Man of Tomorrow, written and directed by James Gunn, will be the sequel to his 2025 Superman movie and will most probably tell the story of the new DCU Superman. The sequel will see Gunn reunite in the writer and the director role. David Corenswet, the protagonist of the franchise, made his Superman debut in Gunn’s Superman in 2025, launching the new DC Universe on the big screen. Now, Man of Tomorrow is a part of the larger plan of Gunn and Peter Safran for the revamped DC Studios Universe. 

Gunn’s commitment to the sequel has now become a major talking point as production moves forward and the DCU enters its next phase. 

Reports indicate that James Gunn is putting in up to 18-hour days on Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to his upcoming Superman movie, after Supergirl failed. Warner Bros. chief David Zaslav said Gunn is currently focused on the project as the studio continues to develop its revamped DC Universe. Zaslav told investors the same when asked about the future of the DCU. 

“He's working 16, 18 hours a day. It looks fantastic. We're super excited about it,” Zaslav said, via Deadline, discussing Man of Tomorrow's production. 

He added that Gunn's DC Comics universe was still on track, with its Superman sequel next out of the gate. He then said he saw some great pictures from the day before, and added that Gunn had been working because it was his birthday. For the rest of the DCU, Zaslav was optimistic, saying its current slate feels very good with Clayface and Lanterns also coming out. 

For context, in Man of Tomorrow, Superman and Lex Luthor are forced into an uneasy alliance against the cosmic threat of Brainiac. The sequel will be as much a Lex story as it is a Superman story, focusing on their complicated relationship. David Corenswet will be back as Superman and Nicholas Hoult returns as Luthor, who is said to be using a mechanical suit to fight the huge threat. 

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While Gunn focuses on the sequel, Supergirl’s performance adds pressure to DC Studios’ upcoming projects. 

Supergirl has been seen as a major box office disappointment, opening to around $37-38 million domestically and $62-68 million internationally. The film had a production cost of $170–186 million and marketing costs of more than $100 million. The rocky launch of the film had initially raised concerns about its overall box office performance. Ultimately, the film ended its worldwide theatrical run with a collection of approximately $126.1 million. 

With Man of Tomorrow, it seems James Gunn is working hard to set the course for the next chapter of the DC Universe. The sequel’s Superman-Lex Luthor story arc and Brainiac threat give the project a bigger scope, while Supergirl’s disappointing performance adds pressure to deliver a strong follow-up. Gunn’s reported commitment to the film indicates that Man of Tomorrow remains a high priority for DC Studios as it continues to build out its evolving slate. 

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Could Gunn’s reported 18-hour workdays help make Man of Tomorrow a stronger next chapter for the DC Universe? Let us know in the comments.