What the Title MAN OF TOMORROW Could Mean for the SUPERMAN Sequel

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As a follower,

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about the upcoming chapter in James Gunn’s Superman saga within the DCU. Officially titled “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” this movie is set to hit our screens soon. Interestingly, there was a similar animated film with the same title released in 2020, but as it was an origin story, I don’t think it will influence Gunn’s vision significantly.

Now, let’s dissect the title and the accompanying artwork. The choice of “Man of Tomorrow” might suggest that this story will focus on Superman’s future endeavors rather than his origins or previous exploits. But is this still a family-friendly movie, or are we looking at a reboot along the lines of ‘Superman II’ with David Corenswet, as Gunn has hinted?

To answer your question, let’s delve into the title itself. While “Man of Steel” and “Last Son of Krypton” are more commonly used to describe Superman, “Man of Tomorrow” offers a fresh perspective on this iconic character, possibly indicating a new direction for his storyline.

Man of Tomorrow. In theatres July 9, 2027

— James Gunn (@jamesgunn.bsky.social) 2025-09-03T16:46:31.775Z

As a film enthusiast, I find it fascinating that the moniker “The Man of Tomorrow” was bestowed upon Superman right from the early days of his comic book debut.

DC Comics, in their wisdom, decided to give this newly minted sci-fi hero this futuristic nickname because the fair and the comic shared a common theme of celebrating the promise of tomorrow. For creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman embodied all their dreams for a brighter future during the tumultuous times of the Great Depression and the impending war. James Gunn’s portrayal of this character certainly echoes that sentiment.

1940 marked the appearance of Superman on the cover of issue two of “World’s Fair Comics”. Accompanying him were Batman and Robin, DC’s latest sensations. This second (and final) issue was significant as it featured Batman and Superman together on a cover for the first time. Though they didn’t share a story yet, this association solidified their status as the publisher’s most valuable characters. Interestingly, they wouldn’t team up in a story until 1952, yes, you read that right. Despite “World’s Finest Comics” showcasing Superman and Batman together for nearly a decade on its cover, they didn’t have a joint story then. A fun trivia: the first actor to portray Superman was at the World’s Fair in 1940, his name was Ray Middleton. Let’s move on. By 1940, the term “Man of Tomorrow” had become commonly associated with Superman.

In the ’90s, the series known as “Superman: The Man of Tomorrow” was launched and ran from 1995 to 1999, spanning sixteen issues. This may seem surprising given its length over four years, but DC Comics chose to release it only in months with five weeks instead of four. Their aim was to bridge the gaps between series such as “Superman, Action Comics, Man of Steel“, and “Adventures of Superman“. This way, they could guarantee a fresh Superman story for each week of the year, regardless of the number of weeks in a month. With the popularity of Kal-El soaring after the event known as “The Death and Return of Superman“, DC Comics sought to ensure that fans received their weekly fix of the Man of Steel without fail. (It’s unlikely that “Metropolis Marvel” will be the title of a future DC Studios film, due to obvious reasons.)

The nickname “Man of Tomorrow” emphasizes Superman’s optimistic character more than his strength or refugee status. This suggests that Gunn’s new movie will focus on these themes, implying a lot of futuristic concepts. The picture released shows Lex in his power suit, hinting they may fight, but could they also work together? Considering Brainiac might be the villain, it seems logical for Superman and Lex to face off against him. This could potentially include Supergirl and Krypto as well. The 2001 story “City of Tomorrow,” where Brainiac upgraded Metropolis with advanced technology, could serve as a clue about what’s to come. One thing is certain, with a title like “Man of Tomorrow,” we know that optimism and hope for the future are back on the agenda.

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2025-09-04 00:33