In an interview with Howard Stern, James Gunn revealed he’s just about done writing the Superman sequel Man Of Tomorrow. “It’s gonna be out in two years in theaters on July 9th, 2027, which is relatively a short time between sequels because we knew immediately where we were going,” the director teased. “And it is a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat and it’s more complicated than that. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie.”
Superman ends with the titular hero saving the day, and Luthor getting arrested in disgrace. Despite his villainy (and Elon Musk-ish tendencies), Gunn said, “I relate to the character of Lex Luthor, sadly.” Luthor’s envy is “the center of Lex for me,” the filmmaker added. “Three years ago, before Superman came along, he was considered the greatest guy in the world even with other meta humans and superheroes in the world, and then one fell swoop, this guy comes in wearing a silly costume with dimples and a charming smile and a great chin and he’s forgotten.” That’s a pretty juicy dynamic to explore for a team-up film.
Elsewhere in the interview, the co-head of DC Studios touched on some of the other upcoming projects, including Clayface, which is a “hardcore R-rated body horror film, but with the same universe as Superman.” Of Supergirl, he said “[we’re] editing it right now,” and added, “Milly Alcock, who plays Supergirl might be the best bit of casting I think I’ve ever done in my entire life. I think she’s absolutely stunning in this movie.”
Since taking over the studio, Gunn has kept extremely busy, not only producing but directing and writing as well (on Superman, Peacemaker, and the animated Creature Commandos). “Over one year, I wrote 650 something pages. Over the next year, I produced 650 pages, and… over this year, we’re releasing 650 pages,” he told Stern. “That was at the beginning when I took on DC and I promised myself I’m slowing down at least a tiny bit, although I am creating the Superman sequel that we’re starting to shoot in April or so.”
