- Primary Subject: Man of Tomorrow (DCU Movie)
- Key Update: Nathan Fillion teased that Lex Luthor will have an equal spotlight alongside Superman in the upcoming team-up film.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: September 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: Man of Tomorrow shifts focus toward Lex Luthor, featuring him teaming up with Superman against Brainiac while exploring Luthor's character depth and villainous motivations.
Lanterns star Nathan Fillion teases that Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) could steal the spotlight from Superman (David Corenswet) in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow.
The follow-up to the Superman saga is set to be a team-up movie between Superman and his archenemy, Lex, as they join forces to fight against Brainiac (Lars Eidinger).
With Fillion once again appearing as Guy Gardner in the second movie, he reveals what fans can expect from Lex in Man of Tomorrow this time.
What Is Lex Luthor’s Role in Man of Tomorrow
Viewers once again saw Superman and Lex Luthor’s classic arch-enemy relationship in James Gunn’s 2025 film Superman.
While the public deemed Superman a savior, Lex viewed him as an alien with god-like powers–a stark contrast to Lex’s belief in his own hard-earned human genius and achievements.
But while the film featured a jealous and cold-hearted Lex, things will be different in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow.
If the first film was all about the Man of Steel, the second installment will focus more on his main villain.
“In the first movie, and rightly so, we learn a lot about who Superman is,” Nathan Fillion told The Hollywood Reporter. “In this movie, I think we’ll learn more about who Lex Luthor is, and I think it’s equally important.”
This may be why Gunn himself was careful not to call the film a “sequel” to Superman, possibly because Clark Kent and Lex Luthor will have more equal roles in the upcoming movie.
There may also be a reason why the film isn’t called Superman: Man of Tomorrow and is simply titled Man of Tomorrow. After all, the movie may not be solely about Kal-El this time.
Could Man of Tomorrow Be Lex Luthor’s Story?
Based on Nathan Fillion’s tease, Man of Tomorrow could put Lex Luthor at the center of the story alongside Superman. The title may refer to an ideal future, hope, and the best of human potential rather than simply focusing on Superman’s identity. If so, could those ideas also apply to the Mockingbird?
Viewers who have followed the franchise may strongly oppose the idea of Lex representing any of those ideals, knowing that he is one of the worst people in the DCU. After all, he would not be called Superman’s villain and arch-nemesis for nothing.
It’s also worth noting that James Gunn is making major changes to the DC Universe, making it different from the previous DC Extended Universe and Zack Snyder’s Snyderverse.
In fact, this can be seen in everything from Henry Cavill’s intense and stoic Superman to Corenswet’s more vulnerable and kind portrayal, as well as from Jesse Eisenberg’s twitchy, Mark Zuckerberg-like Lex to Hoult’s classic comic-book-style CEO with deep military ties and an intense jealousy toward Superman.
Lex was imprisoned at the end of Superman, but he later managed to find his way out after negotiating with the government in Peacemaker Season 2, with Prison Planet Salvation playing a major role in the story.
Now, with Lex and Clark Kent on the same side against a bigger threat, the superintelligent alien android Brainiac, viewers will get to see how the two mortal enemies work together.
Man of Tomorrow is slated to be released on July 9, 2027.
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