James Gunn: Man of Tomorrow Will Have a “More Comic-Book-Like” Tone Than Superman
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, James Gunn says the tone of Man of Tomorrow will not be identical to Superman, though the story will still center on the alliance of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, played by David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult, as they face a “greater” threat.
Lex Luthor, having been imprisoned in Belle Reve for his role in the destruction of Metropolis, raises questions among DC fans: when he dons his green-and-purple warsuit, will he become a hero? In DC Comics, Luthor has often fought on the side of good, and Gunn says he is eager to explore that duality in Man of Tomorrow.
Speaking on The Ringer-Verse podcast, Gunn said: “I’m more interested in getting to the heart of Lex and seeing where he lands in all of this. I think it’s important to know him more as a man. We’ve seen so much of his villainous side. He is truly evil. But at the same time, there’s something about him that, despite all his wickedness, is incredibly heroic.”
He added: “If you take morality out of the equation—which is hard to do—you’re left with a man who says to Superman: ‘You can hold up a building, you can take down a plane with your eyes. Hell, I can beat you because I’m better than you.’ I can’t help but admire that stubbornness and pride. His ambition is unmatched. He’s the ultimate underdog. Yes, he has immense organizational power he can leverage to change the playing field. But he can’t fly into space, lift a skyscraper, or punch something three states away. He’s just a man—and I love that.”
Gunn went on to say that Man of Tomorrow will in some respects feel “more comic-book-like,” while once again stressing that Superman and Lex Luthor form the foundation of this sequel’s story. He also described Season 2 of Peacemaker, starring John Cena on HBO Max, as a prologue to Man of Tomorrow. The final episodes of Peacemaker’s second season have not been released to the press to avoid spoilers, but it is expected that ARGUS will be forced to turn to Lex Luthor for help in decoding the “Quantum Expansion Chamber.”
Man of Tomorrow is set to be released on July 9, 2027.
