Asura Kagawa
- The DC Studios co-CEO revealed that Superman will return as the central character in another upcoming DCU movie, potentially continuing his story beyond Man of Tomorrow.
- Speaking recently about the future of DCU characters, Gunn was asked which heroes audiences may expect to see in upcoming movies.
- Gunn’s comments also prompt doubts about how much creative authority he plans to retain over the DCU’s most essential characters.
The DC Studios co-CEO revealed that Superman will return as the central character in another upcoming DCU movie, potentially continuing his story beyond Man of Tomorrow.
It looks like James Gunn still has some more Superman tales to tell in the DC Universe, as the filmmaker has revealed that another film starring the legendary superhero is in the works. Gunn has been tight-lipped about the project, but his statements suggest Superman will remain the star of the DCU’s future films.
The news comes as DC Studios continues to build its slate of upcoming films after unveiling Gunn’s new DC Universe. With Superman setting the tone for this new franchise and Man of Tomorrow already moving forward, another Superman-centric film might help grow the character's role in the burgeoning cinematic universe.
Speaking recently about the future of DCU characters, Gunn was asked which heroes audiences may expect to see in upcoming movies.
He didn’t want to divulge too many details about the studio’s plans, but he did affirm that Superman will be back for another feature and that he is already working on the project. Interestingly, that doesn’t mean that the future movie will be officially named Superman 3. Gunn seems to be telling the character's story through a series of interconnected productions, rather than limiting Superman's journey to films that share the same title.
What’s remarkable about Gunn’s approach is how Man of Tomorrow fits into Superman’s broader arc. The next movie has Superman and Lex Luthor together, but some fans might not immediately see it as a classic Superman sequel. Still, the movie might be the next big chapter in the superhero's path. Whatever Gunn does next after Man of Tomorrow will probably be along the same lines.
If the next project is a bigger DCU production - one with numerous superheroes - there's still a chance Superman might be the lead. That wouldn’t be an entirely unfamiliar approach to superhero moviemaking. Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League are often discussed as a connected Superman trilogy. However, they have separate titles and include other key DC characters.
Gunn’s comments also prompt doubts about how much creative authority he plans to retain over the DCU’s most essential characters.
The filmmaker could also let diverse directors and creative teams give their own takes on characters like Batman and Wonder Woman, instead of directing every major superhero production himself. That approach could add diversity to the DCU while letting Superman’s story play out through Gunn’s own cinematic vision. But the filmmaker's taste for ensemble storytelling has also drawn criticism from certain viewers.
Some worry that too many interconnected characters and ensemble interactions could drown out the individual protagonists and their stories. For now, Gunn has not divulged the title, release date, or exact story for his next Superman project. But his revelation does make it clear that Man of Tomorrow won’t be the final chapter of Superman’s story in the new DCU. Another picture is already in development, so Man of Steel will play a big part in the franchise’s future.
