James Gunn clarifies whether or not the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is finally introducing Brainiac into the DC Universe. Following the big screen return of the Man of Steel this summer with David Corenswet’s new cinematic incarnation, the Superman movie ending is only getting this started for the beloved superhero.

As the 2025 movie crossed over $615 million at the worldwide box office, as well as several positive Superman movie reviews, a continuation is officially set to happen, as the former Marvel Studios filmmaker has already finished a script for the new film. However, details are still extremely limited, including what new threat Krypton’s last son will face in about two years.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn was finally asked about the cryptic script page for Man of Tomorrow, which sparked the theory that Brainiac will be the central villain of the 2027 entry. However, the DC Studios co-CEO shared the following response about the status of the famous antagonist in the upcoming installment:

James Gunn: Listen, of course I wasn’t unaware that when I posted the cover of the script that there was going to be discussion around that particular topic. But I think we’ll hold off from what exactly is happening.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with a release date set for July 9, 2027. Corenswet will reprise the role in the sequel alongside Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, as the pair will be teaming up against this new foe, as the director has stated the following:

James Gunn: It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that, but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I loved working with Nicholas Hoult. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I just love the script so much.

It’s key to take into account that the continuation was announced only a few months after the first film was released in theaters, which is a lot sooner than most were likely expecting. Given the timing, it’s understandable why the identity of the main villain is being kept under wraps for now, especially if casting hasn’t started yet.

Even though the Man of Tomorrow movie title page that he shared makes a very strong case for it to be Brainiac, it may simply be too early to confirm those types of details yet. If anything, this is clever marketing because it keeps people talking about the 2027 installment as the project gets closer to pre-production.

Despite Gunn playing coy, it feels like a safe bet that the iconic Superman enemy will be the one to take on Lex and Clark in 2027. Given how other DC TV shows have demonstrated what a story can do with him, it only makes sense for him to finally make his debut in the DCU timeline.

Once they actually start the casting process, that’s most likely when the world will find out once and for all who the main threat will be in the highly anticipated DC adventure. Hopefully, Man of Tomorrow will indeed feature Brainiac, as the iconic DC foe is long overdue for a cinematic portrayal.