Why DCU Fans Are Convinced They Spotted a Star Wars Character in James Gunn’s Superman

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James Gunn openly displays his geeky side in his work, as evident in the numerous pop culture references found in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, such as a shout-out to Patrick Swayze and a giant Pac-Man creature. It appears that this trend won’t stop now that Gunn is overseeing the DC Universe, since Superman also contains hidden nods, like the robots within the Fortress of Solitude being given voices by frequent collaborators of Gunn’s, and Bradley Cooper switching from his Rocket voice to portray Jor-El on screen. Some viewers even think that the amount of references in Superman has been cranked up a notch.

In Gunn’s new film, there’s an unexpected twist revealing a well-known character. However, this individual appears significantly different from their usual portrayal, leading some viewers to speculate whether they’re spotting a familiar figure from a distant galaxy instead of a DC Comics hero. Given the similarities between Superman’s narrative and Star Wars, such a connection wouldn’t be entirely unexpected.

Ultraman’s Unmasking Confused Star Wars Fans

Initially in the film Superman, we find our hero, the Man of Steel, at his most vulnerable. He suffers a defeat against the Hammer of Boravia, an unfamiliar adversary for him. It appears things are back to normal when Superman returns to the Fortress of Solitude, but he’s oblivious to Lex Luthor observing him and learning the hideout’s location. Accompanied by the Engineer and Ultraman, Luthor infiltrates the Kryptonian palace, gathering crucial information to turn public opinion against Superman, his beloved hero. The shocking truth about his parents leaves Superman in a difficult predicament, causing him to surrender himself to the government who then hands him over to Luthor. It takes some time for Superman to break free, but he manages and targets Luthor and his associates.

Upon returning to Metropolis, Superman encounters the Engineer and Ultraman. These adversaries give him a tough challenge; the Engineer implants nanites into Superman’s system to cripple his lungs. However, Superman manages to outsmart them, sending them tumbling into Metropolis’ sewers. The Engineer is knocked unconscious, while Ultraman gets up and appears eager for a rematch. He removes his mask to unveil that he is a clone of Superman created by Lex Luthor to vanquish the Man of Steel. Interestingly, unlike his counterpart, Ultraman sports a shaggy hairstyle similar to Anakin Skywalker’s in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

Currently, Hayden Christensen isn’t featured in the cast of Superman, and it’s evident that David Corenswet portrays Ultraman instead. However, it’s understandable that for a brief moment, one might imagine Anakin is part of the DC Universe due to the long-standing practice in Star Wars of using reflecting in a dark mirror as a narrative device.

Star Wars Loves to Have Its Heroes Fight Their Evil Selves

Lex Luthors greatest desire is to provoke Superman into acting against his inherent nature. By orchestrating a conflict in Jarhanpur, he aims to lure the Man of Steel into meddling where others believe he doesn’t belong. Despite being unaware of the potential dangers, Superman decides to intervene because he believes it is the right course of action. In many ways, he mirrors Luke Skywalker, who finds himself in a challenging situation in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. During his training with Yoda, Luke enters a cave and battles Darth Vader. He manages to defeat the Sith Lord, but then learns that he was the one wearing the mask. This experience demonstrates that even Luke is vulnerable to the Dark Side if he’s not careful. Though he takes this lesson to heart, he refuses to let fear alter his identity.

When Luke discovers that his companions are in danger, he departs from Dagobah and travels to Cloud City to confront Vader. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi fear that Luke may not be prepared, and their concerns prove valid as Luke loses his hand. Despite this setback, Luke refuses to agree to his father’s proposition to join him on the dark side and instead works towards his redemption. Although Lex and the Man of Steel might never share a sentimental moment in the DCU, the resemblances between the hero and Luke give the impression that Star Wars has a place within Superman, even if Anakin isn’t.

Superman is in theaters now.

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2025-07-17 17:41