James Gunn confirms Ultraman’s role in the upcoming Superman film, ending much speculation about the villain’s true place in the evolving DC Universe. With the movie’s plot still mostly secret, fans have finally received a clear answer on whether Ultraman is more than just a rumor, shifting expectations around what to expect from the Man of Steel’s return.
After the initial announcement of Superman, DC fans immediately began theorizing about the direction James Gunn would take with the beloved superhero. Discussion ranged from who would be cast as Superman, to whether Pink Kryptonite could play a part, but the surprise inclusion of Ultraman quickly became the hottest topic. Among endless rumors, many speculated on whether Ultraman would become a major antagonist, resulting in heated debate and countless fan theories. Until recently, however, all details surrounding Ultraman’s involvement remained unconfirmed by official sources.
It was only in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview that James Gunn directly addressed Ultraman, officially confirming the character’s name and relationship to Superman’s world. Gunn’s comments suggested that some of the long-standing fan theories were close to the truth, while others missed the mark. Specifically, he addressed the speculation that Ultraman was Lex Luthor’s creation, engineered to serve as his own Superman, and clarified the villain’s actual role in the film’s story.
Ultra Man is sort of Lex’s thug, and is pretty powerful.
—James Gunn, Director
Unpacking Ultraman’s Function in the New Superman Movie
James Gunn’s confirmation points to Ultraman serving as a formidable enforcer for Lex Luthor, but not directly created by him. This insight challenges earlier speculations that portrayed Ultraman as a traditional Bizarro substitute or a clone faithfully following Lex Luthor’s every command. Instead, Ultraman appears to be both autonomous and extremely dangerous, offering a unique threat apart from previous Superman villains.
The most probable scenario now, based on Gunn’s comments and DC lore, is tied to the “Parasite theory.” According to this fan theory, Lex Luthor invades the Fortress of Solitude and steals the parasite from the alien zoo. He then uses this entity to mimic Superman’s powers and shape Ultraman, blending CGI with new narrative elements rather than live casting. This approach would account for the absence of a public casting announcement, as Ultraman will likely be a fully computer-generated character.
Implications for the DC Universe and What’s Next
Superman’s new chapter, anchored by the confirmation of Ultraman’s pivotal role, marks a crucial shift in how villains are portrayed and how threats are built in the rebooted DC Universe. With Gunn directly addressing major rumors, the anticipation for how the story unfolds and how Lex Luthor manipulates power through Ultraman is higher than ever. Fans can look ahead to the film’s release on July 11, 2025, waiting to see which familiar characters—like Bizarro, Parasite, and others—may still find their way into the plot, and what fresh twists James Gunn has in store for the Man of Steel and his enemies.
