Brainiac or Bust? The Top Contenders to Face James Gunn’s Superman in Man of Tomorrow
James Gunn’s Superman franchise will continue with a sequel titled Man of Tomorrow, which is scheduled to open in theaters on July 9, 2027. Gunn revealed the follow-up alongside a teaser art piece by Jim Lee that depicts Lex Luthor in a Warsuit while Superman leans against him, holding a screwdriver.
Lex Luthor and the Warsuit
Jim Lee’s art shows Lex Luthor wearing a Warsuit, and Superman standing beside him with a screwdriver. In DC Comics, the Warsuit is a powered exoskeleton that lets Luthor confront Superman physically. Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman films.
1. General Zod
General Zod was the main antagonist in the 1980 film Superman II and again in 2013’s Man of Steel. Terence Stamp played Zod in 1980, while Michael Shannon portrayed him in 2013. Both performances emphasized Zod as a Kryptonian military leader who opposes Superman.
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2. Darkseid and Mongul
Darkseid appears as a central threat in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (the 2021 Snyder Cut reinstated his role). He is the ruler of Apokolips and a major cosmic antagonist in DC Comics.
Mongul is another powerful, long-standing Superman enemy in the comics. He was created by Jim Starlin and is known for being a physical and strategic threat to Superman and other heroes.
3. Doomsday
Doomsday is a monstrous adversary from Krypton’s past in DC Comics. A version of Doomsday appears at the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The character is widely known from the comic storyline “The Death of Superman.”
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4. Brainiac
Brainiac is an alien intelligence in DC Comics that collects knowledge and, in many versions of the character, shrinks and steals cities for preservation. Notably, Brainiac is associated with the stolen Kryptonian city of Kandor in the comics, which connects him to Krypton-related storylines.
Release date
Man of Tomorrow is set to open on July 9, 2027. The sequel announcement accompanied Jim Lee’s teaser art and has been discussed publicly by James Gunn and associated promotional materials.
