameras that enabled Luthor to retain control over the clone.

Subsequently, Superman engages in combat with the unveiled Ultraman, ultimately hurling him into an abyssal black hole. However, given our current understanding, this act does not necessarily imply that Ultraman has perished. The destination of this black hole and the potential hazards it conceals remain unknown, but theoretically, the Superman duplicate’s abilities could sustain his life. In light of this, it seems plausible that this could pave the way for reintroducing this clone as a formidable adversary to Superman on an immense scale.

If this clone has all of Superman’s abilities, resembles him physically, and is even said to be foolish by Lex Luthor, he fits many of the characteristics of Bizarro. With just a few changes, like having gray skin and a different costume, he would match perfectly. Since his character isn’t called Bizarro in the movie yet, we can’t confirm that it is him now, but going through a black hole and undergoing unknown experiences could lead to the full transformation needed for the character.

As a die-hard film fan, I’m thrilled to share that James Gunn has announced his next project is a continuation of sorts for Superman, although it might not be Superman 2 as we know it. The details are still under wraps, but it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if it involves a team-up. As for Bizarro, it’s hard to predict his role, but given his past antics, it could make sense for him to reappear as a henchman or even in an action-packed opening sequence where he’s already back and causing chaos, much like the scene in Superman. He may not be capable of leading a movie alone, but it would certainly be surprising if we don’t see him again in some capacity.

Superman is now in theaters and IMAX.

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2025-07-11 21:45