Superman: Man of Tomorrow begins filming as James Gunn teases Lex Luthor and Brainiac

Production has officially begun on Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming sequel in the new DC Studios universe, as writer-director James Gunn shared the first behind-the-scenes tease from set.

The image posted by Gunn included a chess board, a Van Kull Prison badge referencing inmate A. Luthor, and a bag of Ruffles chips, hinting at the continued presence of Lex Luthor in the sequel’s storyline.

That new threat is expected to be Brainiac, a highly intelligent alien antagonist from DC Comics lore. The film is set to explore a high-stakes conflict that pushes both hero and villain into a temporary partnership.

The cast also includes returning and new DC characters, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. Additional appearances include Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.

The original Superman film launched the new DC Universe and earned over $600 million globally, becoming the highest-grossing superhero film of its release year. Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for theatrical release on July 9, 2027.

The sequel is one of several major DC projects in development, as the studio continues building its interconnected superhero universe under Gunn’s leadership.