Superman 2’s New Title, ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ Gives Major Clues to DCU Movie’s Plot

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With the extraordinary popularity of the 2025 “Superman” movie, it was only a matter of time before a second installment was produced. DC Studios CEO James Gunn has indeed confirmed this, also revealing that the title would be “Man of Tomorrow“.

So far, the titles of DCU movies have provided clues about their origins. For example, the upcoming Supergirl movie was initially named “Supergirl: Girl of Tomorrow,” which is also the title of a well-known miniseries featuring Kara Zor-El establishing herself in space away from her cousin’s influence. Her brief appearance at the end of Superman and her ownership of Krypto, both hinted at in this story, suggest that we might find a tale focused on Kal-El titled “Man of Tomorrow” if we’re searching for the storyline of Superman 2.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow plot might be an adaptation of the animated film of the same name

2020 saw the debut of Superman: Man of Tomorrow, an animated film that marked the start of Phase 2 within the DC Animated Movie Universe. This particular timeline was subsequently labeled as ‘the Tomorrowverse’ to emphasize its difference from both the original DC Animated Universe and the broader DC Animated Movie Universe.

In an era preceding Superman’s public debut, the animated series “Man of Tomorrow” presents an unprecedented backstory for the Man of Steel. Unlike traditional lore, this version of Superman is unaware of his Kryptonian lineage and the destiny of his kin as a mature adult. His discovery of Krypton and vulnerability to Kryptonite occurs after a confrontation with the formidable bounty hunter Lobo. The secrets of his home world are later shared by Martian Manhunter, who guides Clark Kent in a mentor capacity.

In this movie adaptation, the main antagonists are Lex Luthor and the Parasite. However, their typical backstories have been altered. Here, Lex Luthor, a tech tycoon, is jailed following his wrongdoings that were exposed by Lois Lane prior to Superman’s debut in public. Unlike others, Rudy Jones, who works at STAR Labs as a janitor and is close friends with Clark Kent, transforms into the Parasite due to an unwanted side-effect of one of Lobo’s alien weapons.

It’s apparent that the animated Superman movie isn’t readily transferable to the DC Universe. In James Gunn’s Superman timeline, it is three years after his initial public appearance. But, the sequel to this film might utilize Parasite as its primary antagonist and incorporate Lobo, who is set to debut in Supergirl within the DCU. Additionally, the sequel could adopt a plot where Lex Luthor, previously imprisoned, is released to help combat Parasite. Of course, being the manipulative character he is, Luthor would try to deceive Superman as soon as possible.

“Man of Tomorrow” might stand in contrast to the “Man of Steel” of the DCEU

In more straightforward language, one could say: The title ‘Man of Tomorrow’ has been notably used in several comic books. The latest instance was a digital-first e-comic series published by DC Comics in 2020. Prior to that, there was a quarterly comic series that ran from 1995 to 1999. Additionally, there is the classic story titled “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” written by Alan Moore and Curt Swan, which was designed to be Superman’s final tale of the Silver Age.

It’s plausible that the title ‘Man of Tomorrow’ for Superman is symbolic rather than tied to a specific narrative. The nickname was initially used in 1939’s New York World’s Fair Comics, which were produced as promotional materials for the World of Tomorrow exhibit at that year’s fair. Although ‘Man of Steel’ was his original name, Superman was referred to as the Man of Tomorrow just as frequently. This was because one of his earliest origins depicted him as an advanced future human, not an alien.

One interpretation is that using ‘Man of Tomorrow’ might signify that DC Universe (DCU) is moving away from the DCEU and the Man of Steel film. Additionally, it could symbolize Superman’s ongoing struggle for “Truth, Justice, and a Brighter Future,” which aligns well with Clark Kent’s forward-looking perspective within the DCU.

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2025-09-04 16:17