Why I Think Superman: Man of Tomorrow Is the Perfect Superman Sequel

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After raking in a record $600 million at the box office, it isn’t surprising to see Gunn and DC Studios prioritize another Superman film, but the swift turnaround for Man of Tomorrow extends beyond the box office. Though the DCU landscape ranges across several planets and, as evidenced in Peacemaker Season 2, a multiverse of at least 99 dimensions, it’s apparent that Superman is Gunn’s choice as the face of the franchise. Just like his run in the comics, Superman is a foundational piece of the DCU, and Man of Tomorrow could solidify his importance to the cinematic world even further.

Superman Could Restore his Tainted Image in Man of Tomorrow

Image Courtesy of DC Studios

Though Lex Luthor fell short of his ultimate goal of killing Superman, he did manage to alienate the Kryptonian hero from humanity in Superman. By releasing the daunting video message of Jor-El and his wife Lara instructing Superman to “lord over” Earth as its ruler, Luthor all but shattered the public perception of the high-flying hero.

Instead of seeing him as a security blanket and hero eager to assist his fellow man, the viral footage quickly shifted Superman’s status to a global threat to mankind. Even Guy Gardner gets antsy at the prospect of a rogue Superman and offers to take him down if need be. While some still believe that his intentions are pure, others developed extreme skepticism and hatred toward Superman, primarily out of the fear that he was sent to Earth to rule with an iron fist.

Whether the message from his parents was tampered with or not, Superman faces an uphill climb to restoring his tainted image. Perhaps, though, he will be able to salvage his credibility in Man of Tomorrow.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow Could Feature an Alien Invasion

At first glance, the Man of Tomorrow title for the Superman sequel suggests that this could be the arc where humanity begins to widely accept and relate to Superman. This could be because of his reputation for saving harmless animals and (forcefully) diffusing nuclear wars. Or, as could be the case in Man of Tomorrow, perhaps Superman earns humanity’s trust by helping defend Earth from an alien species less friendly than the amiable Kryptonian.

During his social media reveal of the Superman sequel, Gunn included artwork of Superman and Lex Luthor teaming up, suggesting that a mighty threat is lurking and could soon force the foes to join forces. The artwork also confirms we’re going to be seeing Lex Luthor’s warsuit, which gives him a serious power upgrade and allows him to compete with the Man of Steel. While details are still unclear, something seismic (and evil) would have to arise for Superman to unite with the man who stole his beloved dog, and there’s a good chance that threat could come in the form of an alien invasion.

Should that be the case, perhaps the widespread distrust of Superman could be remedied by the Man of Steel defending the Earth from an intergalactic threat, which would serve as a staunch reminder that he intends to be a defender, not dictator, of Earth. Despite his Kryptonian roots, Superman has always considered the Earth his home and wouldn’t hesitate to defend it. Should Braniac or another extraterrestrial threat descend upon Earth, Superman would be among the first to join the fray.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow May Draw Inspiration From the Titular Animated Movie

Man of Tomorrow is a popular moniker for Superman and has been used repeatedly across various media, including a comic run in the 1990s and a 2020 animated movie. The animated feature put a fresh spin on his origin story and, notably, saw Superman team up with an imprisoned Lex Luthor after losing his powers. Tasked with taking down the energy-absorbing, power-mimicking being Parasite, Superman, Luthor, and Lobo (who will make his DCU debut in Supergirl) form an unlikely alliance.

While Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow likely won’t be a direct adaptation, the prospect of a Superman, Lex Luthor, and Lobo team-up is enticing. More details regarding Superman: Man of Tomorrow are expected in the coming months, but so far, the highly anticipated movie is shaping up to be the perfect Superman sequel.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow is in development for release in 2027.