James Gunn’s DCU Will Officially Bring Back 12 ‘Superman’ Characters

by

DC Studios plans to feature at least 12 characters from the Superman stories in upcoming movies and TV shows, strengthening the connections within James Gunn’s new shared universe. The recent Superman reboot kicked off this universe with David Corenswet as the new hero, and its storylines will continue throughout the first chapter of the franchise, called Gods and Monsters.

As a huge DC fan, I’m really excited about where things are going after the success of Superman! We’re already getting Peacemaker Season 2, and James Gunn just announced Man of Tomorrow and DC Crime. Apparently, all these projects are connected and will build out the world around Superman, focusing on characters within that universe – it’s shaping up to be a really interconnected saga!

Every ‘Superman’ Character Returning in Future DCU Movies & TV Shows 

Superman – Man of Tomorrow

David Corenswet’s Superman is central to the DC Universe’s ongoing story, and his adventures will continue in a future film called Man of Tomorrow. Although he wasn’t in Season 2 of Peacemaker, Superman will likely have to address the consequences of that show. Peacemaker introduced Salvation, a planet intended to be a prison for supervillains, and knowing how Superman reacted to Lex Luthor’s artificial dimension in his first movie, it’s clear he won’t approve of Salvation’s existence.

James Gunn, head of DC Studios, hints at a surprising partnership in the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow: Superman and Lex Luthor will have to team up to face a far greater and more dangerous enemy.

Lex Luthor – Man of Tomorrow

Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, will return in the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow after his unexpected appearance in Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6. He’s joining forces with Rick Flag Sr. for this new adventure.

James Gunn hinted that Lex Luthor will be wearing his iconic green and purple Warsuit in the next movie. This suggests Luthor will be heavily involved in the action, fighting alongside Superman against a currently mysterious enemy – who some speculate might be Brainiac.

Lois Lane – Man of Tomorrow 

Gunn has indicated that Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane will have a significant part in the upcoming Superman movie. Her appearance in the sequel makes sense given her established relationship with Clark Kent.

The recent Superman movie demonstrated Lois Lane’s ability to be a hands-on reporter, even amidst the turmoil in Metropolis. It’s likely she’ll take a similar, active role in Man of Tomorrow.

Supergirl – Supergirl

Milly Alcock will star in her first solo film as Supergirl, scheduled for release in 2026. The movie, a DC Studios production, will be a space-based adventure focusing on Kara Zor-el’s journey to avenge herself against a powerful enemy known as the Krem of the Yellow Hills.

The recent portrayal of Supergirl, shown in Superman, suggests she’ll be a bit more impulsive in her upcoming solo movie. It’s confirmed she’ll interact with Jason Momoa’s character, Lobo, and there’s speculation that her cousin, Superman, might also make an appearance.

Krypto – Supergirl

Krypto’s first appearance in the Superman movie was a hit with fans, creating many memorable scenes. The ending also hinted that he’ll be back for the Supergirl film, alongside Kara Zor-El.

Since the upcoming Supergirl movie draws heavily from the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book, and in that story Krypto is poisoned by a villain named Krem, it’s likely the movie will feature a similar plot point. This poisoning could be what motivates Supergirl to embark on a quest for revenge.

Guy Gardner – Lanterns

Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) is set to return to the small screen in HBO Max’s Lanterns. 

We don’t yet know much about what Gardner will do in the series, but his overconfidence and tendency to show off could cause conflict with the other Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan. He’ll likely emphasize that Earth falls under his authority. Despite this, the three will ultimately team up, and Gardner might even attempt to bring Stewart and Jordan into his ‘Justice Gang’.

Hawkgirl – Man of Tomorrow

Isabel Merced will reprise her role as Hawkgirl in the upcoming film, Man of Tomorrow, following her impressive introduction in Superman.

Okay, so Hawkgirl really messed things up by killing the president of Boravia, and I’m worried about the fallout. It’s possible Rick Flag Sr. and ARGUS will see her as a major threat and try to neutralize her – maybe even turn her into one of those ‘Salvation’ citizens. But here’s the thing: she’s got the Justice Gang – and Superman! – backing her up. Taking down a hero like Hawkgirl isn’t going to be easy at all.

Rick Flag Sr. – Man of Tomorrow 

Rick Flag Sr.’s surprising betrayal in Season 2 of Peacemaker will have a big impact on the DC Universe. We can expect to see the consequences of his actions, particularly his shaky partnership with Lex Luthor and the new group Salvation, continue in future stories like Man of Tomorrow.

As the main leader of the Salvation project, Rick Flag Sr. will be a significant character in the next Superman movie. There’s even a possibility he’ll be the one to encourage Superman and Lex Luthor to team up and face a new, mysterious danger.

Jimmy Olsen – DC Crime

A new Superman spin-off called DC Crime will follow Jimmy Olsen as he investigates real-life crimes connected to supervillains. The series will focus on reporters from the Daily Planet handling these cases, and their first investigation will center around the Flash’s enemy, Gorilla Grodd.

Considering everything, the events of DC Crime should significantly advance Olsen’s story and character arc within the DC Universe, particularly since Superman suggested his importance by helping to defeat Lex Luthor.

Perry White – DC Crime

Let me tell you, as someone who’s seen a lot of stories break, Perry White was absolutely key in getting the Lex Luthor exposé published. He was the editor-in-chief at the Daily Planet, and without his backing, Lois Lane and the team wouldn’t have been able to get the evidence out there and ultimately lead to Luthor’s arrest. He really believed in their reporting, and it paid off!

Perry’s connection to the events surrounding ‘DC Crime’ explains the Daily Planet’s recent focus on reporting about supervillains.

Steve Lombard – DC Crime

Steve Lombard is a sports reporter for the Daily Planet who accompanied Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and the rest of the team on Mister Terrific’s ship during the recent trouble in Metropolis. As a friend – and occasional tormentor – of Clark Kent, Steve’s connection to the case detailed in DC Crime gives readers a deeper look into his opinions about Superman and his colleagues at the Planet.

Cat Grant – DC Crime

The show could build on the existing relationship between Cat Grant and Lois Lane, potentially focusing on Cat’s perspective even without a major role for Lois. As a Daily Planet gossip columnist, Cat could offer insights into the workplace and, given her investigative abilities, might even suspect Clark Kent is secretly Superman.

Ron Troupe – DC Crime

Ron Troupe, a political columnist at the Daily Planet, teamed up with Lois Lane to investigate Lex Luthor in Superman at the urging of Perry White. The new spinoff series, DC Crime, which features Troupe as a reported Daily Planet employee, offers a chance to delve into his history, particularly since his role was limited in the 2025 film.

Read More

2025-12-31 11:07