All eyes are on Kara Zor-El in the DCU. The James Gunn and Peter Safran-led franchise officially made its cinematic debut with Superman to widespread acclaim and blockbuster success with over $618 million at the global box office, spurring the development of a smattering of connected projects that’ll fill out the next phase of the fledgling universe. Now less than a month away, though, Supergirl will be tasked with keeping up the momentum in the meantime as it follows Milly Alcock as Clark Kent’s cousin on a journey through the stars that quickly evolves into a chaotic quest for revenge and justice. Yet, as she prepares to take the spotlight, the return of David Corenswet‘s Man of Steel is rapidly taking shape with an element that fans have long been waiting to see on-screen.
Gunn took to social media on Monday to share a first look from the set of the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, and it sees Lex Luthor suiting up for his next collision with Superman. The shot highlights the villain’s hulking Warsuit, with Nicholas Hoult seen inside controlling the powerful new weapon. Fittingly for such a big reveal, it’s highlighted dramatically with a single light against what appears to be a sandy backdrop. The film was first announced with art of Lex piloting the iconic piece of hardware, but this is the first time it’s been physically shown in live-action for the DCU as production is underway.
Gunn further detailed the suit in a series of posts on Threads, confirming that this technological behemoth is “100% practical” and, despite its size, it’s surprising easy to move in for Hoult. “It’s unbelievably mobile,” he wrote in one thread. “And yeah in the movie version he’s added unbreakable Lexiglas [trademarked].” In the comics, the suit is Luthor’s answer to the all-powerful Superman, allowing him to even the odds whenever they come to blows with superhuman strength, durability, flight, shields, and more. After ending up behind bars in Superman, it appears he won’t be staying long, though, for once, he may be employing the Warsuit to fight with his Kryptonian nemesis rather than against him.
‘Man of Tomorrow’ Will Pit Superman and Lex Luthor Against a New Foe
Although it will be building on Superman, Gunn has been adamant that Man of Tomorrow is not necessarily a sequel and that it’s just as much Luthor’s film as it is Clark’s. The two will have to begrudgingly set aside their feud for once to take on an even greater foe to the entire planet — Brainiac, played by German star Lars Eidinger. They won’t be alone in taking on the computerized menace, though, with the Justice Gang, including Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) set to return, alongside Aaron Pierre‘s Green Lantern John Stewart, who will be showcased soon in the upcoming Lanterns, the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), and Supergirl, among others. With the Warsuit, though, Luthor will be able to fight on a similar level to Supes in what’s shaping up to be a battle for the ages.
Man of Tomorrow arrives in theaters on July 9, 2027. Check out the first look at Luthor’s Warsuit in live-action above.
via Collider