The next chapter in the DC Universe, James Gunn’s Superman sequel, is poised to introduce an entirely new and compelling villain who has never appeared in a live-action film before. Building on the foundations laid by the first movie, which launched the rebooted DCU and introduced key characters like Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, and the Justice Gang, this sequel is gearing up to deepen the saga with a fresh antagonist. Speculation centers on one particular character who could become a major threat to both Superman and Lex Luthor, setting the stage for an intense conflict.
Upcoming Man of Tomorrow Sets the Stage for a Bigger Threat
James Gunn has confirmed that the Superman storyline will continue with Man of Tomorrow, an indirect follow-up planned for release on July 9, 2027. This film will reunite David Corenswet’s Clark Kent and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, who will face off against “a bigger threat,” according to Gunn. The identity of this foe remains unconfirmed but has sparked strong fan theories. While Brainiac is often mentioned as a likely villain, there is another promising contender already hinted at in the initial Superman film, which may take center stage in the sequel.
Hints of Bizarro’s Origins in the 2025 Superman Movie
Many fans believe that Bizarro is the perfect villain to challenge Superman and Lex Luthor in Man of Tomorrow. The 2025 Superman film may have already laid the groundwork for this character’s origin within the DC Universe. Bizarro, a well-known figure in DC Comics, first appeared in 1958 as a flawed clone of Superboy. A more famous iteration of Bizarro was crafted by Lex Luthor using a Duplicator Ray to produce an imperfect clone of Superman in 1959’s comics, mirroring the actions of Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor in the current movie.
In James Gunn’s Superman, David Corenswet plays both Clark Kent and his clone, a simple-minded, awkward version of the hero that Lex Luthor controls. This clone is disguised in various personas, such as the Hammer of Boravia and Ultraman, to carry out Luthor’s plans. However, Krypto’s intervention breaks the connection between Luthor and the clone. Ultimately, Superman defeats this clone by hurling him into a black hole threatening Metropolis, but the clone’s actual fate remains ambiguous as the death was not explicitly shown.
A prevalent theory suggests the clone didn’t perish but was instead transported to another dimension beyond the black hole. In the comics, Bizarro and Bizarro Lois Lane inhabit a cube-shaped world called Htrae. The presence of cubes in the pocket dimension used by Lex Luthor in the movie supports the idea that the clone could establish a similar world, setting him up as a powerful antagonist for the next film.
Reasons Why Bizarro Fits the Role of the Sequel’s Main Villain
Since Man of Tomorrow will see Superman and Lex Luthor join forces against a common enemy, the new villain must pose a significant threat to both. Bizarro, as a clone created and manipulated by Luthor but cast away and opposed by Superman, perfectly embodies such a character. The conflicting history with both heroes gives Bizarro strong motivation to act against them.
If Bizarro’s exile to another world allowed him to gain strength and followers, he could emerge far more powerful, justifying the uneasy alliance between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. However, while Bizarro’s return would be a logical and emotionally complex threat, it may not be enough to carry the entire Man of Tomorrow story as the sole villain. This keeps open the possibility of other villains being introduced, such as Brainiac or antagonists from related DCU properties like Peacemaker’s second season, further expanding the franchise’s universe.
Fans will have to wait until July 2027 to discover who will ultimately challenge Superman and Lex Luthor in the evolving DC Universe.
James Gunn Addresses Popular Man of Tomorrow Villain Fan Theory
