How James Gunn Sets Up 3 Upcoming DC Universe Projects

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Superman.Superman is the first movie in the new DC Universe, and its ending sets up quite a few story threads to be followed by the franchise. As the first entry in the DCU, James Gunn’s Superman movie had the daunting task of establishing what the shared universe looks like and what fans should look forward to from future DC releases.

Going into the film, there were many questions about David Corenswet’s Superman and the larger DCU. Many of them were promptly answered, like the opening crawl revealing that Superman has been active for 3 years. That said, many exciting twists and answers were left for late into the film, including a major addition to Superman‘s cast of characters and more.

Lex Luthor’s Complicated Boravia And Ultraman Plan To Kill Superman Explained

The DC Universe Villain Absolutely Hates The Man Of Steel

As Gunn had previously teased, there is not a single bad thing that happens in Superman that does not have the finger of Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor in it. Superman‘s ending ties all of those together by explaining the full scope of the villain’s plan. Instead of using Superman’s actions to carve up Jarhanpur, Lex started the war to kill Superman.

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The Hammer Of Boravia’s Identity Explained

Lex brought in the Hammer of Boravia, who was revealed to be Ultraman in disguise. Aside from an interdimensional imp, every threat in Superman is connected to Lex Luthor’s plan to kill the Man of Steel out of jealousy. Ultraman faked a Boravian accent to make it look like the country was retaliating for Superman stopping the war.

Ultraman’s Big Twist And Fate Explained

Lex started the war between Boravia and Jarhanpur so that he could take Superman in for questioning and murder him, becoming the person the world looks up to. However, his plan failed when Krypto helped Superman take down Ultraman, a clone of the Man of Steel Lex created using a strand of Superman’s hair. Ultraman seemingly dies after being sucked into a black hole.

How The Dimensional Rift Leaves A Mark Explained

Ultraman’s death takes place in the pocket universe Lex Luthor created. That plays a big role in Superman, with the final threat of the movie being an interdimensional rift that almost destroys Metropolis as it breaks the ground apart. While Mister Terrific closed the rift, a lot of damage still remained. Superman‘s post-credits scene evidences that via a crooked building.

Lex Luthor Is Sent To Belle Reve – But Will He Stay There?

Nicholas Hoult’s Villain Will Be Key To The DC Universe’s Future

Hoult’s Lex Luthor did not have a problem letting Metropolis be destroyed if it meant killing Superman. He ends up having to pay for his crimes, thanks to the crew at The Daily Planet and Eve Teschmacher, Lex’s latest ex-girlfriend. In the background of the selfies she sent to Jimmy Olsen were maps, contracts, and more details about Luthor’s plans.

After The Daily Planet shines a light on Lex’s illegal moves, the villain is taken into police custody. Hoult’s character is sent to Belle Reve, an important prison in DC Comics that had already made its DCU debut before Superman. Belle Reve is the prison where Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller recruited the Creature Commandos from in the HBO Max animated series.

While Lex Luthor might have been sent to prison at the end of Superman, it is unlikely he will remain there. He might not have been victorious, but Superman shows just how intelligent and resourceful Luthor is. That makes him someone who could end up connected to Amanda Waller’s covert team. Rick Flag Sr. being in Superman is another connection.

The Engineer Sets Up A DC Movie With A Different Kind Of Team

The Villain No Longer Has A Boss To Order Her Around

Superman revealed that Lex Luthor transformed Angela Spica into the Engineer by infusing her with nanites. With Lex sent to prison at the end of the movie, the Engineer looks rather aimless. However, that will not be the case. One of the first projects announced for the DCU’s Chapter One was a movie for The Authority.

The team is made of morally questionable characters who unite to protect the world by any means necessary. As such, The Authority gets its hands bloodier than the likes of the Justice League. Based on how the Engineer let Lex transform her to get the power to keep metahumans in check, she would fit right in.

Rick Flag Sr.’s Connection To The DCU’s First Project & Future Explained

The Character Appears In The Franchise’s First Three Projects

Superman features a few surprises, which include John Cena’s Peacemaker appearing in an interview to talk about Superman. The character will soon return in August for Peacemaker season 2, which will see him face off with Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. The latter is the father of the original Rick Flag, who was killed by Peacemaker in the old DCEU.

Flag was one of the main characters of the animated Creature Commandos, the DCU’s first project. He returns in Superman as one of the government higher-ups who allows Lex Luthor to take Superman into custody. In the end, Flag is cautioned about how metahumans make the rules now. Peacemaker season 2 includes the Justice Gang, so that should be further explored.

The Justice Gang’s New Lineup Explained

The New DC Universe Slowly Starts To Set Up The Justice League’s Debut

Superman might have firmly been the focus of the DCU’s first movie, but he was not the only superhero who appeared in it. Something that seemed important to James Gunn was showing this was a lived-in world, which was reflected by the opening crawl, murals in the background, and more. The Justice Gang played a huge role in that aspect.

The team, which was created by Maxwell Lord, started with a roster that included Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl. Superman had trusted them with his secret identity and fought alongside the heroes, but he was not a member of the Justice Gang. The team’s roster evolved at the end of Superman.

After he was rescued by Superman, Mister Terrific, and Lois Lane, Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho joined the Justice Gang in stopping the Boravian army from killing every citizen from Jarhanpur on the border. Initially reluctant, Guy lets Metamorpho join the team when he says he likes the Justice Gang name, which everyone else made fun of. Superman’s team status is unclear.

What’s Going On With Supergirl?

The Superman Movie Sees The DCU Debut Of His Cousin

Finally, after Metropolis has been saved and Lex Luthor was sent to prison, James Gunn introduced Supergirl to the new DC Universe. Milly Alcock’s Supergirl movie will debut in theaters on June 26, 2026. Her cameo clearly sets up the film, as it explains the core story of the comic book the Supergirl movie is based on.

Alcock’s Supergirl has a very different personality from Corenswet’s Superman. She is more loose and carefree, whereas he is more contained and responsible. Supergirl was revealed to be Krypto’s true owner, with Superman just watching his cousin’s dog, and arrived drunk despite her Kryptonian physiology. That is because she was partying on a planet with a red sun.

The red sun weakens her powers, allowing Supergirl to feel the effects of alcohol. That lifestyle is key to Kara’s journey in the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comics. Speaking with ScreenRant, James Gunn revealed that Supergirl is “a total mess” in the DCU, which comes from her having a “much more difficult background” than Superman. Check out the full quote below:

James Gunn: Yeah, that’s her. She’s a mess. She’s a total mess. I mean, I think as we learn, she’s had a completely different background from Superman. A much more difficult background. He’s had this wonderful upbringing by these two parents that loved him and were very healthy. And her background was much different than that. And she’s ended up different than her cousin.

2026’s Supergirl movie will further explore how the hero’s personality and backstory connect in the DCU. While Superman and Supergirl do not get many moments together in the film, as she shows up in the Fortress of Solitude at the very end, future DCU projects after Superman will have many chances to do so.

Superman

9/10

Release Date

July 11, 2025

Runtime

130 Minutes

Producers

Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran