We’re all used to Big Brother players shouting out family members and friends during their live votes each week, but now and again, one of them will drop a reference that makes you do a double take. This week, that person was Rick Devens, who said happy birthday to his daughter, said hi to his wife and son and then name dropped popular director and DC executive James Gunn. Initially, most fans thought it was just Rick being goofy, but it turns out there’s an entire backstory here.

Rick and James Gunn apparently know each other in real life. In fact, there was a plan for Rick and his family to appear in the background of the upcoming Superman sequel Man Of Tomorrow, which Gunn has been on-set directing the past few months. Prior to the shooting day, however, Devens called Gunn and told him he wasn’t going to be able to come anymore for a reason he wasn’t allowed to share. That reason was obviously he was going to be sequestered in the Big Brother House.

Gunn posted a video of Devens shouting him out on Big Brother over on Threads, and when fans asked what the connection was, he talked about knowing Rick in a series of messages. He also said that even though Rick missed out on the Superman shoot, his family did not…

Everyone, even James Gunn, likes being shouted out on television, but the excitement here no doubt ran a lot deeper because Gunn is a noted OG Big Brother fan. As such, that reference definitely hit harder than it would have otherwise. I’m sure he’s loving this season too, given he’s got a friend on the show and also, it’s been objectively a glorious mess so far.

Part of the reason why it’s been such a mess has been Devens himself, who doesn’t know how to do anything other than play hard. He was a menace on both of his seasons of Survivor, finding idols and getting up to all sorts of weird schemes. There aren’t any Idols on Big Brother, but there are plenty of opportunities to cause chaos. To the surprise of no one, Rick has taken advantage of those, forming multiple alliances and taking part in what’s rumored to be one of the wildest nomination ceremonies in the show’s history, which is going to air this evening.

You can catch Devens on Big Brother throughout the Summer, which airs new episodes several times a week on CBS. You can also tune into the live feeds at any time, which are streaming on Paramount+. As for Man Of Tomorrow, you can catch James Gunn’s newest a little less than a year from now on July 9th, 2027. Sadly, Devens won’t be a part of it, but we can all look for his wife Becca and their kids in the background.

Flashback to 2021, and you couldn't find a bigger hater of the Snyderverse than me. Hell, I even danced on its grave when we received word that it was finally over.

However, flash-forward (DC pun not intended) to 2026, and I've actually come around on the failed DCEU. Maybe it's because I wasn't in love with James Gunn's Superman, or perhaps it’s because I have no interest whatsoever in Supergirl (and apparently, I'm not alone), but I've been giving Zack Snyder's DC movies another chance recently, and oh, man. I think I owe Zack Snyder yet ANOTHER apology.

You see, I already apologized for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and after rewatching the four hour long Zack Snyder's Justice League, I have to apologize again, because this movie is amazing. Here's why.

I Originally Thought This Movie Was Way Too Long. But Now, It Feels Just Right When It Comes To Pacing

You want to know what's crazy? Not too long ago, I rewatched Joss Whedon's version of Justice League, which is only two hours long, and it's so bad that it actually feels LONGER than Snyder's version, which is literally double the runtime. I think this is because Whedon's Justice League feels aimless and dull, whereas Snyder's version has direction and vision. And look, no offense to Whedon, as he was given the impossible task of reshooting aspects of Snyder's movie into something feasible for the big screen, but his version just does not work.

However, after rewatching Zack Snyder's Justice League, I am in awe at how he was able to take all of these characters and still have it all make sense. For example, in his version, Batman and Wonder Woman's quest to assemble a team really feels cohesive and organic, whereas in Whedon’s version, it all feels like a hurried mess, which is strange because it also feels plodding.

We get more backstory for all of the characters in Snyder’s version, as well as a true villain in Darkseid, who I'll get into later. Snyder's version is also (surprise, surprise) way darker in tone than Whedon's version, which is also something I now appreciate over the more upbeat Superman from James Gunn.

Honestly, it's really weird that all of the things that I once hated about the Snyderverse – the overseriousness, the darker tone, etc – I now view as pluses. However, I think there's one reason in particular why I love this movie now.

Cyborg's Story Is The Heart Of This Movie

One character who I always thought never got his time to shine when it came to the Snyderverse was Cyborg. Played by Ray Fisher, you could tell that he had a bigger role in Whedon's Justice League, but there was just something…missing.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League, however, almost the entire plot hinges on Cyborg’s role in the story. The fact that his role was truncated so much in Whedon’s version just goes to show you why that film felt like such a mess, because Victor Stone's (Cyborg) role is absolutely vital in Snyder's cut.

Stone's father, Silas (Joe Morton), is kidnapped, and Cyborg joins the team. He was a former athlete and had to be reconstructed after a horrible car accident, so his journey as a broken man to one of the saviors of the world is thoughtful and surprisingly heartfelt.

Also, being that Cyborg has such a connection to this film's Macguffin in the Mother Boxes, he’s essentially the most important character in the entire film, and I really appreciate that when watching this a second time.

I Also Find All Of The Characters-Even The Flash-To Be Interesting In This Film

You know, when I first saw Zack Snyder's Justice League, I still very much loathed all of the scenes involving Ezra Miller's The Flash. Upon a second viewing, I find that I actually like him, as well as pretty much every other member of the Justice League this time around. It might be because I, like others, actually enjoyed the eventual Flash movie that came out in 2023 (I even wrote about how it annoyed me that it didn't do better at the box office).

The Flash is incredibly important in this film. When the world starts to be destroyed, The Flash has to reverse the flow of time using the Speed Force, which allows Superman (Henry Cavill) and Cyborg to get the job done.

And, what about Aquaman? I liked Jason Momoa's first Aquaman movie - to a certain extent - but I found him super annoying in Justice League. However, I guess adding more screen time for him makes him more interesting this time around. I also think that learning more about the other metahumans and the Atlanteans makes him feel more at home here.

Not only that, but this movie has freaking Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix) in it. I mean, it's at the end, and it's pretty much just a cameo, but at least he's here. What's not to love?

I Also Love This Version Of Darkseid

I know I keep harping on Joss Whedon's Justice League, but a big reason why I feel that movie failed was that its main antagonist, Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), was super lame. It's just that he didn't seem like a worthy opponent for the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, or The Flash.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League…well, he's still pretty lame, but much better since you don't feel like he's the REAL final boss. The main boss would be Ray Porter's Darkseid, who is a way more terrifying villain and an existential threat to humanity.

Darkseid is all about that Anti-Life Equation, and we learn that he's been a threat to Earth for millennia, what with the Old Gods waging war against him to prevent him from taking over the planet. All of this backstory really elevates the danger he presents, making him feel like a truly worthy adversary.

Unfortunately, since this was pretty much the end of the DCEU, we never got to see Darkseid get his own movie where he got to be the central villain, but I really appreciate what we got in this movie. He’s absolutely horrifying.

In The End, The Further We Get Away From The Snyderverse, The More I Find That I Miss It

When looking at the upcoming slate of DC films (and TV–let's not forget about TV), I think there's a lot to look forward to (Especially when it comes to Clayface, which I can't wait for!) Yet…I kind of now miss the Snyderverse.

I don't know what it is. It might be because I used to pledge allegiance to the MCU, and I think I viewed the DCEU as a pathetic alternative. After getting off the Marvel hype train quite a while ago, I've since been reevaluating the Snyderverse, and I think I had it all wrong.

Was it too dark and broody? Maybe, but upon reflection, it was actually a novel alternative to the overly cheery MCU. I now find that I get nothing out of movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Guardians of the Galaxy upon a rewatch, and I view them more as artifacts than anything else.

Movies like Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Batman v. Superman? They just seem to get better with age. So, if you happen to be reading this, Mr. Snyder. I’m sorry! Your fans were right all along, and I’m happy that the powers that be eventually RELEASED THE SNYDER CUT!

The DCU is still in its infancy, as we're only two movie into the first slate of projects (titled Gods and Monsters). The studio's co-CEO James Gunn kicked things off with Superman, which featured a cameo from Milly Alcock's Supergirl. But the House of the Dragon actress revealed that filming that short sequence was actually way more awkward than you might have guessed. Let's break it all down.

While Supergirl recently arrived in theaters, we're still learning more about how James Gunn's Superman movie came together. During a recent video from the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Alcock was asked about filming her brief but memorable role as a drunk Kara Zor-El. She said:

While Krypto was a scene-stealer in the theatrical cut of Superman (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription), the reality of filming that sequence is another matter entirely. Namely because there was no dog, and instead Alcock was filming alongside a full grown woman. Oh, the glamor of moviemaking!

Fans who have been watching the DC movies in order were introduced to a very drunk Kara, who got her time to shine in Craig Gillespie's Supergirl movie. Later in the same interview, Milly Alcock got real about how "embarrassing" it is to be an actor... including when you're performing opposite a human pretending to be a dog. In her words:

Oh, to be a fly on the wall as the 26 year-old actress filmed that scene from Superman. Ultimately, I felt the brief sequence was a successful introduction, and showed the juxtaposition between Kara and her hopeful cousin Kal-El. So any embarrassing or cringe-worthy moments were worth it in the end.

Superman can be re-watched on HBO Max, and Supergirl is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release schedule. Luckily for fans of Alcock's character, she'll be back with a role in Man of Tomorrow. Hopefully filming that movie isn't quite as embarrassing.

In addition to serving as the first solo outing for Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El in the DCU, Supergirl also ushers in the debut of Lobo, played by the vivacious Jason Momoa. The reactions to the DC film have showered praise upon Momoa’s portrayal of the eccentric and violent bounty hunter and, at this point, the antihero seems to be striking a chord with fans. I’m particularly curious as to which major players Lobo will interact with next, and Momoa actually told CinemaBlend how he thinks Superman would respond to his character.

Lobo and Kara have a somewhat complex and humorous relationship, given that both of them find each other annoying on some level. However, without going into spoilers, they seem to find some level of mutual respect for each other by the end of the film. The Man of Steel is quite different from his cousin, of course, which is why CB asked Momoa how Superman might feel about Lobo. Ultimately, the fan-favorite actor’s take is as honest as it is humorous:

Honestly, I’m tempted to agree, as Kal-El and the “Main Man” are shown to have a somewhat tense relationship dynamic in comics and TV shows. My own first experience of seeing the two interact was in the DC Animated Universe via Superman: The Animated Series, in which Kal saw the motorcycle-riding Czarnian as more of a nuisance than anything else. Judging by Momoa’s comments, he’s of the belief that his character would bother Supes in the DCU as well:

Considering Superman’s strength and Lobo’s immortality, I’d say that would be quite a “tussle” for the ages. I really do hope, though, that David Corenswet’s Supes and Jason Momoa’s Last Czarnian do get the opportunity to cross paths in an upcoming DC movie. The question is just where and when that might happen. Given Momoa’s character is such a wild card, it’s hard to say where he might pop up next. The actor has revealed, though, that he’s open to doing a solo film – only on the condition that it’s rated R.

What I’ll say is that it would be a missed opportunity for Lobo not to return at some point and rub shoulders with the Big Blue Boy Scout or other major DC characters. The mere thought of Supes doing battle with the “Scourge o’ the Cosmos” is just too exciting not to consider. I’m confident that studio head James Gunn and co. will make that happen at some point but, until then, I’ll just remain satisfied that Jason Momoa achieved his dream of playing the cigar-chomping hitman.

Check out Lobo’s first appearance in the DCU by heading to a theater and checking out Supergirl. Also, grab an HBO Max subscription to check out Superman as well as the character’s DCAU-set show.

As the second theatrical feature stemming from studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl has as much riding on its success as any other upcoming DCU movies. A daunting responsibility that hasn’t been helped by alleged box office projections skewing lower than originally expected. Screenwriter Ana Noguiera knows a thing or two about flipped expectations, as she’d originally penned a script for Sasha Calle’s DCEU heroine before being tapped for the Milly Alcock-led project, and it’s a switch that she says helped inform the new film.

Though she’s likely legally barred from revealing any key details from her original Supergirl-centric storyline, Noguiera told EW that essentially nothing that she started with is in the 2026 movie release, but that didn’t devalue any of the efforts made. Specifically, she says having already spent so much time learning the ins and outs of the character’s superpowers was a boon for her second time at bat. (Not that kind of bat.) In her words:

At this point, Ana Noguiera brings up one of the most classic comic book questions of all time, and then answers it with a brilliant slice of comic book logic that James Gunn has also used when answering fan questions.

Fans of comic books and superheroes love to dig in and discuss (or pedantically argue) the peaks and limitations of Superman's powers, and the extreme circumstances that he may or may not be able to handle. But Noguiera amusingly makes it clear that there isn't a static and unmoving ceiling at which point Clark's powers run out, and there's no official power ranking number to give him.

Superman's overall power is limited only by any given creative team's imagination, and can be as widespread or as honed-in as writers want to make a story as strong as it can be. That's how he can fly so fast around the planet he turns time back in one instance without ever necessarily doubling back on that ability, unless another scribe sees it as fitting.

So if you ever happen upon an argument amongst comic fans about whether or not Batman could ever beat Superman, you can probably win that argument by stating "It all depends on who's writing the story," before clacking your heels together and spinning around a lightpost. Everyone will thank you, and no one will make fun of you.

Maybe you can find one of those conversations happening in theaters before or after Supergirl screenings. The movie has garnered all kinds of reactions from critics, as well as from those who attended early screenings, so it's anybody's guess at this point how many people will actually be watching in theaters and IMAX this weekend.

Supergirl will drunkenly sashay her way into theaters on Friday, June 26, but those wanting to get reacquainted with Krypto can do so by watching James Gunn’s Superman via HBO Max subscription.

With the DCEU behind us, moviegoers are invested in upcoming DC movies, which will expand co-CEO James Gunn's newly formed shared universe. The first slate of projects is called Gods and Monsters, with James Gunn's Superman being the debut movie. That blockbuster introduced David Corenswet's title character, and also featured a cameo by Milly Alcock's Supergirl. And it turns out that the Hollywood actor offered his onscreen cousin some advice about flying around on wires.

It's still early into the DCU, with Craig Gillespie's Supergirl being the second big screen adventure. Milly Alcock is stepping into the spotlight at Kara Zor-El, and during an interview with ET Corenswet revealed his first impression of the House of the Dragon star. In his words:

He's not wrong. Milly Alcock brings a ton of swagger to Kara, even during her brief appearance in Superman. The Supergirl trailer showed her drinking her way through the cosmos, and also kicking ass and taking names. But the first reactions to Supergirl also praised the actress for the heart she brought to the title character.

Later in the same interview, Corenswet revealed what advice he gave Milly Alcock about being a Kryptonian on the big screen. Rather than it being about character or fame, he spoke to her about the reality of flying on wires during long shooting days. As he told it:

While superhero actors make flying look easy, the reality of actually filming these sequences is something else entirely. The wires and harnesses needed to take flight are notoriously uncomfortable, and it turns out that it covers actors in bruises as well. This might be a testament to how tight and safe the rigs are, but it doesn't make them any less painful. Suddenly I'm very glad to be firmly on the ground.

Luckily for DC fans, the wait for Supergirl is nearly over. Fans will be able to see Milly Alcock take flight when the movie hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. David Corenswet will also appear as Kal-El, so maybe they'll be able to take to the skies together.

Milly Alcock already has a solid level of notoriety, thanks to her work on House of the Dragon. However, the Australian actress’ public profile could soar to new heights, thanks to her 2026 movie schedule entry, Supergirl. The latest film in the DCU sees Alcock play Kara Zor-El (following her wild cameo in Superman). Alcock recently spoke about being terrified over the prospect of finding more fame after her solo superhero movie debut, and she discussed working with co-star Jason Momoa, who’s definitely no stranger to stardom.

I’d imagine that starring in a superhero-centric movie can be a double-edged sword. That’s because, while it’s likely satisfying when said film is successful, that buzz can also put additional attention on the actors involved. Stars who play comic book-birthed characters can gain particularly strong followings due to their roles (à la Robert Downey and Iron Man or Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman). Milly Alock recently spoke to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend and, after being asked if she was ready to be “idolized,” she said this:

I can understand the trepidation, as that’s a lot of pressure for a person to handle. And that’s just taking into account the more positive aspects of being in such a position. Unfortunately, there’s also considerable toxicity that can come with fandoms and, sadly enough, many female actors, in particular, are subjected to such negativity. Still, Alcock has a great outlook on dealing with toxic fandoms, and I’d like to think she’ll be prepared for any praise that comes her way following the release of her upcoming DC movie.

Thankfully, Momoa – who plays eccentric bounty hunter Lobo in the film – has been in Alcock’s shoes. In 2018, the Hawaiian actor found “baffling” new levels of fame after starring in Aquaman, which made over $1 billion at the worldwide box office. In the years since the film hit theaters, Momoa has discussed fame and how blessed he feels to have found it later in life due to having been able to be with his kids when they were younger.

The star enjoys his work, though and, per Alcock’s comments, he was a positive force on the Supergirl set. She explained:

Momoa was enthusiastic about taking on his previous DC role, but he seems downright thrilled to be playing the “Main Man.” Getting cast as Lobo was a longtime dream for the A-lister, and he seems to be making the most of it. He’s also addressed the notion of someone else playing Aquaman at some point, and he believes anything is possible on that front. There may come a time when someone else also plays Kara at some point in the future, but I’d wager that’s a ways off since Milly Alcock’s tenure is just getting started. Here’s hoping her stint as the Girl of Steel is marked with positivity and not too much stress from being looked up to by fans.

Supergirl opens in theaters on June 26, and those eager to see it can grab tickets now. Also, check out other DCU movie and TV installments by streaming them with an HBO Max subscription.

Summer is always a big time for blockbusters, and the 2026 movie calendar is certainly giving us a little bit of everything — we’ve got Star Wars, we’ve got a new Toy Story, and both the MCU and DCU will see representation. In fact, Supergirl is just the second feature in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, making the first reactions to the upcoming superhero movie especially important to fans. So what are people saying?

Last year’s Superman gave us a glimpse of the Man of Steel’s more jaded cousin Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), but now we’re moving far beyond that drunken cameo, and those who have caught an early screening have some pretty strong opinions about both Alcock as the titular antihero and Jason Momoa as Lobo. According to Drew Massey:

One X (Twitter) user says Milly Alcock proves she’s worthy of not just leading the DCU’s second movie but of carrying the future of the franchise. There are even aspects of Supergirl than this fan liked better than David Corenswet’s Superman:

Fay Watson of GamesRadar is one of many people getting Mad Max vibes from Supergirl, and she only wishes this kind of superhero flick would been available when she was a teenager. Watson says:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo disagrees that the upcoming DC movie is better than Superman, but he does concede that it’s the “perfect” follow-up, with stronger characters that drive the movie’s emotional stakes. In the critic’s words:

Erik Davis notes an aloofness to Milly Alcock’s Kara, which was reflected in her informal attire at the Supergirl premiere. Davis posts:

Early reactions really are heaping praise on Milly Alcock, while all signs point to Jason Momoa having a blast as Lobo. Chris Killian of ComicBook.com writes:

Junior Felix of That Hollywood Show also calls the actress “perfect” for the role, and his only complaint about Lobo is that there wasn’t enough of him. Felix writes:

Brandon Davis admittedly isn’t as high on the superhero flick as others, though Milly Alcock doesn’t seem to be the issue at hand. Davis explains:

It’s encouraging to see so many positive responses to Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa in Supergirl, and now I’m even more pumped to see what the reviews have to say when they come out next week. The movie hits theaters on Friday, June 26, so get ready to grab that Lobo popcorn bucket (if you can call it a bucket) and reserve that ticket.

There are very few things in life that cannot be improved by adding a top hat. Apparently, that includes someone as superhero-fit as former Superman Henry Cavill. Sure, I love seeing him suited up as the Man of Steel as much as the next DC fan, but come on. The actor is as dapper as it gets, and a top hat only helps the equation.

In an Instagram post, Cavill shared a photo of himself looking extra suave in a starched collar, tails and, yes, the aforementioned top hat. The look was not tied to any upcoming DC movies, or any 2026 movie releases at all, and was instead inspired by his day at Royal Ascot, which doubled as a plug for Longines, the watch brand he serves as an ambassador for. His caption read:

I mean, take a look at the image below. What can you say?

Instagram user Dr. Agustín L. Santos, PhD, pretty much nailed the collective reaction, writing in the comments, “Before this picture I was 100% straight. Now I have doubts.” Well said, Doctor. And he was not the only fan spiraling a little over Cavill’s top hat outing.

Fans Reacted To Henry Cavill’s Top Hat And Tails

As expected, the internet responded appropriately to the sight of the Man of Steel actor looking like he had wandered out of a Victorian romance novel with a gym membership and excellent bone structure. The comments section quickly turned into an appreciation post of the Witcher star, with fans saying:

• givehenrybettermovies: “Shows up mogging the entire world, looking like he owns three railroads half of Victorian England. Your fave could NEVER ✨”
• speedymama: “My son always says, ‘I'm straight, except for Henry Cavill.’ 😂”
• guilhermecapii: “I am so straight i can kiss cavil and not be gay”
• goran.impera: “Henry Cavill is the only right choice for James Bond”
• october_rain69: “The most British photo I ever saw”
• jennytreg: “Henry chill I’m at work”
• blacklung_x: “Bro never lost his prime🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥”
• stuarthughes24: “Very view to a kill vibe”
• saptorshi__ui: “Actor is so goated even mens also crushed by him”

Honestly, that about covers the temperature of the room. Some fans saw the next James Bond. Others simply saw the Argylle actor in a top hat and briefly lost access to normal thought.

I love revisiting Cavill’s time as Superman about as much as Zack Snyder does with all his shares, and fans can watch all of his DC films with an HBO Max subscription. But David Corenswet is now the Kryptonian hero and is set to reprise the role in Supergirl, which hits theaters June 26, followed by Man of Tomorrow on July 9, 2027.

That said, after seeing The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star in a top hat and tails, I’m dying to see him take on another big-screen action flick. For now, I’ll settle for catching him in Guy Ritchie’s most recent film, In The Grey, which is playing in select theaters and available at home on Video on Demand.

James Gunn knows comic book fans will inspect every inch of a new superhero movie for the slightest easter egg or "plot hole" or inaccuracy. That is part of the deal with a new DC film universe. Every costume choice, power detail and background prop becomes a debate. Luckily, he seems more than willing to answer the tiny questions with the exact kind of comic book logic that makes these worlds fun in the first place.

Recently, Gunn took to Threads to respond to a pair of fan questions about Kryptonian biology and superhero practicality, and both answers were delightfully comic book-y. One fan asked how Superman could shave if his skin is basically invulnerable, while another wondered how Supergirl, who is soon to headline her very own 2026 movie release, could have pierced ears if she is bulletproof. He did not treat either question like a problem. Instead, he leaned straight into the lore, replying:

This was in response to the fan who joked about Superman having a beard and shaving. Along with his response, the DC Studios co-head posted an old comic panel of Clark using his heat vision to burn away his facial hair, reflecting it off a piece of Kryptonian material.

Honestly, that is exactly the right answer and exactly the right energy. Of course, Superman shaves by bouncing laser eyes off alien metal. Why wouldn’t he? We are talking about a man who flies, wears a cape to work and gets his power from sunlight. At some point, asking for normal grooming rules feels pretty ridiculous.

The best part is that this is not even a new explanation. Comics have been solving these little practical problems for decades with wild confidence. Superman can’t shave with a normal razor? Fine, give him a Kryptonian mirror and eye lasers. Done. Next question.

If Supergirl Is Bulletproof, What’s With The Earings?

The Supergirl question needed a slightly different answer. A fan pointed to an image of Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El and asked how she could have ear piercings if her skin is bulletproof. Gunn explained in another Threads post that the answer had already been covered in her drunken Superman cameo. Here's what the filmmaker had to say:

That is a clean answer, and it does more than just shut down the piercing question. It also gives us a little extra texture for this version of Kara. She is not just a girl version of Clark Kent/Superman. She is her own character with her own distinct upbringing, and her relationship to power was different; apparently, there was a window when ear piercings were not a physics problem.

This Is The Kind Of Nerdy Specificity DC Needs

What I like about Gunn’s responses is that he is not swatting fans away but meeting them on their terms, with comic book precedent at his side. These questions are kind of goofy, sure, but they also come from people who are paying attention because they care deeply about the property and these characters. If fans are wondering how Kal-El shaves or how Supergirl got her ear piercings, it means they are already thinking of these characters as part of a functioning world.

Superhero franchises are usually at their best when the big emotional moments and the little quirky rules feel like they belong together. Stuff like being weak under red sunlight, using heat vision for shaving, and dealing with Kryptonian teenage issues aren't the main focus, but they add those fun details that make the world feel more real and lived in.

The former Guardians of the Galaxy franchise helmer has always been good at finding the sweet spot between absurdity and sincerity. His best comic book movie work understands that the genre can be deeply emotional and deeply ridiculous at the same time. These posts land in that same pocket.

The next DC entry in James Gunn’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters is Supergirl, landing in theaters on June 26. Be sure to check your local listings for showtimes and tickets. In the meantime, stream Superman and other DCU titles using an HBO Max subscription.

The superhero genre continues to dominate pop culture, and DC co-CEO James Gunn is bringing another upcoming DC movie to theaters with Craig Gillespie's Supergirl. Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order are hyped to see this new entry to the burgeoning shared universe, and for Milly Alcock to take center stage as Kara Zor-El. And the House of the Dragon star recently revealed an amazing connection her costume has to Christopher Reeve's Superman. Let's break it down.

After a quick cameo in James Gunn's Superman (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription), fans will get to know Kara much more in Supergirl. During an interview with Raiders of the Lost Podcast, Alcock revealed an awesome detail about her Supergirl suit. As she put it:

Well, my mind is blown. This is a truly epic way for Supergirl to pay homage to what came before, and Christopher Reeve's iconic tenure as Superman. Her suit already looks great thanks to its bright colors and connection to David Corenswet's Superman, but the fact that the cape is literally made from the same material as the one Reeve wore is incredible. And I have to assume it's going to please longtime fans who grew up with that original set of four movies.

Supergirl's first trailer showed Milly Alcock suited up, and she looks pretty incredible, cape and all. The fact that it's literally the same material used for Christopher Reeve's costume is an awesome bit of detail that pays homage to the franchise's history. And I can't wait to see how it looks when Gillespie's blockbuster gets its wide theatrical release.

Late actor Christopher Reeve made history bringing Superman to the big screen in live-action, and his movies are regularly re-watched to this day. He not only inhabited the title character's heroism and optimism, but was able to play Clark Kent through an incredible physical performance. Plus, he looked damn good in the suit and cape.

This is only the latest example of Reeve's Superman being invoked for new adaptations. Henry Cavill famously tried on Reeve's suit when testing for Man of Steel, and now the same cape fabric has been used for Supergirl. Clearly, the filmmakers behind these movies know their history and have respect for the OG.

Supergirl will hit theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see where Milly Alcock's character goes next, and if there are more homages to Christopher Reeve.

The superhero genre is showing no signs of slowing down, and the DC side of things have been going through major changes thanks to co-CEO James Gunn's new shared universe. While fans are looking forward to upcoming DC movies like Man of Tomorrow, Zack Snyder has been posting throwbacks from the DCEU, including lots of photos of Henry Cavill's Superman. The filmmaker recently put up another one, but some fans aren't happy in the comments.

Moviegoers who watched the DC movies in order saw as the former DCEU ended after Aquaman 2, making room for the newly formed DCU. We've been treated to a handful of projects from the DCU's first phase Gods and Monsters, but that hasn't stopped Snyder from looking back at his time directing for the studio. Case in point:

This a striking image of Henry Cavill's Superman, with the Man of Steel bathed in red light. And while there are plenty of folks in the comments section who still want DC to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse, there are also a number of comments criticizing the director for constantly putting out content like this on social media... especially as Man of Tomorrow is filming and Supergirl is about to hit theaters. You can see some of those responses below:

• Wait, every time there’s a DCU post about superman update or a picture posted by Gunn, you make another post to stir up attention 😂😂😂😂😂that’s so weird to notice - akarthedream
• Bro's coping with his own fans, move on bruh😭✌💔🥀 - eyeditz.ae
• Honestly, this is a bit rude with the cast of the new Superman production. It's like they're being put in the middle of an irrational dispute for something that was solved a couple of years ago. - juan_arrazola.96
• omg man you need to move on - anabtriizz
• This poster explains exactly why Snyder dosent understand Superman. - jackcadams

Zack Snyder has tons of loyal fans who were able to convince Warner Bros. to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League years ago. I've been reporting on the director's DCEU throwbacks for a while now, and this one is the first I've seen with so many people criticizing him. This might be a sign that audiences are invested in the new shared universe, and David Corenswet's version of Kal-El. Although the comments asking the studio to #RestoreTheSnderVerse are also present.

It should be interesting to see if these naysayers get louder on Snyder's social media as he inevitably releases more Superman throwbacks. He's made his love for Henry Cavill very clear, but there's a new actor playing the Last Son of Kypton. And it looks like David Corenswet has his supporters as well.

Corenswet will reprise his role in Supergirl, which hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Man of Tomorrow will then follow suit on July 9th 2027, with the actor once again takin center stage in his sequel.

Supergirl is set to soar into theaters in just a few weeks, marking yet another installment in the growing DCU. Of course, the film also signifies the first solo outing for Milly Alcock’s Kryptonian superheroine in this particular continuity. Alcock cameos as Kara Zor-El in Superman, and her brief scene quickly nails down how her personality differs from that of her more polished cousin, Kal-El. There are, of course, more factors that make the two powerful beings so different, and I love Alcock’s take on how Kara is a “contrast.”

During the closing moments of Superman, a drunken Kara darts into the Fortress of Solitude to pick up Krypto, who Kal-El has been watching for her. The scene is funny due to Kara’s nonchalant demeanor, but there’s an underlying reason for all that. Milly Alcock recently spoke with Empire Magazine about her upcoming DC movie and laid out the key components of Kara’s personality. After reading Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (which inspired the DC Studios flick), Alcock appreciated the character’s tragic backstory:

“Trauma” is indeed the key word here and, while it doesn’t define Kara, it is a big part of her and sets her apart from Kal. As laid out in Woman of Tomorrow, Kara witnesses Krypton’s destruction first hand and eventually seeks revenge for the loss of her entire family and civilization. Sure, Kara eventually proves to be a true hero but, unlike the instantly noble Clark, she’s initially driven by rage and personal anguish. I’m so glad Alcock seems to understand how important that part of Kara’s characterization is to her journey.

Director Craig Gillespie was also drawn to Kara’s tough exterior, as he explained to Empire. That honestly tracks for the man who helmed I, Tonya and Cruella, as those are both stories about layered women who’ve experienced their share of misfortune in life. Interestingly enough, Gillespie shouted out a beloved Marvel movie while explaining why he was so keen to take on his DC gig:

Based on the trailers for Supergirl, the eponymous character doesn’t exactly pull her punches as her famous relative would, which should make the story all the more interesting. The film will see Kara, with Krypto in tow, crossing paths with young Ruthye Marye Knoll and joining forces with her to take down the sadistic Krem of the Yellow Hills. Along the way, Kara will also rub shoulders with the eccentric, alien bounty hunter Lobo (played by a committed Jason Momoa).

Kara dwells in a corner of the DCU that’s a bit more precarious than that of David Corenswet’s Kal-El/Clark Kent, which is yet another difference between the two. Still, fans should remember that what aligns the pair is their shared pursuit of justice. I’m eager to see how Milly Alcock’s character takes her steps towards being a true do-gooder when Supergirl opens in theaters as part of the 2026 movie schedule on June 26. In the meantime, prepare yourself by streaming Superman with an HBO Max subscription.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, and moviegoers are definitely invested in upcoming DC movies, given how co-CEO James Gunn crafted a brand new shared universe. Superman was the first movie entry in that franchise, and its sequel Man of Tomorrow is already filming. Some photos from the set have started arriving online, and they confirmed a detail about David Corenswet's hero that I'm hyped for.

The first slate of DCU projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and Man of Tomorrow will be only the fourth movie installment in the burgeoning shared universe. Fans who have been watching the DC movies in order are invested, and set photos hitting Twitter have seemingly confirmed Superman will be wearing the same suit from his first movie in the forthcoming sequel. And personally I'm thrilled by this decision.

In the photos we can see David Corenswet suited up as Kal-El, doing some wire work as the Last Son of Krypton. While the quality of the Twitter footage isn't HD, he's pretty clearly waring the same suit that we saw in Superman.

It's common for superheroes to get new suits with each new movie, especially if the studio is also trying to sell toys and other types of merch. But it looks like Superman isn't going to change his look in Man of Tomorrow, making his third appearance in the same suit (including his appearance in Supergirl).

James Gunn shared the first Man of Tomorrow set photo back in April, so the cast and crew have already been working for months. And while he recently debuted Lex Luthor's Power Suit, the latest update is about what Kal-El will be wearing in the forthcoming blockbuster. And it looks like James Gunn is keeping it consistent with David Corenswet's Superman costume. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Not much is known about what Gunn and company have planned for Man of Tomorrow, but the filmmaker did tease that Superman and Lex Luthor will end up teaming up in order to vanquish a common enemy. That antagonist is the iconic villain Brainiac, who will seemingly be enough of a threat to Earth that these two former foes end up putting aside their differences.

All will be revealed when Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9th, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, fans are going to have to be patient while waiting for more information. In the meantime, Supergirl will arrive in theaters on June 26th.

Man of Tomorrow is officially filming, as the upcoming DCU Chapter 1 installment kicked off production in Atlanta this past April. Unsurprisingly, writer/director James Gunn has been keeping fans in the loop with occasional behind-the-scenes tidbits. The filmmaker’s latest tease is quite a doozy, though, as he revealed the first look at Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor in his power suit. My excitement over this first look is through the roof, and it can only be matched by the various fans who’ve since reacted to Gunn’s post.

Gunn showed off the sweet-looking costume by way of a post he shared to Instagram on Monday. The simple shot shows Hoult clad in Luthor’s classic green armor while standing on sand against a dimly lit background. Gunn shared this show “live from the set of Man of Tomorrow,” I have to say that this is a “fit check” I can certainly get behind. Check out the post for yourself and try to contain your excitement afterwards:

This live-action variation of Lex’s armor – most commonly known as a “warsuit” in the comics – looks pretty much as some would probably imagine. Nevertheless, that doesn’t in any way dim the hype I’m feeling for this aspect of the upcoming superhero movie. Clearly, I’m not alone as plenty of admirers took to the comments section to share thoughts of approval. Take a look at some of the glowing responses:

• I can’t stop smiling. 😍- heyitsjennalynn
• THE WAR SUIT! Nicholas looks incredible!🙌🏽🔥 - giselle_barajas1234
• Lex is looking 👌 - dcworld_
• The cosplayers (including me) will have a hard time paying for a suit like this 🥹 - n4traven
• This looks like it was literally ripped straight out of a comic, I feel like a kid on Christmas!! 😍❤️ - kaleightalty
• Wow. Now this is amazing. Can’t wait to see Lex flying around and fighting in his armor. 😍 - wondervaughn_1
• In James Gunn we trust 🙏🏾🥹🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 - dreallenmusic

Lex Luthor’s warsuit made its formal debut within the pages of Action Comics #544 in June 1983 and, over the years, Luthor has used the armor in an attempt to match Superman’s abilities in battle. I’ve enjoyed seeing various iterations of the suit over the years and, honestly, my first experience with it was the version worn by the DC Animated Universe’s Lex. That version greatly differs from that of the comics, from which the DCU outfit takes major inspiration. James Gunn and his production team’s apparent dedication to replicating the costume is definitely admirable and much appreciated.

Since Gunn’s Superman sequel was announced, plot details have locked up tighter than any trinket in the Fortress of Solitude. The information that has been revealed, though, suggests that the Man of Steel will have to team up with Luthor in order to take down the villainous Brainiac (played by Lars Eidinger). Gunn has also shared some details on Luthor’s future in this continuity, and what’s exciting is that it sounds like he’s keen on making him a layered character as opposed to just a mustache-twirling antagonist.

The notion of Nicolas Hoult’s Lex and David Corenswet’s Supes working together delights me to no end, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out on the big screen. And, with the reveal of the suit, it’s clear to see that Luthor will have some serious assistance whenever he comes across any kinds of threats. I want to go into this film as clean as possible, of course, though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want James Gunn to drop any additional cool BTS photos in the lead-up to the release next year.

Man of Tomorrow is set to open in theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, check out Supergirl, which opens this coming June 26, and stream Superman and other DCU titles using an HBO Max subscription.

Euphoria Season 3 has offered up more than a few surprises, and that’s saying a lot for a show that’s generally known for having wild twists and turns. Amid Rue’s dabbling in high-stakes drug dealing and Cassie’s OnlyFans journey, there have also been some surprising pop culture references. Earlier this season, fans were treated to a 90 Day Fiancé nod, but what’s even more surprising is that the latest episode includes Superman in a way. Since then, DC Studios’ James Gunn has even responded to the nod.

One of the newest additions to the Euphoria cast this year is the legendary Sharon Stone, who plays network exec Patty Lance. The seventh episode of the season, “Rain or Shine,” features a scene that takes place in Lance’s office that’s located on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot. And one particular shot of the office shows a large Superman standee in Lance’s workspace, which is modeled after David Corenswet’s version of the Man of Steel. Take a look at the sweet Easter egg for yourself:

Such an unexpected DCU reference is cool enough on its own, but Gunn’s response is definitely the icing on the cake. The co-CEO of DC Studios was prompted to weigh in after Threads user @princejdcu shared a photo of the scene and referred to the backdrop as Gunn’s real-life office space. Journalist Brandon Davis then chimed in, saying that the office actually belonged to co-CEO Peter Safran. After that Gunn weighed in with his funny comment:

Seriously, I never would’ve expected Euphoria to have a DC reference of any kind, yet it makes sense that the show would utilize Gunn and Safran’s office. The Sam Levinson-created drama series is produced by HBO Entertainment, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, so that would explain the crew’s ability to film on the studio lot. However, is it weird that I now want to know what Rue, Jules or Cassie think about Gunn’s critically acclaimed Superman film?

There’s, of course, a reason James Gunn is apparently “never” in his office, and that’s because he remains busy in the field. Even now, he’s currently overseeing filming on Man of Tomorrow, which is the follow-up to his Supes film. The upcoming superhero movie also represents another installment in DCU Chapter 1, which is moving right along. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but what seems certain is that the movie is poised to further kick this new continuity into high gear.

As for Euphoria, the show may or may not be reaching the end of its run, as it’s yet to be confirmed whether its third season will also be its final chapter. There are still those who seem to be holding out hope that Season 4 might still happen, though. More immediately, there’s only one episode left in this season and, whether or not, it closes out the series as a whole, I’m led to assume it’ll offer some big moments. I’m also curious as to whether or not that episode will nod to other pieces of pop culture, superhero-related or not.

Watch the season finale of Euphoria, which airs on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. The episode will also be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, and that membership also provides access to James Gunn’s Superman and more DC content.

Brandon Routh donning the cape in Superman Returns should have been a career rocket launch, making the actor a consistent presence on the new movie release schedule. When the movie came out, he was stepping into one of the most famous roles in pop culture, becoming the first big-screen Superman after Christopher Reeve, in a movie built to honor that legacy. Though I think there’s a lot to defend about the flick, becoming a hit wasn’t meant to be for Returns. Now, an interview where he opens up about the aftermath of his take on Big Blue is going viral, with the actor recalling that he wasn’t given what he thought he had “earned.”

A clip from Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, where Routh discussed what happened after Bryan Singer’s 2006 DC movie, is running around the interwebs again. The actor said he expected the role to lead to something much bigger, but the offers he thought would come never really arrived. He explained:

That is a pretty raw admission, especially knowing Superman Returns made nearly $400 million worldwide but still wasn’t enough to guarantee a sequel. Routh has previously said the chance to continue as Superman slowly fizzled over the next few years, leaving him stuck in a strange limbo. Eventually, the Snyderverse came along, and now we’re deep into James Gunn’s DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. We’ve even had a new Superman since Routh, which he’s seen and had an emotional response to.

The Legends of Tomorrow veteran has spoken before about how difficult that period was for him. It even led to him using World of Warcraft as a coping mechanism while he avoiding dealing with his feelings. He has also credited his wife, Courtney Ford, with helping him face what the end of that Superman chapter had done to him.

The roles Routh mentioned are interesting because none of them were the obvious “next Superman” move. Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Chuck let him be funny, odd and more relaxed than the Man of Steel role ever could. They also helped keep his career moving while he figured out what came next.

The Out of Order actor has also been honest about needing to get better at the craft and the business. He has said he had to surrender to the process after realizing he was not always doing the audition work he needed to do. That kind of self-awareness is not glamorous, but it is probably more useful than pretending the cape fixed everything.

Eventually, he did find his way back into the world of new superhero movies and TV shows through The CW’s Arrowverse, playing Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom. Later, he returned as Superman in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, a moment that felt like a course correction for fans who always thought he deserved more time in the role.

That is what makes Brandon Routh’s comments so compelling to me years later. His Superman story was not the clean Hollywood rise people might assume it would have been. It was confusing, painful and full of career detours. But he kept going, and in its own quiet way, that feels pretty Superman, too.

The DC Universe is still in its infancy, but it's been making plenty of headlines. Co-CEO James Gunn has been crafting a new shared universe, with the first slate of projects titled Gods and Monsters. Fans have countless questions about the upcoming DC movies, including the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. And Gunn might have just confirmed that a fan favorite character will be back in the forthcoming blockbuster.

Superman performed well in theaters, and is currently available ot stream with a HBO Max subscription. One of the movie's stranger characters was Mr. Handsome, a creature created by Lex Luthor that resided in his pocket universe. Gunn posted from the set over on Threads, and heavily implied that weird monster would be back for Man of Tomorrow. Check out the post for yourself below:

Well, this certainly hints at Lex Luthor's creation is going to be making an appearance in Man of Tomorrow. Either that or it's an insider joke about Mr. Handsome's scene-stealing appearance in the first Superman movie. But since the blockbuster will see Lex and Superman unite against a common enemy, there's certainly the option for this creature to end up popping up.

After Superman was released, James Gunn revealed Mr. Handsome's backstory online. Namely that Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor created him when he was just 12 years old, and despite the character's unsettling appearance Lex kept him around. What's more, he even had a photo of Mr. Handsome on his desk.

Throughout Superman, Mr. Handsome was mostly seen transporting Lex around his pocket dimension/prison. It's unclear what his fate was by the end of the blockbuster, but he's obviously a favorite of James Gunn. And since the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker is running the shared universe and directing Man of Tomorrow, it seems logical that he would return in the sequel.

Not much is known about what Gunn has up his sleeve for Man of Tomorrow, but it looks like Lex and Superman will unite to battle Brainiac when it hits theaters. Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order are excited to see how this partnership plays out, and how that movie moves the shared universe as a whole forward. There are countless questions about what's going to go down in the DCU, and which actors will play beloved figures from DC comics.

All will be revealed when Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9th, 2027. But first up is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

While there are plenty of comic book projects in the works, the DC side of things has been going through major changes. The former DCEU (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription) ended with Aquaman 2, and co-CEO James Gunn has crafted a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, with the debut movie being Superman. And Gunn recently responded after fans poked holes in the blockbuster's narrative.

Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order were invested when Superman hit theaters, and helped to kickstart a new shared universe. The movie's opening title cards claimed that David Corenswet's title character just "lost his first fight", but some fans thought that ignored how Idris Elba's Bloodsport shot Supes with a Kryptonite bullet prior to The Suicide Squad. James Gunn responded to this on Threads, posting:

Well, there you have it. The Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker isn't taking any guff from fans who thought that Superman either ignored or retconned The Suicide Squad. Because Bloodsport attempting an assassination on the Man of Steel doesn't count as a "fight" according to Gunn.

While I wasn't expecting Abraham Lincoln's name to be brought up in the director's argument, I totally get what he was saying. Superman didn't actually come to blows with Bloodsport, and was instead targeted and shot by the villain, who was famously played by Idris Elba in The Suicide Squad.

While Peacemaker Season 2 retconned Justice League and the DCEU, it sounds like Bloodsport's history with Kal-El is still canon. Otherwise, why would James Gunn have to clarify that the Superman opening narration wasn't incorrect? We'll just have to wait and see if Idris Elba gets to return to the shared universe and reprise his role from The Suicide Squad.

We're still very early into the DCU's life in theaters and on the small screen. The second movie is coming this summer with Supergirl, and fans are eager to see what crossovers are going to be coming down the line. Hopefully, that means some characters from The Suicide Squad come back... other than the ones that have already appeared on Peacemaker.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl, which will be released on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, both Superman and The Suicide Squad are streaming over on HBO Max.

Moviegoers who spent years watching the DC movies in order have watched as the former DCEU ended with Aquaman 2 (streaming with a HBO Max subscription), and co-CEO James Gunn crafted a new shared universe. But filmmaker Zack Snyder has been regularly posting throwbacks from the DCEU, with the latest includes a shirtless Henry Cavill. And fans are definitely sounding off in the comments section.

While we've gotten the first few titles from the slate of first projects titled Gods and Monsters, there are plenty of fans still looking back at the previous universe. Zack Snyder has been adding fuel to the fire by regularly posting images from the three movies he directed. Case in point: this latest photo, which appears to be a cut scene from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Check it out below:

Lois and Clark Kent were living together during Batman v Superman, and were shown being affectionate and even sharing a bath together. The above image shows the Man of Steel catching some z's without a shirt, as Amy Adams' character gently wakes him up. I guess Lois really is the key... to the hero waking up on time.

Snyder shared this image to his 728k followers on Instagram, a number that's constantly climbing as a result of his DCEU throwbacks. Folks sounded off in the comments, many of whom are still hoping he'll somehow manage to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse and produce his two planned Justice League sequels.

• My Clark and Lois ❤️❤️ - zacksnyderfans
• BRING BACK SUPERMAN - st5m3obxld
• Will we ever get this scene released publicly? - cx_pr3st01
• Restore the snyderverse. We will stop at nothing- pulidop48
• Move on Zack! - kevportilla95

Of course, the latter of these comments is telling a very different story. That commenter told Zack Snyder to "move on" from his tenure making DC blockbusters. After all, Justice League's theatrical cut was released back in 2017, while the Snyder Cut finally got its turn in 2021. Aside from reshoots for Zack Snyder's Justice League, it's been a long time since he was actually behind the camera for DC. And that commenter seems to think it's time for both Snyder and his fans to give it up.

Some folks were not happy with this sentiment, and the responses included clap backs and even some middle fingers emojis. Zack Snyder's fans have proven themselves to be super loyal, so this should be expected. Still, it's a sentiment that some moviegoers have had about the movement.

While there's been no indication that the SnyderVerse will ever be restored, smart money says the discourse is going to continue... especially with the director fanning the flames with throwbacks.

Both the DCEU and DC are streaming over on HBO Max. The next upcoming DC movie heading to theater is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Fans have been anticipating Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to 2025’s Superman and one of the upcoming titles in DCU Chapter One. The past few weeks alone have seen a slew of updates drop in the lead-up to the start of production. Well, writer/director James Gunn officially confirmed that the cameras are now rolling on the upcoming superhero movie. And, even with this brief shot, fans are under the impression that a great moment from the comics is going to be recreated.

What Did James Gunn Share From The Man Of Tomorrow Set?

Gunn took to his Instagram on Monday to share the set photo, which seems relatively straightforward (on the surface). The image shows a chessboard laid out on a metal table along with a bag of chips and an additional item, which seems to have the Superman insignia overlaid with Brainiac’s. Also on the table is a pass from the fictional VanKull Department of Corrections, which is marked for Alexander “Lex” Luthor.” Check out the photo:

At the end of Superman, Lex was arrested and sent to Belle Reve Correctional Center, and his fall from grace was further shown on Peacemaker Season 2. That DCU show, however, also showed Luthor making a deal with Rick Flag Sr., which involved the corporate magnate securing a transfer to VanKull. So this new set photo seemingly indicates that fans will get to see a bit more of Lex while he remains incarcerated, which makes sense.

The comments section of the post suggests that fans are already hyped about what’s to come. Some have also picked up on something that strikes me as well, and those who’ve read a certain 2021 comic may be pleased if this assumption pans out.

The DCU May Be Putting A Spin On A Moment From The Comics

Lex Luthor has long played mind games with the Man of Steel, but there was an instance in which he literally attempted to play a game with him. In a portion of 2021’s Superman: Son of Kal-El Annual #1, Superman visits Luthor in prison in an attempt to retrieve some information. Lex mostly deflects but also asks his longtime adversary if he’d consider sitting down for a game of chess. Supes begrudgingly sits down to play, and Luthor eventually criticizes his first move, which is to move a knight forward.

The Kryptonian hero eventually poses the hypothetical question of what he and Lex could accomplish if they worked together, with Luthor even admitting he’s had the same thought. Shortly after, the game is interrupted by the warden, and Superman steps out without finishing the game, which angers Lex. Overall, adding a scene like this to MoT just seems so obvious, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a variation of it is included. From a narrative standpoint, it would also make sense.

Gunn previously teased that Man of Tomorrow would see David Corenswet’s Supes and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex team up to stop a common enemy. That foe has since been revealed to be Brainiac, who’s being played by Lars Eidinger. With all of that in mind, the notion of a scene in which Luthor and The Last Son of Krypton ponder the merits of working together while playing chess would track with the story.

Of course, all of this is just speculation on my part right now, but I’m hopeful that we’ll see Superman and Lex Luthor play chess at some point in the film. For now, keep in mind that Man of Tomorrow is set to soar into theaters on July 9, 2027. Those who want to catch up on the DCU movie and TV entries that have already been released can stream them with an HBO Max subscription.

Thankfully, James Gunn didn’t let this year’s Superman Day celebrations go by without dropping a seemingly huge reveal for the upcoming DC blockbuster Man of Tomorrow, in the form of previously unreleased casting news. Or, to be more specific, the filmmaker shared a behind-the-scenes pic from the sequel with an awesome actor whose presence has been a secret until now, and it marks a reunion for Gunn.

The Superman director took to Instagram to share a post with trainer Paolo Mascitti, editor Fred Raskin, Sydney Happersen portrayer Stephen Blackehart, and the current man of the hour: The Wire and Empire vet Andre Royo! I can only hope the latter gets to rock the same hairstyle he’s displaying in the post below.

As James Gunn alluded to, it's been 15 years since the last time he worked with Andre Royo, who'd portrayed the buddy and diner cohort to Rainn Wilson's Frank in 2011's darkly comedic superhero movie Super. I'm thinking the actor and filmmaker's latest collab will give the actor a bigger stake in this film's plot.

Interestingly enough, one of Royo's most recent roles has been within the grander DC universe. He voiced the villainous Arnold Wesker, a.k.a. Toyman, for the podcast audio drama Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind, which boasted Christina Ricci and Billy Magnussen as the titular baddies.

Though Gunn didn't unleash a slew of details about who Royo will be playing, I have a couple of ideas for who the Truth Be Told co-star could be portraying in the next chapter of the Kryptonian hero's DCU saga. And it should surprise no one that both guesses come directly from the comic books.

Could Andre Royo Be Playing Metropolis Gangster Bruno Mannheim?

The basic Who vs. Who set-up for Man of Tomorrow has long been locked in place, as the movie will see David Corenswet's Superman and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor more or less joining forces to stave off the devastating threat of Lars Eidinger's take on the classic villain Brainiac. But what's a modern comic book movie follow-up without at least 17 villains making appearances?

To that end, I think it would be excellence, and not so illogical, for Andre Royo to join the DCU as high-powered orginized crime boss Bruno Mannheim, who is often depicted as the head of the underground syndicate Intergang. Though that group has ties to the New Gods and other characters who haven't been tapped for live-action debuts just yet, I think it'd be easy enough to bring Bruno into the fold without immediately needing to deliver an exhaustive backstory for his rise up Metropolis' criminal power rankings.

Within the comics, Bruno and his crew are often at odds with both Superman and Lex Luthor (as well as other Metropolis baddies), so if Royo is indeed playing that role in Man of Tomorrow, I'd be interested to see which side he'd align himself with. I guess if Brainiac is intending to destroy everything, there wouldn't be much of a criminal enterprise for Bruno to maintain control of.

Though Bruno, his father Moxie and others in the Mannheim family were originally depicted as white characters, Superman & Lois set a new precedent for live-action by having The Walking Dead vet Chad Coleman bring his intimidating presence to the role.

I'd Love If Andre Royo Portrayed A Version Of The Villainous Milton Fine

Given Brainiac's introduction in Man of Tomorrow, I can only assume that James Gunn will bring in more characters from the villain's mythos than just the alien himself. There's a whole lot to pick from, too, and I think it'd be awesome to bring Andre Royo into this universe to portray the technological brilliance of Milton Fine.

Different iterations of Fine exist, from a metahuman circus mesmerist to history prof to computer engineer, with the central hook that he is telepathically linked to Brainiac, who takes over the human to use as a mouthpiece and more. That could also be the smartest way to bring the alien threat into this story.

Given the presence of Stephen Blackehart in Gunn's pic, it's feasible that his character shares the screen with Royo's, and I could fully buy into Lex Luthor hiring Milton Fine to help with his anti-Superman agendas, only to later realize that his new hire is secretly a telepathic mole for Brianiac.

Royo could easily play an off-kilter scientist or technology fanatacist who gets psychically manipulated by otherworldly threats. Or really, any other character that Gunn trusts him with. So even if my two theores are completely off-base, I still can't wait to see how he joins the story.

This revealing post comes days after the news dropped that Man of Tomorrow added Adria Arjona to the cast, with that news previously having been "debunked" by Gunn. It's still unclear exactly who she'll be playing, though the main two options seem to be Maxima and Wonder Woman.

Fans can also expect to see Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. in the mix to follow up on his Peacemaker arc, as well as an appearance from Lanterns star Aaron Pierre as Green Lantern John Stewart. Other returning stars include Rachel Brosnahan, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Isabela Merced, and Maria Gabriella de Faria.

With filming set to kick off in earnest over the next week, Man of Tomorrow is set to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.

Man of Tomorrow – one of the upcoming films of DCU Chapter 1 – is set to start filming soon and, with that, casting news has been breaking as of late. Just days ago, it was also reported that writer and director James Gunn was screen-testing actresses for the role of Maxima. Ella Purnell, Marisa Abela and Adria Arjona were said to be in contention for the part, but Gunn refuted the report. However, there’s been a new development that seemingly counteracts Gunn’s claim, so what’s really going on here?

It’s been reported that Adria Arjona is officially joining the cast of Man of Tomorrow. That news comes by way of The Hollywood Reporter, and the trade claimed that Arjona was a finalist alongside fellow actresses Sydney Chandler, Eva De Dominici and Grace Van Patten. What’s interesting, though, is that the outlet doesn’t confirm whether or not Arjona is actually playing the role of Maxima. For now, her part is being referred to as a mystery role, which sparks plenty of questions.

Last week, after the initial Maxima report dropped, Gunn took to social media and said the details were inaccurate. The filmmaker (who was also named co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022) asserted that he had never met either Purnell or Abela. There is an aspect of that post that’s interesting in hindsight, though. Gunn confirmed that he had long been friends with Arjona, as he cast her in 2017’s The Belko Experiment. What the filmmaker didn’t do, however, was directly deny the notion of Arjona testing for a role.

Quite frankly, it’s difficult to sort out what exactly is going on here. In regard to James Gunn’s initial comments, maybe that was a case of semantics, and he was just being extra cautious with his words. Gunn does, after all, have experience with keeping details about major projects under wraps. The Guardians of the Galaxy helmer is known for being quite active on social media, and I’m curious as to whether he’ll address this latest piece of news head on.

There’s also still the matter of who Adria Arjona might be playing. It’s certainly possible that she’s portraying Maxima, an extraterrestrial conqueror introduced in the pages of DC Comics back in 1989. Coincidentally, though, there’s also been DCU-related speculation swirling around Arjona as of late. Many have been speculating that she could be a prime candidate for the role of Wonder Woman, though that’s been far from confirmed. Regardless, it seems she’ll be entering a superhero franchise in some form or another.

It’s looking relatively certain that Man of Tomorrow will have a major ensemble cast just like its predecessor, 2025’s Superman. David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult and more actors from that initial movie are expected to return for MoT. Also joining the fray this time around will be Lars Eidinger, who’s been cast in the role of Brainiac. The film will also include Aaron Pierre, who will reprise his role as Green Lantern John Stewart following his debut in the Lanterns TV show.

Story details on James Gunn’s upcoming superhero movie are slim, though it’s been teased that the Man of Steel will have to team up with Luthor to take down the technological threat that is Brainiac. If Maxima is indeed in the film, I’d be curious to see how she figures into the narrative. And, even if the character doesn’t appear, I’m eager to see what role the talented Adria Arjona ends up playing nonetheless.

Man of Tomorrow is set to soar into theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, check out Superman and other DCU offerings using an HBO Max subscription.

Despite not being one of the impending 2026 movie releases, James Gunn’s upcoming DCU movie Man of Tomorrow may already become one of the most talked about movies of this year, as it’s set to kick off rehearsals and filming in the next month. Fans are eager to see David Corenswet’s Superman teaming up with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor (especially with the latter in his comic-specific duds) to take on the sequel’s big bad, Brainiac, and we’re also hungry for info about any other new characters joining the DCU.

To that end, a new report from Deadline surfaced that claimed a trio of popular and talented actresses were being tested to potentially take on the role of comic book character Maxima: Fallout star Ella Purnell, Industry’s Marisa Abela, and Andor’s Adria Arjona. But before anyone could really start thinking about those prospects, James Gunn took to Threads to completely debunk the rumored actresses, prefacing it by saying that he’d always previously put faith in the outlet’s reporting as being well-handled. In his words:

If there was even an iota of legitimacy behind this trio being lined up as possible Maxima portrayers, Gunn likely wouldn't have responded to the news at all, or his post might have been more measured and playful with the wording. In this instance, however, the director seems genuinely perturbed that these rumors were publicized in such a way.

I can see how it might be easy to believe Adria Arjona would be a Man of Tomorrow candidate, since Gunn himself mentioned their team-up for 2016's The Belko Experiment, which he wrote and produced. Plus, she’s also set to co-star in another comic book adaptation, Prime Video’s upcoming series Criminal. But no dice on Man of Tomorrow, it seems. At least not for the role of Maxima.

This definitely isn’t the first time James Gunn has shot down DCU casting rumors, and it could almost amount to a part time job for him at this point. He’s previously debunked rumors that GotG’s Dave Bautista was playing Brainiac, though I don’t think he spoke out against the reports claiming Lanterns star Aaron Pierre is in the sequel. Which doesn’t make the Pierre tidbit automatically true or anything. But it does seem less far-fetched.

I Wish James Gunn Actually Would Cast One Of These Rumored Actresses Now

James Gunn casts who he wants for his projects, with one caveat for the DCU being that superhero-sized budgets are easier to manage with stars who haven't quite broken through to the A-list just yet, which is part of why the lesser-known Corenswet landed the Man of Steel role. Which is all to say, no one is ever going to tell Gunn who to cast, least of all noisy fans on social media.

But here's the thing. A lot of the false casting rumors for Man of Tomorrow and other DCU projects involve excellent actors who would presumably be great within this fantastical universe, and I've wondered in the past if simply being named in those rumors makes it more likely that Gunn will never cast them in roles. Even if it's not a fully conscious decision, his annoyance for unverified reports could feasibly be a factor.

Since that's something I'll never actually know for sure, I'll simply voice my wish for the Superman director to now put some consideration into working with Adria Arjona, Ella Purnell and Marisa Abela for Man of Tomorrow or another superhero project. Just because they won't be playing Maxima doesn't mean they might not be good for other comic book heroes and villain.

Ella Purnell's Sweet Pea character seems like she could have stepped right out of a James Gunn-written narrative, so she'd be my first choice for one of his next efforts.

Hopefully Gunn will also share some verified casting announcements for Man of Tomorrow in the near future as fans await its eventual release date of July 9, 2027.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, and DC co-CEO James Gunn has been methodically crafting a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is called Gods and Monsters, and includes both movies and streaming projects that are available with a HBO Max subscription. The next upcoming DC movie is Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, and while I think the movie looks great, I need the DC Universe to get off of Krypto's tail.

The full trailer for Supergirl recently dropped, and offered a look at the cosmic adventure Milly Alcock's title character will go on. The footage revealed that Krypto will be poisoned by the villainous Brigands, with Kara given just three days to find the antidote. The movie looks good, but I need the DCU to stop putting Krypto in danger moving forward.

Both Superman and Supergirl put Krypto in danger, and I'm ready to throw hands.

Fans who are watching the DC movies in order will recall that Krypto was actually put in a ton of danger in James Gunn's Superman as well. The pooch was kidnapped by Lex Luthor and imprisoned in his pocket universe, causing David Corenswet's Man of Steel to rage out a bit on the bald villain. While Krypto was able to be rescued, the fact that he's already back in danger as the main macguffin in Supergirl makes me feel bad for the little guy.

Narratively it makes sense that Krypto would be used to move the plot along for both Superman and Supergirl. Those two heroes don't have that many loved ones, and the superpowered dog is an innocent that they'd both throw hands for. But I'm hoping he manages to survive Milly Alcock's movie, and is left out of danger moving forward. Doesn't he deserve a break?

Krypto was based off James Gunn's own dog, which is why he was so mischievous throughout Superman's runtime. But he's actually Supergirl's dog, and their relationship is expected to be much deeper in the forthcoming blockbuster. As a reminder, you can re-watch the full trailer for Craig Gillespie's movie below.

Supergirl's cameo in Superman was meant to show just how king David Corenswet's character is; Krypto isn't even his dog but he was willing to lay down his life for him. But the dog means much more to Kara; he's all the family and memories of Krypton that she has. So the stakes are especially high.

All will be revealed when Supergirl hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that Krypto gets a break sooner rather than later.

The global success of James Gunn’s Superman put much attention on the impending sequel’s big villain, and fans went berserk when the director revealed the much-rumored Brainiac is indeed the threat that brings Supes and arch-enemy Lex Luthor together in Man of Tomorrow. German actor Lars Eidinger was cast for the role in December, but updates have been all but absent since.

Now, Eidinger has opened up about what sounds like a hectic and stressful audition process for the upcoming superhero movie for an interview with Kevin Kühnert for the program Don’t Misunderstand Me! (or Missverstehen Sie mich richtig! as it’s known in Germany). During that talk, he revealed a few details about what fans can expect, as well as how much effort he put into the possibly the highest-profile casting audition of his career thus far.

1. Eidinger's Audition Required 2 Hours In Makeup And A "Mask"

Ahead of turning 50 in January, Lars Eidinger was not expecting his life and career to take a shared 180 spin into the mainstream, but he says that all changed once James Gunn noted his interest in Man of Tomorrow and asked for a self-taped audition. The actor admitted he recorded the attempt no less than 15 times before he finally felt his free-flowing attempt was worthy of submitting. Spoilers: his patience paid off.

At that point, Gunn & Co. wanted to meet with their potential new star for an in-person callback, which led him to DC’s Atlanta studios, where he was immediately treated to a full-body 3D scan. (Though not before watching 2025's Superman on the flight over.) Saying he was legitimately confused at that point as to whether the extra efforts meant he'd already been cast or not, he also shared:

That's quite the interesting word to use there: mask. Especially if said mask was applied after so much makeup work was already in the mix. I won't jump to any immediate conclusions here, since there are several things he could have meant by that. Most versions of Brainiac feature unique and numerous elements on his face and head, so it'd make sense for the prop team to have a version of that aesthetic ready to go for exactly these audition purposes.

Perhaps facial applications will be handled spontaneously each day of filming, but I have to imagine he'll be fitted with a prefabricated headpiece to account for whichever specific look the movie will lean into. Not to mention whatever CGI flourishes also enter into it.

2. DC Already Made Sure To Keep This Brainiac Look A Secret

The info that fans are hungriest for about comic book movies tends to be the designs and looks of the previously two-dimensional characters, and that's certainly the case here. Plus, artists rarely stick with one Brainiac look for very long, which makes his big-screen debut all the more exciting. (The Absolute Superman approach, which James Gunn is keen on, is on a whole other disturbing level.)

Lars Eidinger, in addressing his audition-related confusion, spoke on the all-around lack of other people in the area. In his words:

I have no idea how many people would normally be walking around this studio on any given day, to be sure. And I also have no idea how many other actors were brought in to go through everything that Eidinger did. But it seems like there was intention behind making sure the actor was walking around without the chance for a bystander to see him and identify him, especially after he was sporting the Brainiac mask. The studio heads likely kept the on-hand crew list as limited as possible, on top of making sure his look was completely hidden as he went to and from his vehicle.

3. Lars Eidinger Will Be There For The Entire Shoot, So Expect A Lot Of Brainiac

For the five days after his offbeat audition, the White Noise co-star said he remained sure that he would get a call from his agent saying Gunn & Co. would be going with another actor. Instead, it was James Gunn himself who reached out to Eidinger and confirmed his inclusion in Man of Tomorrow.

When asked about how many days he expected to be filming, Eidinger shared:

Not that anyone should have expected the actor playing the main villain of Man of Tomorrow to only be around the set for half of it. But given the character's alien and occasionally AI-related nature, it's certainly plausible that Brainiac will exist as a threat throughout the sequel without constantly needing to be there in full physical form. But hopefully this means we'll get as much of the villain as fans have been hoping for.

Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters on July 9, 2027.

Warning! Warning! Warning! There Are Spoilers Ahead for Project Hail Mary!

There was a clear divide in the theater when I saw Project Hail Mary, the latest blockbuster on the 2026 movie schedule. Some were old enough to have watched 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and 1978’s Superman on VHS over and over as a kid, and those who weren't. How do I know that? By how people laughed at a couple of jokes in the Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi flick. That first joke, especially. Here’s why it was obvious.

The Close Encounters Joke

Star Wars may have been the biggest hit in science fiction in 1977 (and of all time), but Close Encounters of the Third Kind, directed by Steven Spielberg, wasn’t all that far behind, finishing, appropriately, third in the year-end box office numbers (Smokey and the Bandit was between the two). It hasn’t been the most enduring of Spielberg’s movies over the years, but that’s what makes the joke in Project Hail Mary so funny–and why the smattering of Gen-Xers around the theater all laughed, while others seemed to have the joke go over their head (and I don’t mean that as an insult).

The most famous moments in Close Encounters of the Third Kind come when the invading aliens first play a five-note phrase of music (written, of course, by John Williams), and later, when humans figure out that they are trying to communicate with those tones. In Project Hail Mary, Grace (Gosling) attempts to do the same with Rocky, humming those famous notes for him as they learn to communicate with each other through the glass. It’s a fleeting joke, but one that really resonates with anyone who loves Close Encounters.

The Superman Joke

Later in the movie, which fans have been loving, Grace and Rocky build a habitat using panes of glass. As they are building it, Grace picks up a pane and smushes his face against it, and says that he feels like he’s in “the Phantom Zone.” Now, this is a joke that you don’t need to be steeped in Gen X culture to get. 1978’s Superman (and its sequel) is still wildly popular among people of all ages, and while James Gunn and David Corenswet re-invented Big Blue in their excellent version last summer, for many, Christopher Reeve will always be the GOAT.

The joke, of course, refers to the opening scene of Superman when General Zod, Ursa, and Non are condemned to the Phantom Zone. The criminals are confined in a floating glass prison that traverses the universe, with their screaming faces smushed against the glass, until they are freed by a nuclear explosion near Earth at the beginning of Superman II. Grace doesn’t have to dig as deep into late-’70s culture for this one, but it resonates the same way.

Drew Goddard, who wrote the script for the book-to-screen adaptation, was born in 1975, as were directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Andy Weir, who wrote the book Project Hail Mary, was born in ‘72. All from Generation X. It’s easy to see how these two jokes made it into the movie, and why Gen-Xers like me were delighted to see them.

Smallville has long been a beloved DCTV property, and that remains the case more than a decade after the show completed its 10-season run. That enduring popularity has been so palpable that there are those who’ve been eager to see a continuation series of sorts. A revival has indeed been discussed in some form or fashion and, as a longtime fan, I’d be down to see that come to fruition. Now, I feel even more passionate about now being the time for such a show after hearing some recent comments shared by Justin Hartley.

Why Should A Smallville Revival Happen Now?

The superhero media landscape has obviously become so much more vast since The WB/CW’s Superman prequel series flew onto the small screen in 2001. It was a novelty at the time and ironically went on to create the spark that led to the inception of the Arrowverse. Now, even that latter franchise is done, and that’s in great part due to the rise of the DCU continuity. DC Studios co-presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran are cooking up some cool stuff, but I’d really love for the pair to bring back Smallville.

There’s an endearing quality to the property, which certainly has moments of action and suspense, but also places a heavy emphasis on the characters. Speaking of which, the cast is downright impeccable, as I still consider Tom Welling an excellent Clark Kent. Michael Rosenbaum also crushes the role of Lex Luthor, and I could imagine him sliding back into it. Also, I have to mention the talents of cast members like Erica Durance (Lois Lane), Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang) and Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen), who I’d love to see back in the fold.

Quite frankly, a revival project wouldn’t even necessarily need to be a show, as a TV movie could work as well. By the time an older Clark appears during the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, he’s given up his powers for unknown reasons. A movie could focus on that story, which could essentially be his final fight as Superman. Whatever the case, I’d love to see more from this specific continuity, and I’m encouraged after hearing Hartley share his thoughts on suiting up again.

How Would Justin Hartley Feel About Playing Green Arrow Again?

Since hanging up Oliver Queen’s bow and arrow in 2011, Justin Hartley has seen a considerable amount of success. He starred on the hit NBC drama This is Us and, right now, he’s headlining the CBS drama series Tracker. Hartley recently appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show to discuss his latest show, and the host brought up Smallville. She then asked if Hartley would be open to playing another hero, and he not only explained (in the YouTube clip) that he would play Green Arrow again, but he also explained why he’d like to return:

What I think would be really cool though, now that I'm older, I have different life experiences and I would approach it differently and I think it would be a different story. I'd like to jump back into that Green Arrow suit…. Maybe not that exact suit but something a little hipper.

Hartley has spoken fondly about working on Smallville and, on that note, he’s shared positive thoughts on his experience playing Green Arrow. Considering how Hartley has changed in the time since he last wore that jade outfit, I’d love to see him get another crack at it in some way. (And, yes, I’d agree that his superhero suit could use an upgrade.) Of course, if a sequel show were to happen, it would probably have to occur after Tracker is done (barring any kind of master scheduling). Or maybe Hartley could just recur on that theoretical show. Whatever the case, since the Smallville cast is getting older, the revival would need to happen sooner rather than later.

On that note, Welling and Rosenbaum have been trying to pitch an animated sequel series, though their efforts have seemingly stalled due to the changing of the guard at Warner Bros. (which is also now set to be acquired by Paramount Skydance). So a new Smallville show may be only a dream right now but, for the time being, I’m holding onto hope that it’ll happen. For now, fans can check out all 10 seasons of the original show with a Hulu subscription.

It was just over a week ago that the first trailer for the new HBO series Lanterns arrived online, and while the preview didn't exactly make a big deal out of the show's ties to the larger DC Universe, we now have casting news that is providing that service. James Gunn's Man Of Tomorrow, the direct sequel to his 2025 Superman blockbuster, is now getting deep into pre-production, and today we have word that the film will include Aaron Pierre's John Stewart a.k.a. Green Lantern as part of its ensemble.

This update comes to us via THR, though the trade doesn't have any details regarding the size of his role in the plot (which is certainly not a surprise at this stage in the game). He is the second newcomer to join the anticipated feature, as we learned late last year that German actor Lars Eidinger has been cast as the villainous Brainiac. Man Of Tomorrow will see David Corenswet return to the role of Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman along with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Maria Gabriella de Faria as The Engineer.

This is an interesting development for the Green Lantern Corps of the DC Universe, as you'll notice that one name not included in the Man of Tomorrow cast yet is Nathan Fillion, who memorably played Guy Gardner in Superman. Fillion reprised his role in the first episode of Peacemaker Season 2, but he was noticeably absent from the aforementioned Lanterns trailer, which features a scene in which Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan makes mention of the fact that he has never met another human Green Lantern. The relationship between Gardner and his fellow emerald knights hasn't been made clear yet and will be a development to keep an eye on

Likewise, it will be interesting to see what this casting ultimately means for the density of DC Studio's continuity. Does Aaron Pierre's presence in Man Of Tomorrow mean that there is going to be any kind of direct link between the stories in Lanterns and the 2027 film? Are people going to need to watch the former to be fully up to speed and ready to watch the latter? Right now, we have far more questions than answers.

Man of Tomorrow is presently in pre-production and getting ready to get cameras rolling next month, so it's very likely that we will be getting a bunch of updates about the project in the coming weeks,which will also hopefully mean getting further clarity about what we can expect from the film. The blockbuster has been given a July 9, 2027 release date – making it the fourth DCU movie following Superman and the upcoming DC titles Supergirl (June 26) and Clayface (October 23). Lanterns, meanwhile, will debut sometime in August on HBO, and it will likely earn some extra attention now that we know one of its leads is set up for a significant part in the future of the canon.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, with a number of shared universes currently competing at the box office. Folks who spent years watching the DC movies in order will recall how the previous DCEU began with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (streaming with a HBO Max subscription). But we've already been treated to a new Clark Kent in the DCU, thanks to Gunn's Superman movie. And now Snyder has shared his thoughts on that project, and what the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker does right.

Superman hit theaters back in July, and was the debut movie project from the DCU's first slate of titles, called Gods and Monsters. That blockbuster had a much different feel than Man of Steel, and during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Snyder offered his take on what Gunn brings to the Last Son of Krypton. As he put it:

Not only has Zack Snyder seen Superman, but it seems like he's already looking forward to its sequel Man of Tomorrow. That upcoming DC movie is already in active development, and will find David Corenswet's Kal-El and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor united against a common enemy: Brainiac. And I can't wait to see what Snyder thinks about that blockbuster after its release.

While Snyder is known for bringing gritty DC stories to life with muted colors, James Gunn had a very different vision for Superman. The movie had plenty of comedy, bright colors, and focused on the character's hopeful nature. Later in that same podcast, the 300 director praised what Gunn brings to the table. In his words:

He's not wrong. James Gunn's work on both the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) and The Suicide Squad showed how well his unique director's vision translates to the big screen. While there's plenty of cool action and comedic beats, there's always a very human story at the heart of it. And as Snyder says, that's what makes him a great "steward" of the genre.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Zack Snyder, he's attached to a number of upcoming movies, albeit none of them being superhero projects.

These days, the future is looking bright for fans of DC Comics with all the upcoming DC movies on the way. From this summer’s Supergirl to 2027’s Superman follow-up, Man Of Tomorrow, there's a lot to be excited about. Still, it’s hard to forget what could have been with Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe continuity. To that point, Snyder recently talked about what he had in mind for his Man of Steel sequel.

In honor of the tenth anniversary of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder talked about his plans for Man of Steel 2 on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. When asked if he thought about giving Henry Cavill’s Superman a sequel before landing on the team-up film with Batman and Wonder Woman, Snyder said this:

Now, funny enough, James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow is set to include Brainiac, and German actor Lars Eidinger was cast to play the famed DC villain back in December. But, obviously, Snyder’s take would have been much different and, now, I'm so curious about what that would have looked like. During his recent interview, Snyder also said this in regard to how he viewed his DC story:

As Snyder explained, when he and Warner Bros. landed on doing a team-up film rather than Man of Steel 2, he didn’t necessarily think of it as straying away from a sequel for Superman. He felt like Batman v. Superman was a Superman film as much as his initial idea was going to be, and the character was always central to the universe to him. While the age of the "Snyderverse" may be over, the filmmaker said fans should “never forget” that they helped release the Snyder Cut of Justice League.

While fans will surely continue to wonder what a solo Man of Steel follow-up might've looked like, it sounds like what came next in the Snyderverse ended up being exactly what Snyder felt like the right next move was for his universe. Bu, did the filmmaker feel any pressure to build up a universe to compete with the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Snyder said Warner Bros was “very excited about Dawn of Justice” being on the Batman v. Superman title, whereas he didn’t “really need it” tacked on to the film.

Back in 2022, there was talk of Man of Steel 2 being developed before getting shelved due to execs handing the keys to James Gunn and Peter Safran. While Snyder's film isn't coming to fruition, at the very least, fans will get to see Superman do battle with Brainiac -- with Lex Luthor even assisting him -- in a movie, which is an exciting prospect. Man of Tomorrow is currently expected to hit theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, read up on other projects announced for DCU Chapter One.

In the five months since James Gunn revealed the title and early plans for his Superman sequel, fans have been treated to a steady stream of updates from the director, even if many are the updates are just to point out rumors that are off-base, or to justify why he hasn’t cast the DCU’s Batman yet. (Not exactly a Man of Tomorrow update, but still.) Now, Gunn has shined a bit of light on what influenced his take on the sequel’s villain Brainiac.

Since the point when Brainiac was fully confirmed and Lars Eidinger was cast to play him (even before that, really), the rumor mill was maxed out with fan-suggested comic book storylines that James Gunn would supposedly be using in the upcoming superhero movie. So when one fan asked him directly on Threads about whether a particular arc was a direct inspiration, the director decided to personally weigh in with some clarification.

Specifically the follower wondered whether the 1992 crossover event “Panic in the Sky” served as a lead-in inspiration to Man of Tomorrow, given that the story revolves around Brainiac and includes the rumored-for-live-action Maxima, not to mention it being Superman’s first chance in the post-Crisis continuity to head up a bigger group of heroes. While complimentary about the story in general, Gunn pointed out that his live-action Brainiac isn’t based on any one specific iteration.

On the one hand, that's a pretty clear bummer for that fan and anyone else with grand hopes and ideals about Man of Tomorrow bringing "Panic in the Sky" to life like never before, since this was the best shot possible for that story to get spun into a different medium. But on the other, I always tend to agree with the advantages of pulling character traits from a variety of different eras in a hero or villain's past.

If every live-action Superman only looked back to Christopher Reeve for inspriation, then there wouldn't be any measurable difference from one actor's performance to the next. But having a variety of inspirations and touchstones to lean into tends to make for fresher and more rewatchable storytelling. We also shouldn't expect Eidinger to mirror Supergirl's take on Brainiac 5 or any of the animated versions of the brilliant villian, but to rise up and make the character his own.

When Man of Tomorrow arrives, fans will be watching David Corenswet's Man of Steel partnering up with Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor to bring Brainiac down, and I cannot wait to see how those conversations happen. (Especially if Martian Manhunter actually IS in the movie.)

Barring any global catastrophes, Superman: Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters well after the 2026 release scendule is over, on July 9, 2027.

For months now, Superman has existed in a strange space where success and scrutiny coexist. Warner Bros. and DC Studios have repeatedly framed the film as a win: it had a decent box office haul, was critically well-received, and felt like a solid foundation for Chapter One of the new DCU under James Gunn. But recent comments from Netflix leadership suggest the story behind the movie’s early digital release may be more complicated than the official messaging implied.

The conversation reignited after entertainment analyst SyL shared a video on X of remarks from Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos during a U.S. Senate hearing regarding Netflix's attempt to buy out Warner Bros.. Sarandos contrasted Superman with another recent release, Sinners, while explaining how modern-day theatrical windows can be adjusted on the fly based on box office performance. His explanation was blunt:

That framing is sure to raise some eyebrows, because it clashes with how Superman has been publicly discussed. By most traditional metrics, the film didn’t bomb. It earned roughly $617 million worldwide on a reported production budget of over $200 million. Previous reports suggest that the movie generated around $125 million in profit for Warner Bros., which the studio has pointed to as proof of success.

But Sarandos’ comment suggests a different internal benchmark. In modern studio terms, profitability alone isn’t always enough, especially for a film positioned as a franchise cornerstone. Superman was widely expected to push closer to the billion-dollar mark, not just because of the character’s legacy, but because it was meant to signal a confident start of an era for new DC movies headed to the big screen.

That expectation gap matters. A shorter exclusive run can indicate a studio is trying to maximize a film’s total lifecycle value rather than betting on long-term theatrical legs. Sarandos’s remarks imply Gunn’s new superhero movie fell into that category, even if it performed well domestically.

This is where the tension with Gunn’s messaging becomes clear. To be fair, this isn’t the first time James Gunn has addressed why Superman arrived on digital sooner than expected. In a previous interview with Screen Rant, the DC Studios co-CEO offered a more logistical explanation that had less to do with box office legs and more to do with timing inside the larger DCU rollout. Speaking about the decision, Gunn tied the early digital release directly to Peacemaker Season 2 and accessibility concerns:

The Co-CEO of DC Studios' explanation for the early digital release reframes the move as less reactive to performance and more as a connective tissue decision, ensuring audiences could fully engage with the DCU before the next chapter arrived on streaming.

The Netflix CEO’s comments are fueling broader speculation about what Superman’s performance means for the DCU moving forward. A sequel, the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, has already been confirmed, and its villain cast has been announced, with Gunn teasing a storyline that forces the Man of Steel and Lex Luthor into an uneasy alliance. Warner Bros. has also publicly backed Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran by extending their contracts, signaling stability at the top.

In other words, James Gunn’s DC Universe isn’t “in trouble”—not yet. However, this reframing of Superman’s digital release highlights how success is being defined behind closed doors. This development is likely to create significant pressure on the planned slate of 2026 movie releases and beyond, especially if the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger goes through.

We will keep you up to date on the merger as it awaits regulatory approval. Until then, Gunn’s Superman is available to stream with your HBO Max subscription. As for the next DC film headed to theaters, that's Supergirl, which flies into cinemas on June 26.

So far the slate of movies in the DC Universe franchise is largely Superman Family-focused. Superman was released last year, Supergirl arrives to the 2026 movies schedule in June, and while Clayface will follow a few months later, then we’re getting Man of Tomorrow in 2027. But Superman also showed that it’s easy for other superheroes to be prominently featured as supporting characters, and DCU fans are now wondering if Martian Manhunter, one of the Man of Steel’s long-time Justice League compatriots, is being teased for Man of Tomorrow thanks to a rather tasty social media post shared by the DC Studios co-head.

While many of you reading this might have a sweet tooth, especially for Oreos, if you found yourself in the DCU, you’d likely be eating Chocos instead. James Gunn went on Instagram to share set design focused around Metropolis’ favorite sandwich cookie, and man, would I like to be in that meeting room at Chocos headquarters. Check it out:

Chocos are a staple snack in the DC Universe, and now I wish I had some to dip into milk and enjoy after work. No worries, I’ll just grab some Oreos instead… but it won’t be the same. More importantly, Gunn’s Chocos post immediately got fans bringing up J’onn J’onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter, as he’s been fond of these cookies stretching back to Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire's run on the Justice League comic book series (later Justice League International). Here’s a sampling of comments that accompanied the numerous gifs of J’onn:

• The Martian Manhunter is coming? - @ungeekcool_
• Martian Manhunter’s favorite cookie!!!! - @evilbriandies
• In my head canon J’onn J’onzz is the head of Marketing for Chocos - @dcfilmnews
• The best member of the league - @crithon
• The day Martian is cast is the day I scream bloody murder!!! I’m ready! Give me Martian and I’ll take a package of chocos - @thedailykryptonian

James Gunn tagged the official Superman account in his post. It’s not much, but that may be a subtle indication that the Chocos love is tied to Man of Tomorrow, which will see David Corenswet’s Superman having to team up with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor against Brainiac, who will be played by Lars Eidinger. Because there’s now a cosmic threat for these adversaries have to begrudgingly combat together in the upcoming DC movie, it would make sense to bring in another extraterrestrial character.

As laid out in his superhero moniker, J’onn J’onzz hails from Mars, and maybe Brainiac had something to do with the Martian race being wiped out.

Martian Manhunter has previously been portrayed in live-action by Phil Morris in Smallville and David Harewood in the Supergirl TV series, and Harry Lennix’s General Swanwick was revealed to be J’onn in disguise in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It’s safe to say, though, that including J’onn in Man of Tomorrow would introduce him to more people than ever. So fingers crossed we learn whether or not he’ll be in the movie ahead of its July 9, 2027 release.

For now, you can look forward to Supergirl being released on June 30, then Clayface on September 11. The Green Lantern-focused DCU show Lanterns will also premiere on HBO sometime in the late summer.

Although David Corenswet currently holds the mantle of cinematic Superman following his debut as the Man of Steel last year in the still-youthful DC Universe, it wasn’t that long ago that Henry Cavill was wearing the red cape. Cavill first appeared as Clark Kent/Kal-El in 2013’s Man of Steel and went on to reprise the character three more times (counting both versions of Justice League). Now a Hollywood producer has shared that during the heyday of Cavill’s time in the DC Extended Universe, he ran into the actor and heard him say “one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard anyone say ever.”

Alan Powell, the co-founder on Monarch Media, shared this story on his Instagram page, explaining how around the time that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was coming out, he was at a hotel where he ended up holding the door for a lot of people coming and going. Powell ended up standing there for a “good solid 60 seconds” until someone took over for him. The producer continued:

That definitely qualifies as a badass line to drop on someone when they recognize you for playing one of pop culture’s most famous superheroes. This encounter took place close to three years after Henry Cavill first played Superman, so between people recognizing him from Man of Steel and all the billboards and other advertisements for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it would have been difficult not to notice Cavill nearby if your attention wasn’t otherwise occupied. The same would have gone for Ben Affleck, if not more so, as he had a much bigger profile than Cavill before becoming the DCEU’s Batman.

Alan Powell talked about his encounter with Henry Cavill around the same time that Zack Snyder, who directed Man of Steel, Batman v Superman and the original version of Justice League, shared a photo of the actor in the “original Superman suit,” i.e. the one Christopher Reeves wore in his film series. The last time we saw Cavill playing Superman was in the Black Adam post-credits scene, and originally the plan was for him to appear in more DC movies. However, when James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to run DC Studios, it was decided to reboot the character again, bringing Cavill’s Superman tenure to an end.

While it remains to be seen if Henry Cavill could play a different character in the DCU, just like how Jason Momoa is now Lobo following his time as Aquaman, at least we’ll get to see him in all sorts of other movies coming up. He has the Highlander reboot, In the Grey, Enola Holmes 3 and the live-action Voltron all lined up, though none of them have release dates yet. And you can always revisit Cavill’s Superman appearances your HBO Max subscription while you cross your fingers hoping you’ll run into him someday like Alan Powell did.

There’s a little over two weeks to go until 2025 is finished, but we’ve been done on the Marvel and DC front for a while now, at least when it comes to big screen and small screen offerings. Both companies delivered a unique assortment of movies and TV shows this year, and I’m looking forward to what they deliver to the 2026 movies schedule and 2026 TV schedule.

But, before the year comes to an end, I’m here to go over my 11 favorite moments from Marvel and DC’s movies and shows over the last 12 months, and will be doing so in chronological order. Fellow fans, let’s take one last trip down memory lane with these projects before we get more hyped for what’s to come next year. Obviously, SPOILERS are ahead.

The Bride Exacting Revenge On Ilana In Creature Commandos

Creature Commandos just barely made the cut on this list, as only two of the eight episodes from the HBO Max subscription-exclusive show’s first season aired in 2025. Thankfully, the Season 1 finale made sure to show us The Bride exacting revenge on Princess Ilana Rostovic for killing Nina Mazursky. The heiress to the throne of Pokolistan murdered the amphibious human before her evil deeds came to light, but Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s female creation learned the truth. So she killed Ilana for taking away the only friend she ever made, thus also cutting short the despotic monarch’s attempts to conquer the world.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Time-Twisty Origin

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was already a time-twisty show in the sense that it follows Tom Holland’s version of Peter Parker in a timeline where he was mentored by Norman Osborn rather than Tony Stark. Then the Season 1 finale kicked things up a notch by showing that the spider that fell through Doctor Strange’s portal and bit Peter months earlier was not only from the future, but infused with present-day Peter’s blood. It’s a classic bootstrap paradox that appealed to me as a time travel enthusiast, and it also laid the groundwork for Venom to eventually be introduced.

Brave New World’s Dogfight Over Celestial Island

While Sam Wilson’s climactic scuffle with Red Hulk was exciting to watch in Captain America: Brave New World, I walked away from the movie being more impressed by the dogfight that occurred over Celestial Island. Not only did Sam and Joaquin Torres have to stop two rogue pilots from initiating a war between the United States and Japan, they had to do so without killing the pilots because they were being mind-controlled by Samuel Sterns. The winged duo managed to save this particular day, though Joaquin was critically injured in the process.

Daredevil Vs. Muse In Born Again

Although we got to see Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock suited up as Daredevil in the heartbreaking opening moments of Daredevil: Born Again’s first episode, it wasn’t until the Disney+ subscription-exclusive show’s sixth episode that he finally put the costume back on. He did so after learning that Angela del Toro had disappeared, and he eventually tracked her down to Muse’s lair, where a fight quickly broke out between him and the serial killer. Although Muse escaped, it was nonetheless great to see Matt kick his ass with such acrobatic flair.

The Thunderbolts Becoming The New Avengers

While I appreciated seeing the Thunderbolts overcome The Void by comforting Bob so he could regain control of his darker half rather than more traditional violent methods, I got way more satisfaction out of seeing them deliver a metaphorical middle finger to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Her last-minute ploy to introduce the team to the public as the New Avengers may have saved her from being apprehended, but as Yelena informed her, “We own you now.” Let’s see Valentina try to pull any shady shenanigans after that.

The Emergence Of Mephisto In Ironheart

MCU fans have been speculating about Mephisto entering the franchise ever since WandaVision, and that finally happened in Ironheart. The demonic entity, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, was revealed to be the one who supplied Parker Robbins with his cloak, and Riri Williams later agreed to her own deal with this particular devil. Mephisto is one of the most powerful characters in Marvel lore, so hopefully Ironheart won’t be the only time we see Cohen play him.

Mr. Terrific Tearing Up The LuthorCorp Camp In Superman

While it feels weird to include a moment from Superman that doesn’t even involve the Man of Steel, I have to do right by myself and highlight the one where Mr. Terrific shined brightest. Upon landing at the LuthorCorp camp where Superman had been taken into Lex Luthor’s pocket dimension, Edi Gathegi’s character proceeded to wipe the floor with everyone who attacked him with his T-spheres and fisticuffs, all while keeping Lois Lane safe under a force field. Not only is this the Superman scene I’ve revisited most, I can thank it for introducing me to Noah and the Whale’s “5 Years Time.”

Sue Storm Pushing Galactus Into The Portal In First Steps

Like Mephisto, Galactus is one of the most powerful beings in existence, and the Fantastic Four never stood a chance in terms of outright beating him in First Steps. However, it was amazing to see Sue Storm use her force field to literally push back the Devourer of Worlds into the portal so he would be banished to the other side of the universe, with Silver Surfer flying in for the last-minute assist. Sue exerting such sheer willpower cost her her life, but luckily her infant son Franklin was there to revive her with his own powers.

Eyes Of Wakanda Tying Back To The First Black Panther Movie

For the most part, Eyes of Wakanda functions as a standalone series exploring the technologically-advanced African nation’s past. However, the finale threw in a fun time travel twist by having a Black Panther from 500 years in the future travel back to 1896 and tell two Wakandan War Dogs to leave a vibranium axe they discovered where they found it. By doing so, this averts the dystopic timeline that Panther hails from and sets up Ulysses Klaue and Killmonger to steal the axe in Black Panther, which, in turn, leads to T’Challa opening up Wakanda to the rest of the world.

Peacemaker’s Earth-X Nazi Reveal

At first, it seemed like the Earth John Cena’s Christopher Smith found in Peacemaker Season 2 was the perfect place for him to start a new life, what with his brother still being alive, his father being a decent human being, and Emilia Harcourt willing to be in a romantic relationship with him. Then the ball dropped: this was a world where the Nazis won World War II and controlled the United States. While I wouldn’t say this is my absolute favorite Marvel/DC moment of 2025, it was definitely the most shocking.

Marvel Zombies’ Bruce Banner Becoming Infinity Hulk

What does it take to defeat a zombified Wanda Maximoff still capable of using her chaos magic? Well, in the Marvel Zombies finale, it looked like a Hulk who’d absorbed the energy of the six Infinity Stones might do the job. Sadly, this was not the case and Wanda ended up stealing that energy for herself, but it was nonetheless cool to watch Infinity Hulk run rampant in this reality for a short time.

Feel free to share in the comments what your favorite Marvel and/or DC moment of 2025 was, and continue checking back with us in the new year for the latest and greatest news concerning the upcoming DC movies, upcoming Marvel movies, upcoming DC TV shows and upcoming Marvel TV shows.

The 2025 movie schedule offered up some excellent films across a wide range of genres, and those great pieces of work were accompanied by some superb performances from numerous actors. That includes a considerable amount of excellent work from more than a few Black performers. For me personally, it’s been wonderful to see so much Black talent on display over the past year, and there are 10 performances, in particular, that I really want to take the time to highlight. So, let’s discuss.

Michael B. Jordan Puts On An Incredible Showcase In Sinners

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners works on so many levels, and Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance as twins Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore is a major reason for that. Jordan is downright impeccable in the film, as he deftly portrays the siblings’ distinct personalities, making them feel like tangible characters and not clichés. There’s also a level of physicality he brings to the roles that really comes through in the third act. In short, this is wonderful work, and it’s not surprising at all that Jordan’s work has been praised so heavily.

Chase Infiniti Serves Up One Of The Best Feature Film Debuts Ever With One Battle After Another

I’m not sure anyone could’ve seen Chase Infiniti coming, but I’m so glad she’s now on the public’s radar. The young actress made her feature film debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, and her performance as Willa Ferguson is nothing short of phenomenal. Infiniti plays Willa with an adventurous spirit but also a sheer sense of urgency that shines through in the film’s tensest moments. Put simply, this is generational work, and I feel confident saying that Infiniti is going to be around for a long time.

Miles Caton Is A True Revelation In Sinners

Speaking of exciting new stars, Miles Caton made his own film debut in Sinners, and this young man is a certified talent. Caton plays aspiring blues musician Sammie “Preacherboy” Moore with an incredible level of sincerity and gravitas. As great as the film’s cast is, Caton is easily the emotional center and, of course, his singing abilities, which really shine through during THAT juke joint sequence, are immaculate. I’m excited to see where Caton goes from here.

Tessa Thompson’s Work In Hedda Furthers Her Status As A Skilled Leading Lady

In some ways, it honestly feels like Tessa Thompson was born to play the eponymous role in Nia DaCosta’s Hedda. As the socially savvy Hedda Gabler, Thompson is smooth as silk, giving off a wicked charm that’s just infectious. There’s also a level of tragedy to this character and, while viewers may not like her, Thompson’s meticulous acting helps articulate the protagonist’s pain. Here’s hoping that the Sorry to Bother You star gets more roles like this one – and has the opportunity to star in more period pieces.

Damson Idris Gives F1 A Sweet Boost With His Energized Performance

Someone could watch Snowfall and quickly get a sense of Damson Idris’ talents. Yet he really gives an electric performance in the racing blockbuster F1, in which he plays hotshot driver Joshua Pierce. Idris brings serious levels of swag to Joshua and perfectly balances his arrogance with his vulnerability. The British actor also deserves credit for not only going toe-to-toe with his seasoned screen partner, Brad Pitt, but for also getting in the driver’s seat for various scenes. If those two feats aren’t impressive, I don’t know what is.

Wunmi Mosaku’s Sinners Performance Is Both Soulful And Sweet

Annie is one of the complex female characters in Sinners, and she’s played with sheer conviction by Wunmi Mosaku. The Loki alum helps inject wisdom and spirituality into Annie and, whenever she speaks, she’s hard to ignore. What’s really amazing, though, is while Annie is a Hoodoo expert wrapped up in the supernatural elements of the movie, Mosaku’s performance as the wife and mother serves as a grounding element. Few performances this year are as emotionally affecting as this one.

Edi Gathegi Outshines Superman… In Superman

Don’t get me wrong, David Corenswet is wonderful as Superman’s titular character, but Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific really steals the show! Gathegi’s mask-wearing, tech-savvy hero serves as a voice of reason in the DCU film, dishing out facts as well as cheeky one-liners. As the Justice Gang member, Gathegi has a cerebral aura that interestingly makes him feel both relatable and larger than life. I don’t know what James Gunn has planned for the hero, but I certainly hope Gathegi gets to play him in plenty of upcoming DC movies and shows.

Naomi Ackie Adds A Delightful Dose Of Strength And Warmth To Mickey 17

Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 is just further proof as to why audiences need to stop sleeping on Naomi Ackie. The Blink Twice star plays security agent Nasha Barridge, the love interest of the main character, but she’s so much more. She’s also a woman with her own aspirations and isn’t defined by her romantic relationships (though she does enjoy them). Ackie is well cast in the role, as she can play both Nasha’s toughness and vulnerability excellently while also adding humor to the proceedings. Overall, Ackie really deserves her flowers.

Delroy Lindo Is Nothing Short Of A Scene-Stealer In Sinners

Sinners’ Delta Slim may be one of the best characters Delroy Lindo has ever played, and that’s saying a lot given the veteran actors’ body of work. In Ryan Coogler’s hit film, Lindo’s Slim provides a great deal of levity, which the actor exudes perfectly, but he also conveys the more tragic aspects of the drunken bluesman effectively. (He even has one of the movie’s most heartbreaking moments.) I was disappointed that Lindo didn’t land a Golden Globe nod, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a perfect performance.

David Jonsson Gives One Of The Year’s Best Performances In The Long Walk

If you haven’t heard of David Jonsson, then you should really take notice, especially after his work in The Long Walk. Jonsson’s performance as Peter McVries is next-level, as he breathes stunning life into a young man with a troubled past who’s holding onto optimism. The Rye Lane star plays Pete with a great level of conviction, as he delivers dialogue with authority (especially a monologue about the importance of hope). Jonsson is this film’s “beating heart” and a force to be reckoned with, and I’m eager to see what he does next.

As you can see, Black actors put in some serious work over the past year, and the performances listed here deserved to be celebrated. And there are more, of course. (Regina Hall, Jay Ellis, Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer and ASAP Rocky make up just a handful of the other great performers of the year.) Let’s hope the 2026 movie schedule yields even more stellar performances like these.

The comic book genre continues to be wildly popular, although things on the DC side of things have changed in recent years. The previous DCEU (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) was dropped, with co-CEO James Gunn crafted a new shared universe called the DCU. We've gotten the first few titles of the the first phase, called Gods and Monsters, although Zack Snyder has been posting some throwbacks from his time at DC, and he graced us on Christmas morning with a photo of Henry Cavill wearing Christopher Reeve's original Superman suit.

While fans are looking forward to upcoming DC movies like Supergirl and Man of Tomorrow, Snyder has been looking back while growing his Instagram following. He posted a photo of Cavill when joining the social media outlet, although the latest shows him in that OG suit. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? Christopher Reeves' Superman is the OG movie version of the beloved DC hero, and his colorful costume is just one reason why it's so iconic. Snyder put Cavill in that suit while testing what he might look like in Man of Steel, and you can't deny that he looks the part. And it's for this reason that he was the DCEU's version of the hero, playing him in three movies (four, including the Snyder Cut).

Zack Snyder shared this image to his 578K followers on Instagram, with that number growing every time he posts a DC throwback. Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order will recall how Man of Steel's success kickstarted the entire shared universe, as well as how Cavill returned as Superman in Black Adam. Unfortunately the entire shared universe was axed shortly after.

James Gunn's Superman crushed at the box office, with actor David Corenswet proving he had the looks, hair curl, and hopeful attitude to bring the title character to life. But for some moviegoers Cavill is still their favorite, which is why Snyder's posts about him quickly go viral. In fact, he shared a second shot on Christmas. Check it out below:

In the end, Cavill's final starring performance as Superman was in Justice League, although the Snyder Cut finally revealed the titular filmmaker's original vision for The Last Son of Krypton. While Cavill announced his return in his signature role after Black Adam, those plans were scrapped and we were given a full DC reboot.

Despite the years that have passed, some fans are still hoping that Warner Bros. does #RestoreTheSnyderVerse, giving the director the chance to bring his two planned Justice League sequels to life. There's no indication this is actually happening, but that hasn't stopped certain fans from keeping hope alive.

The entire DCEU is streaming now on HBO Max. The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Cavill, he's got a ton of upcoming projects coming down the line including Enola Holmes 3.

Can you believe it? Another year of movies has nearly come and gone. When I look back at all the 2025 movie releases I've seen so far (which is 70+ at the time of writing this) I knew I needed to revisit some of my favorite movies before deciding what my official top ten is. That final ranking is still in flux for me, but as I'm in the process of figuring that out, I chose five that left a big impression on me from the first half of the year. My thoughts on Sinners in particular saw a shift.

I Rewatched 5 Of My Favorite Movies Of 2025, And Here’s How It Went

So, here's what I watched, aside from Sinners: Stephen King adaptation The Life Of Chuck, James Gunn's blockbuster superhero movie Superman, Netflix smash hit KPop Demon Hunters, and Celine Song's Materialists. Each of these movies felt like real memorable moments upon first viewing, between rounding up people I loved to see them and the really impressive filmmaking and storytelling at the heart of each one across multiple genres.

While I originally had The Life Of Chuck higher than Sinners for how life-affirming and emotional it made me, I must admit on my second watch it didn't hit quite the same for me, and was kind of a slog in some parts. Superman remains an awesome start to the new DCU, but I see myself appreciating it more than actually venturing back to it often.

My thoughts on KPop Demon Hunters remains relatively the same: it's a perfect animated movie by my measure that I'll be rewatching for years to come (and I won't be getting tired of the soundtrack anytime soon). As for Materialists, it still made me cry, but the "controversy" sets it back a bit after all the conversations I've had with people about it.

Why I Think Sinners Crawled To The Top Of My List

However, my opinion on Sinners is what changed the most. In terms of the Ryan Coogler film in contrast to the rest of my list, it's the first movie out of them I watched, which was back in April, and I perhaps didn't know what was in front of me upon first viewing. I definitely liked the movie, but I didn't fully grasp how genuinely perfect it is on the first go around (though our Sinners review got it right at 5 out of 5 stars).

I think part of that is because it was so hyped when it first came out, and I had my own ideas of what the movie was going to be I hadn't set aside. For one, I thought Sinners was going to be a lot more horror-leaning than it actually is, and with that in mind, the whole movies taking place at the juke joint was somewhat underwhelming to my expectations. I felt as if there were so much commentary within it's narrative that it bit more than it could chew on that front.

But upon my rewatch, my opinions soon changed. For one, I absolutely love that it takes place mainly in the juke joint, and think it's particularly impressive that such a contained story feels so cinematic and big. Second, I realized that what I first read as disjointed actually speaks to the layered quality of the movie. Every time I watch it, I'm going to have new things I can focus on and will get out of it. (The second time, I was really moved by its commentary on legacy, and I know there are more details I have yet to uncover.) When I look for a favorite, rewatchability, is a huge factor, and Sinners has it tenfold with its many great scenes, songs and quotes.

Sometimes, great movies just need a second watch to be appreciated, and man, am I happy I watched if before the end of the year. Because now it's at the very top of my list, and I now consider to be a rare masterpiece and future classic.

At the start of every January, I present myself with a fresh movie challenge. I look back at the past year, note how many new releases I watched, and I begin the effort to try and top that number. It’s worked out very well. In 2022, my total ended up being 128, with Everything Everywhere All At Once being my overall favorite (up from 107 in 2021). In 2023, I watched 138 new films, with Poor Things being the one that really blew me away. And in 2024, The Substance was the best of the 140 titles screened. As for this year, I ended up seeing 166 fresh features in 2025, counting both theatrical and streaming titles across all genres, and among them, I saw a lot of amazing stuff.

But what would I consider the best movie among everything I saw? That’s a tough question that I’ve been mulling for much of December, with new delights and surprises emerging every month and causing my rankings to shift… but now I’m out of time, and it’s time to make some calls. I won’t lie and say that the following order might change with a year or even possibly a month of reflection, but what I will say is that the following list represents my favorite 15 films I saw in 2025.

15. The Monkey

I am what could be described as a Stephen King devotee, so in a year when four new adaptations arrived on the big screen, it probably won’t be all that surprising to learn that a number of them made it on this list (spoiler alert: that number is three). It begins with Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey, which is a bonkers and wonderful take on its short story source material and represents a terrific 180-degree turn from the filmmaker’s prior creation (Longlegs was number four on my list last year). Between its blunt sensibilities and gratuitous splatter, I’m 100 percent its target audience.

14. The Rule Of Jenny Pen

James Ashcroft’s The Rule Of Jenny Pen is not just a creepy nightmare; it’s a downright mean movie, and I can get behind that kind of cinematic effort when it’s done right. Geoffrey Rush’s Judge Stefan Mortensen is as unlikable a protagonist as could be found on the big screen in 2025, and he would be the despicable villain in any other story… if it weren’t for the unholy terror that is John Lithgow’s Dave Crealy. The character dynamics are fascinating, while Ashcroft’s direction keeps your fingernails embedded deep in your armrests.

13. Influencers

If it isn’t immediately clear from this list so far, I was particularly impressed with the output from the horror genre in 2025, and it’s a range that spans from major studio releases to indie sequels. Kurtis David Harder’s Influencers is from the latter camp, and if you haven’t yet seen it or its predecessor – 2022’s Influencer – yet, you would be well-served to remedy that. The new sequel has surprises from the jump that make it difficult to recommend without giving too much away, but it can be said that CW (the phenomenal Cassandra Naud) is back and hasn’t lost a step in deftly developing traps for spoiled and jaded internet stars.

12. Train Dreams

Given the sheer volume of movies I watch, I love it when a film can genuinely surprise me, and while that fact is well-represented in this ranking with movies full of twists and clever reveals, Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams is special because it doesn’t deal in big plot machinations or carefully guided arcs. Instead, it opts to be a simple depiction of a tough-but-ordinary 20th-century life, and it’s utterly beautiful. Joel Edgerton delivers one of the most soulful performances of the year as the humble Robert Grainier, and I love its philosophy regarding purpose.

11. No Other Choice

In grasping for silver linings in what are dark times for society, I suppose one is that now might be a burgeoning golden era for both horror and pitch black satire – with Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice being a tremendous entry in the latter genre. The power of desperation is not to be underestimated, and the journey of Lee Byung-hun’s Man-su to land a coveted job by murdering all of his potential competition is darkly hilarious (in part because Man-sun is not a particularly adept killer) and rich with valuable social commentary.

10. Superman

I think it’s fair to say that the landscape for superhero movies hasn’t been the same since 2020. That has only added to the tremendous challenge facing writer/director/DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn in building the developing DC Universe – but that also makes Superman all the more stunning an accomplishment. It’s a blockbuster properly developed in a post-origins culture in that it offers both what feels like a lived-in world full of colorful characters and a story that emerges from personality and emotion instead of forced plot developments.

9. Final Destination: Bloodlines

The Monkey scratched my itch for complex circumstances resulting in bloody mayhem when it arrived in theaters in February, but there is no true substitute for the Rube Goldberg-esque violence of the Final Destination franchise, and Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein’s Bloodlines has everything I want as I fan. The kills are extraordinary (there’s a new number one in my ranking of every death scene in the series), and the script does a clever job of both answering big picture questions and maintaining mysteries (keeping the door open for hopefully many, many, many more sequels to come).

8. The Life Of Chuck

Let’s pivot back to talking Stephen King adaptations, shall we? I have spent the majority of the last decade marveling at writer/director Mike Flanagan’s ability to adapt even the most complicated King stories as features (specifically with Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep), but The Life Of Chuck is a whole new level. Instead of trying to translate King’s complex novella – structured as three distinct parts that play out in reverse chronological order – Flanagan opts to just trust the source material, his emotional skills as a filmmaker and an outstanding ensemble cast. The result is a gorgeous movie about existence and the miracle of a life lived.

7. Bring Her Back

Is it strange to pivot from the extreme beauty of The Life Of Chuck to the unrelenting grimness of Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back? Most definitely, but that’s not something that is really in consideration in constructing this ranking. As was the case with the Australian brothers’ feature debut Talk To Me, my great affection for the work principally comes from two things: the unflinching style that can make even the most seasoned genre veteran flinch and a skill for building lore that opts to trust the audience and doesn’t diminish the terror with an avalanche of exposition. Additionally, based on all of the end-of-year chatter I’ve seen, Sally Hawkins is not getting nearly enough love for her deeply unsettling turn.

6. The Long Walk

We’ve arrived at Stephen King movie #3, and between the extreme content and the logistics of the production, it’s a film that I never expected to get made. But director Francis Lawrence certainly knows a thing or two about big-screen dystopia, and his work on The Long Walk is staggering. The film makes a regular habit of socking you in the gut, both in its violent content and relatable themes, but the beauty within it is remarkable to behold, and the bond between Cooper Hoffman’s Ray Garraty and David Jonsson’s Peter McVries is easily one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in cinema in 2025.

5. Marty Supreme

Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme is an enigma, and it’s purely because of Timothée Chalamet’s turn as titular protagonist Marty Mauser. If we were to meet in real life, he’s a guy who I’d want nothing to do with, as arrogance and selfishness radiate so significantly they practically create an aura… and yet, his hustle and quest for glory is one of the most entrancing things I’ve seen in a theater this year. Hating a character but admiring the hell out of his hustle is a strange brew, but it’s an experience that is funny and thrilling in equal measure.

4. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

While watching Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, I couldn’t help but reflect on my experiences seeing Josh and Bennie Safdie’s Uncut Gems and Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook: all three films share in common an overwhelming atmosphere that makes the audience want to curl up into a ball and die (and in case it’s not clear, I say that with great admiration). The awesome Rose Byrne makes you feel every ounce of her stress as life becomes evermore punishing, and Bronstein’s impressive and intense handheld style instantly makes her a talent to watch.

3. Weapons

Walking out of Zach Cregger’s Weapons this summer, I was euphoric. This was in large part because of the film’s diabolical and hellacious ending that had the entire theater hooting and hollering, but it was also a reflection of my love for the immaculately crafted experience. The complexity of each dark character is enthralling and wonderful (it’s legitimately hard to pick a favorite from the trio of Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Amy Madigan), and insistence on ending each chapter right as it hits its climax is cheeky, impish and perfectly earned.

2. Sinners

I knew that Sinners was going to end up toward the top of my end-of-year list when writer/director Ryan Coogler cited inspiration from the Coen brothers, John Carpenter, and Stephen King… and yet, I still found myself wholly bowled over by the experience that the movie delivers. The fantastical musical sequence in the juke joint alone will be remembered as one of the greatest contributions to 21st-century cinema, but every little thing about the film works – from its stunning and powerful ensemble (led by the genius of Michael B. Jordan in the year’s best dual role) to its compelling genre blend of crime and horror.

1. One Battle After Another

In anticipation of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, I spent part of my summer reading Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland (the book on which the film is partially based), and for the life of me, I couldn’t fathom how it was going to become a movie. The answer to that puzzle turned out to be “use all of the best stuff, ignore all the rest,” and it’s genius. It’s a perfect film for the moment in which our world currently finds itself – in that it’s both reflective and inspiring – but it’s also just a phenomenal crossbreed of revolutionary thriller and stoner comedy. Anderson adapting Pynchon topped my personal list 11 years ago when Inherent Vice was released, and such is the case again in 2025.

I’ve already started to wonder how many films I’ll see next year: will it be 175? Perhaps 190? Maybe there will be enough must-see material that I end up going over 200. I can’t wait to find out as we move past 2025 and start diving into the 2026 movie release calendar.

I’m about to blow your mind: the staff at CinemaBlend really loves movies. I know, the idea that a bunch of people who work for an entertainment news website (one with “cinema” in the name) have an affinity for film seems crazy, but it’s true. Totalling all of the new releases that each of us has individually seen since January, the number is over 1,600, and it rises every day. And when you watch as much as we do, you find that there is plenty to appreciate from what is being produced in the modern age of the artform.

Every year, the CinemaBlend staff makes a point of tracking all of the new films we see and judging them from one (awful) to five (perfect) in half point increments – the same as the star rating system in the site’s review section. Any title that has been seen by five or more people is put into consideration for our end-of-year ranking, with view count and vote distribution as tiebreakers… and the end result is below! Without further ado, and with various voices from our team offering thoughts about some of their favorite titles of the year, here are the 20 best movies of 2025, according to CinemaBlend!

#20. Frankenstein

Average Score: 4.025/5

Guillermo del Toro has a long demonstrated passion for monsters, and with Frankenstein, he accomplishes one of his great dreams as an artist. While taking a few liberties with the beloved source material, the filmmaker paints a beautiful and tragic epic with one of the great horror tales in the history of literature, and both Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, as The Creature and Victor Frankenstein respectively, are at the top of their games.

#19. Zootopia 2

Average Score: 4.071/5

While there are a few sequels in the modern era of Walt Disney Animation Studios films that don't quite live up to the high standards established by their predecessors, Zootopia 2 is a tremendous exception. Arriving nearly a full decade after the original, it succeeds with another thoughtful and compelling mystery that mirrors significant issues in our world, and it offers wonderful development for the relationship between its lovable lead characters.

#18. Sorry, Baby

Average Score: 4.083/5

It's not easy to make a film that is successfully both full of true pain and a hilarious dry wit, but that is the great accomplishment of Sorry, Baby – which marks a phenomenal arrival for filmmaker Eva Victor. Chronicling the life of its protagonist in the aftermath of her being sexually assaulted, it's a deeply real movie that properly reflects the emotional complexity of life with a powerful story to tell.

#17. A Nice Indian Boy

Average Score: 4.1/5

Hollywood still has some long strides to make in terms of inclusion in storytelling, and Roshan Sethi's A Nice Indian Boy is really a rich demonstration why it's a wonderful thing to see diversity and representation on screen. It's certainly not every day that we get movies about queer international relationships. Stars Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff are terrific together in a funny romance that sees the latter's character meet the traditional Indian family of his fiancee.

#16. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

Average Score: 4.1/5

Mary Bronstein's If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is neither an entertaining movie nor a pleasant movie – but it most certainly is a wowing experience. The phenomenal Rose Byrne delivers the greatest performance of her excellent career, and it's stunning how the film continually twists your guts with the protagonist’s palpable and escalating motherhood-induced anxiety.

#15. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Average Score: 4.132/5

Wake Up Dead Man doesn’t sport the same kind of “fun” that writer/director Rian Johnson instilled in his previous Benoit Blanc mysteries, but what hasn’t changed is the filmmaker’s ability to deliver exciting twists and turns via an exciting ensemble of talented stars. It’s a dark tale of religion, greed, and murder that keeps the series’ winning streak going and again has us waiting with bated breath for the next installment.

#14. Warfare

Average Score: 4.15/5

As far as visceral cinematic experiences go in 2025, few competed with the power of Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare. Instead of telling any kind of traditional war story, the film is based on Mendoza’s personal experiences in combat and operates by embedding the audience alongside a group of soldiers as they find themselves in violent and desperate circumstances requiring emergency evacuation.

#13. Superman

Average Score: 4.159/5

How do you build a comic book movie universe in the year 2025? Step one is “ask James Gunn,” because his work on Superman demonstrates that he knows exactly what he is doing. The writer/director does a brilliant job world building with the first blockbuster from the new DC Universe, but more importantly, he also has a great story to tell with the last son of Krypton – with the hero forced to question his identity amid major personal revelations and rising global conflict instigated by the genius egoist Lex Luthor.

#12. Train Dreams

Average Score: 4.167/5

One of the most moving films of the year is also one of the simplest. Clint Bentley's Train Dreams, based on the novella of the same name by Denis Johnson, doesn't feature any hellacious twists or big action sequences; it’s purely the tale of a man in the Pacific Northwest in 20th century America, working to provide for his family as a logger and coping with the hardships that such a life entails. Simple as it may be, however, it’s both entrancing and powerful, with awesome messages about masculinity and grief.

#11. Bring Her Back

Average Score: 4.188/5

As is well reflected in this ranking, 2025 was a remarkable year for the horror movies, and brothers Danny and Michael Philippou further demonstrated themselves to be key new voices in the genre with Bring Her Back. The film is far darker than the duo’s feature debut Talk To Me (which made our list in 2023), but it’s equally fascinating and even more nightmare-inducing.

#10. Bugonia

Average Score: 4.250/5

I think it’s fair to say that the entire movie industry would benefit if writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos and star Emma Stone continued making films together for the rest of their lives. Their collaboration had already yielded the awesomeness of The Favourite, Poor Things and Kinds Of Kindness prior to 2025, and Bugonia is their fourth artistic victory as collaborators. It’s bold and weird while also still having something vital to say about our modern world.

#9. The Long Walk

Average Score: 4.286/5

In an atmosphere where a vast majority of movies conclude with a happy ending, I think it is downright healthy to watch movies that leave you feeling like you’ve just taken a sucker punch to the gut, and Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk is arguably the film of the year in that regard. As devastating as the conclusion is, however (and it’s even darker than the Stephen King source material), what you really come away marveling at are the remarkable performances and chemistry between stars Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson.

#8. Weapons

Average Score: 4.289/5

Writer/director Zach Cregger impressed us in 2022 with the wild surprises of Barbarian, but that was just an appetizer for the epic that is Weapons. The structure of the movie is brilliant (an anthology with stories set up like carefully placed dominos); the characters are all vivid and delightfully damaged; the horrors are shocking; and the ending alone made it one of the most fun big screen experiences of 2025.

#7. The Life Of Chuck

Average Score: 4.308/5

With its strict three act structure, reverse chronology, and collection of linked-but-disparate stories, Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck is one of the more unconventional movies to be released in 2025 – but its unique qualities let it hit on some powerful universal themes, and it culminates as a life affirming cinematic experience. Another winner from the mind of Stephen King, the film is a beautiful exploration of the impact that each and every one of us makes simply by existing.

#6. 28 Years Later

Average Score: 4.35/5

Fans had to wait patiently for decades hoping that we would someday see the continuation of the story from 28 Days Later and the (underrated) 28 Weeks Later. That’s an atmosphere that can create unreasonable expectations – but thankfully, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland successfully met the challenge. The film is its own special kind of nightmare, with Britain being isolated because of the spreading and evolving Rage virus, but it’s also a powerful coming-of-age drama with an allegory about living in our modern society.

#5. Eternity

Average Score: 4.364/5

From Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life to Michael Schur's philosophy-rich series The Good Place, the afterlife has frequently proven to be fertile ground for storytelling, and the CinemaBlend staff has a deep affection for director David Freyne's exploration in Eternity, which finds its deceased protagonist (Elizabeth Olsen) torn between spending the rest of her existence with her first love (Callum Turner) or the man to whom she was married for the majority of her life (Miles Teller).

#4. Hamnet

Average Score: 4.375/5

Given the breadth, importance and influence of his work, William Shakespeare is a historical figure whom we principally look back on through the lens of his legendary plays and sonnets – but it’s forever a mistake to forget the humanity of an artist, and that’s precisely what Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet does incredibly well. It brings us into the life of the man as his career takes him away from those he loves most, and it explores the immense tragedy that inspired one of his most iconic works.

#3. One Battle After Another

Average Score: 4.5/5

It’s not every year that one of the greatest voices in contemporary cinema delivers a brilliant blend of revolutionary action film and stoner comedy, but that’s precisely what Paul Thomas Anderson cooked up with One Battle After Another, and it’s hell of a ride. While inspired by a book published 35 years ago, its revolutionary energy is a perfect match for modern zeitgeist, and while it has something to say, it’s also delightfully tongue-in-cheek.

#2. Marty Supreme

Average Score: 4.667/5

On paper, a movie about a young man in the 1950s perusing his goal to be the greatest table tennis champion in the world may not sound all that interesting, but what makes Marty Supreme one of the most absorbing films of the year is two things: the intense style of director Josh Safdie and a career-best performance from star Timothée Chalamet. No story released in 2025 had me so perpetually balanced on the edge of my seat, wondering if the eponymous, arrogant, and mesmerizing Marty Mauser would be able to achieve his dream.

#1. Sinners

Average Score: 4.7/5

There is a very small number of filmmakers and stars in 21st century Hollywood who have the power to make a true blockbuster hit without the benefit of established intellectual property, but Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan flexed big in 2025 with the masterpiece that is Sinners. The story may take place over the course of a single day, but that does nothing to take away from its epic scope – introducing a collection of terrific characters, developing an exciting crime story with the establishment of a prohibition-era juke joint, playing some mind-expanding music, and burning it all down with horrifying vampire action. What more can you ask for from a movie?

What cinematic treasures await us in 2026? We here at CinemaBlend can’t wait to find out, and we hope that all of you reading this will explore alongside us in the new year.

Things have been changing in the superhero genre as of late, especially DC. Co-CEO James Gunn has crafted a new shared universe called the DCU, with its first slate of projects titled Gods and Monsters. We've already gotten a few movie and TV projects (which are streaming with a HBO Max subscription) and all eyes are on what Gunn is planning for his Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. Now that actor Lars Eidinger has been cast as the villainous Braniac, fan art imagines what he might look like in the role. And I really hope the official design is something similar.

Following Superman's ending, fans are curious how the burgeoning franchise will be expanded with Man of Tomorrow. Gunn teased that Clark Kent and Lex Luthor will have to unite for a common enemy, aka Braniac. Some fan art on Instagram offered a take on what Eidinger might look like as that beloved antagonist, check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? Braniac has had plenty of designs over the years, but this looks like the most common take on the character in modern media. Whether or not James Gunn and company are going to go this route remains to be seen, but this image shows that Lars Eidinger could look incredible in the upcoming DC movie. We'll just have to see how long it takes before the filmmaker hints at what the character will look like in the DCU.

Braniac was one of the Superman villains fan were hoping to see in the DCU since its inception. He's a cosmic threat who has been adapted in various comics, video games, and animated series over the years, but never made it to the big screen. And it should be fascinating to see how James Gunn adapts him for film, and exactly what the character design will end up being.

Nicholas Galitzine's Lex Luthor was solely focused on taking down Kal-El during Superman, after being threatened by his immense power and popularity. But David Corenswet's character wasn't actually trying to take over Earth. As such, I'm eager to see the villain's response once Braniac arrives and actively tries to conquer the planet and have dominion over it.

Of course, Man of Tomorrow isn't the next DC movie hitting theaters, so fans will have to practice some patience while waiting for update. First up is Gillespie's Supergirl, which will follow Milly Alcock's title character in an adventure through space. Fans are wondering if/how it might connect to the Superman sequel, and if Braniac's arrival will be teased at all.

Supergirl will hit theaters on June 26h as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Man of Tomorrow, it's currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.

It’s no secret that DC Studios co-head James Gunn has been hard at work on his latest installment in DCU Chapter 1, Man of Tomorrow. Details on the Superman follow-up have been kept tightly under wraps but, via the screenplay cover Gunn shared, fans theorized that Brainiac would be the film’s villain. The past few weeks have seen casting rumors swirl around a number of actors but, following that, the role has been cast. Gunn also signified the occasion with a message.

It can finally be said that the DCU’s Brainiac will officially be played by Lars Eidinger. The German actor and rapper has a considerable amount of acting credits under his belt, with more than a few of them being productions native to his country. Among his TV and film credits are My Little Sister, Dying, Babylon Berlin, About Joan, Jay Kelly and All the Light We Cannot See. With this casting, a major role box can now be checked off for the previously mentioned upcoming superhero film, and that’s great news.

James Gunn also seems to be quite pleased with this casting decision for his latest movie. Around the time the news broke, Gunn took to Instagram to share a photo of Eidinger as well as one of Brainiac from the comics. The writer/director also dropped a message as his caption:

To say that I’m intrigued by this casting would be an understatement. Over the years, James Gunn has tapped some interesting stars for roles, and that’s especially true when it comes to villains. (His decision to cast Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was particularly inspired.) Based on Eidinger’s body of work, I think he can bring gravitas to his cold and calculating DC character and help make him a layered antagonist.

Ahead of this latest bit of news, several high-profile actors were linked to the role of Brainiac, an uber intelligent programming system with ties to Superman’s planet of birth, Krypton. One of those stars was Guardians alum Dave Bautista, but Gunn later denied that he and his former collaborator had ever spoken about a potential Man of Tomorrow role. That alleged shortlist also included Sam Rockwell, Claes Bang and Matt Smith, who was the basis of fan art involving the comic book villain.

It’s something of a relief that we can finally put the array of rumors to rest now that Lars Eidinger has secured the role of Brainiac. Considering that production on MoT doesn’t even begin until the spring of 2026, it’ll surely be sometime before fans receive their first official glimpse of Eidinger in costume. In the meantime, I’d expect fan art to hit the web as well as continued theories as to how Eidinger’s character fits into the story James Gunn is planning to tell.

Man of Tomorrow is set to open in theaters on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, grab and HBO Max subscription to Superman and other DC-related content.

More to come...

With Superman and Creature Commandos having cracked open the DCU's first chapter along with Peacemaker's twisty second season, we're set for quite an exciting lineup of upcoming DC movies. Admittedly, James Watkins' Clayface is what I'm most impatiently waiting for among the 2026 movie releases, but I'm also beyond enthused about seeing Milly Alcock heading up her own interplanetary adventure for Craig Gillespie's Supergirl. Mostly to see Kara and Ruthye bonding and kicking ass, but also to see that lovable hunk of scruff Krypto.

The superpet, who was based largely on James Gunn's own dog, wasn't exactly the Man of Steel's best friend in the David Corsenswet-led feature, but that's because it's not his dog. Plus, he did save Supes, and made Lex Luthor look like a rag doll, so the scales were balanced in the end. But as evidenced in the first Supergirl trailer, the four-legged beast hasn't changed his opinions about Kara's cousin, and takes no issue with peeing on his face in the Daily Planet.

During the teaser trailer launch event that took place at CCXP 25 in Brazil (via ScreenRant), James Gunn addressed Krypto's situation when we see him again. (That first sentiment won't be any surprise, either, given the peeing incident.) According to Gunn:

It's easy to take Kara's side on this one, since Krypto is a fuzzball cutie and he just deserves all the scritchings and scratchings!

But as Gunn implies, that's really only the case when he's around his owner, and not so much around that other lump who sometimes has glasses on and sometimes doesn't. Regardless, it doesn't sound like he'll be extremely well-behaved and obedient in the upcoming action-adventure. However, rather than dealing with Clark's huffy-puffy gruff when he misbehaves, the pup will likely still get all the love from Kara.

To be sure, there will be plenty of moments for Krypto to wreck shop in Supergirl, as he follows along with Kara and Eve Ridley's Ruthye Marye Knoll on a galaxy-spanning quest for revenge and justice. I'm hoping to see Krypto get a toothy mouthful of an overly sensitive body part or two from Krem of the Yellow Hills, the film's villain portrayed by Matthias Schoenaerts. Check out the doggy and move in the first teaser trailer below.

James Gunn's own dog Ozu memorably went berserk watching the on-screen Krypto, so it'll be fun to see if the pet continues suit for Supergirl, or if seeing CGI versions of himself is old hat now.

Fans will be able to decide for themselves whether Krypto is a good boy or if Krypto is the best boy when Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26, 2026.

James Gunn has a pretty important job as the head of creative development for DC Films. However, he also has a second job debunking all the rumors that get started surrounding his films. Gunn clearly doesn’t like it when wild rumors that are untrue start to gain traction, and the latest making the rounds for his Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow has him particularly annoyed.

The major casting rumor surrounding upcoming DC movies right now is who will play the follow-up's villain, with the prevailing theory being that classic Superman baddie Brainiac will fill that role. In fact, a new rumor claimed Gunn is looking at his former Guardians of the Galaxy buddy Dave Bautista for the part, calling him the “top choice.” Not so fast, though. Gunn took on the rumor from all sides on Threads, saying:

James Gunn doesn’t state outright that Brainiac isn’t the character in question, leaving that door open. However, he shuts down the idea of Dave Bautista playing that part. He clearly states there have been no discussions about the former Drax playing any role in Man of Tomorrow and indicates that most, if not all, of the other rumors are also untrue.

Bsautista isn’t the first name rumored for the role of Brainiac. It’s also been claimed that there was a short list for the part that included the likes of Matt Smith and Sam Rockwell. Gunn has not addressed that rumor directly, so it’s possible that it’s true, and he simply hasn’t seen it, but what’s more likely is that Gunn is including that list among those that he says have not auditioned or been discussed "at all.”

To be fair, Dave Bautista wouldn’t be a terrible choice to play Brainiac, or, honestly, any other Superman antagonist. Even Gunn seems to acknowledge that, as rumors go, this one makes more sense than some, but says he’s more irritated by it because of his existing relationship with Dave Bautista. Gunn continued…

The odds of seeing Dave Bautista in the DCU at some point are pretty good. The two clearly like working together. And Bautista as Brainiac wouldn’t be a terrible piece of casting. However, anybody excited by it should probably temper their expectations. While seeing somebody in that role still seems likely, the actor who eventually gets it may be somebody who has not been mentioned yet.

I thought I’d clocked every major swing James Gunn took with his 2025 take on Superman. The brighter tone. The emphasis on optimism. The quiet promise that this wasn’t going to be another grim reboot pretending hope was a liability. I watched closely. Or at least, I thought I had — until Gunn slipped in a Universe change so small, so nerdy, and so deeply rooted in the hit 2000s television show Smallville that it caught me entirely off guard.

In a response to a fan on Threads, Gunn confirmed that the decision to swap out the familiar “LexCorp” for “LuthorCorp” was a decision he directly credits to Smallville. The fan had written:

If that made your brain light up, you’re not alone. After the fan thanked Gunn for the change, Gunn’s response was brief and quick, giving credit where it was due. The director wrote:

For longtime Smallville fans, LuthorCorp isn’t a new moniker. The CW series consistently used the more formal name, emphasizing Lex’s obsession with legacy, power, and respectability. It wasn’t branding for branding’s sake — it was about control and perception. Lex didn’t want to be seen as a comic-book villain-in-waiting. He wanted to be taken seriously as a leader. LuthorCorp sounded colder, sharper, and more permanent. LexCorp always felt a little too cute by comparison.

What’s fascinating is how quietly Gunn folded this into the first chapter of the DCU. There was no major announcement, but a simple background detail rooted in a show that shaped an entire generation’s understanding of the Last Son of Krypton’s lore. It’s the kind of choice that doesn’t change the plot, but absolutely changes the texture of the world.

It also reinforces something Gunn has been signaling all along, and that is that this Superman isn’t built in a vacuum, as he’s pulling from decades of interpretations of the character. Smallville mattered. It influenced how people think about Clark, Lex, and the slow erosion of friendship into rivalry. Acknowledging that influence, even in something as granular as a corporate name, feels validating for this longtime fan of new DC movies.

And LutherCorp makes more sense than LexCorp. LexCorp always felt like a comic-book brand, whereas LuthorCorp feels like a multinational entity. This totally aligns with Lex’s personality and obsession with legacy. The best part is how easily this could’ve gone unnoticed. I missed it. A lot of people probably did. But once you see it, you can’t unsee it — and you start to wonder what other Smallville-adjacent choices are hiding in plain sight.

If this is the level of detail Gunn is willing to canonize, it's clear the Studio Co-CEO continues to respect the past without being trapped by it. And it makes me even more excited to see what is coming down the pike with the upcoming Supergirl, soon to hit the 2026 movie schedule, and the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, beginning to take shape.

For anyone who wants to see the roots of that choice, Smallville is streaming for everyone with a Hulu plan, while Gunn’s Superman is now available to watch at home with your HBO Max subscription.

Guillermo del Toro has so many movies that he never made that the topic literally has its own Wikipedia page. We nearly had a Guillermo del Toro version of Beauty and the Beast, and the story of his attempt to adapt H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness is legendary. But del Toro also has multiple “almost" superhero movies, including, it turns out, Man of Steel.

Guillermo del Toro has spoken openly about many of the movies he’s wanted to make, but never done, but one movie that he hasn’t talked about is Man of Steel. In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, del Toro is asked about the project, and while technically he doesn’t confirm or deny ever being attached, he does explain why he wouldn’t make a Superman movie, saying…

Guillermo del Toro saying “my vibe is dark” is possibly the most obvious statement ever uttered by a director, but the guy isn’t wrong. To be fair, Man of Steel was certainly a darker take on the character than James Gunn’s Superman, but it sounds like del Toro thinks Gunn’s version is the way the character should be portrayed, and the filmmaker knows he’s not the right guy for that sort of movie.

Guillermo del Toro’s praise for Superman seems to be specifically because he knows he wouldn’t make that sort of movie himself. He knows the sort of director he is, and what he can do. He appreciates what a filmmaker like James Gunn did with Superman specifically because he couldn’t have done that. He seems to feel Gunn’s version is what Superman should be. Here he looks elsewhere. Del Toro continued…

Del Toro’s attempt to make a Justice League Dark movie is a bit more well known than this Superman story. The project was confirmed around the same time Man of Steel was released and the then new DCEU was getting going. It's possible that del Toro's talks for Superman eventually shifted into Justice League Dark specifically because he knew that would be more in his wheelhouse.

Of course, del Toro doesn’t technically admit that was ever involved in Man of Steel, but if you look at the way he reacts physically to the question, there’s really no doubt. Check it out.

As an intellectual exercise, I would still love to see a Guillermo del Toro version of a Superman movie, but I completely understand why he would ultimately walk away from it. Now how do we get him and James Gunn together to make a Gotham by Gaslight movie because that needs to happen like yesterday.

Fans who follow Zack Snyder on social media have probably noticed a recent run of posts highlighting Henry Cavill’s Superman and other moments from his era of the DCEU. The director has been steadily revisiting his DC work over the past few weeks, sharing behind-the-scenes looks, portrait shots, and sometimes a full paragraph about what those characters meant to him. It’s sparked plenty of speculation among fans, especially with Cavill’s Supes still holding a significant emotional foothold in the fandom.

Snyder’s latest Instagram post adds some clarity — and maybe even a little fuel. In a new update, he celebrated passing 500,000 followers and thanked fans for sticking with him and his take on DC mythology. He also explained why he’s been posting so many images from his films: these characters mean something to him, and he’s moved that they still mean something to the audience, too. As he put it, “seeing that resonate with so many of you means the world.”

The Justice League director’s comments help explain the recent wave of Cavill photos — this isn’t just nostalgia bait. It’s more like a personal victory lap for a filmmaker whose vision remains hotly debated but deeply loved in certain corners of the fandom. As he so eloquently put it:

It’s clear that the visionary filmmaker’s Supes, in particular, continues to draw some of the strongest reactions, and each new photo of The Witcher veteran star in one of the fan favorite big screen Superman suits sends fans right back into the dream of what his completed trilogy might’ve looked like. There are a lot of people in one corner of the fandom who, even nearly four years after Cavill’s last turn as the Man of Steel, are not ready to let the past go. Let’s take a look at what some of the fans are saying.

How Zack Snyder’s Post Sparked A Wave Of Hype

Snyder’s latest post of the British actor didn’t just get likes — it set off a full-on eruption in the comments. Here are some of the standout reactions from longtime supporters of the Rebel Moon filmmaker:

• @supermanfitt: “Please tell me you’re finishing the trilogy 🔥”
• @james_c_colbourne: “The best Superman since Christopher Reeves. 💯”
• @kkymbb: “The detail on the suit goes crazyy.”
• @livingonmars2005: “I need him back, man. And Affleck, and Leto, and the team 🔥🔥”
• @beingsubhasish_: “#restoresnyderverse 🥹❤️”
• @cintropix: “Definitely the one and only Superman!”
• @patrick_cosplay03: “[Netflix], LET THIS MAN FINISH WHAT HE STARTED!!! #restorethesnyderverse”
• @__abhiram__j: “Posting–Cooking–Sleeping–Repeat 😐🔥”
• @elcaballerodragon: “My Superman.”
• @spider_fan.fact: “[Netflix], please do it”
• @gariusdabat: “We are so back, yall 🔥🔥”

The timing is hard to miss. DC is in the middle of a major transition, with James Gunn and Peter Safran building a new universe and Netflix preparing to acquire Warner Bros. and take over the wider DC library. The DCEU architect highlighting Cavill now brings fans back to a version of Superman that hit differently — one whose story never felt fully finished. Whether Snyder means anything beyond appreciation is unclear, but the reaction shows the interest is still there.

For now, his post is only that: a post sparking tons of fan speculation. There’s no hidden announcement and no confirmed future for Cavill’s Superman, just the Army of the Dead creator’s continued fondness for the character. Fans can revisit his era of DC, all still streaming (for now) with an HBO Max subscription. Whether anything more comes of this remains unknown, but Zack Snyder’s Last Son of Krypton clearly isn’t fading from memory anytime soon.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, with various cinematic universes competing at the box office. DC co-CEO James Gunn introduced a new DCU to audiences, with the first movie installment of Gods and Monsters being Superman. That movie featured David Corenswet in the title role, and he recently spoke to Wicked star Jonathan Bailey about the similarities between getting ripped for his role and training your voice for a role in a musical.

Bailey was recently named Sexiest Man Alive, and we saw a glimpse of his massive biceps in Wicked: For Good. While participating in Variety and CNN's Actors on Actors, he and Corenswet bonded over having the same trainer. As Bailey put it:

David Corenswet gained at ton of weight for Superman (which is streaming now with a HBO Max subscription). He definitely looks like he's go super strength, and he'll likely have to keep up this appearance for upcoming DC movies. As for the Bridgerton star, he's the internet's boyfriend and has countless fans thirsting over his physique.

Later in the same conversation, Bailey asked Corenswet about the physical transformation he made to play Clark Kent/Superman in the DCU. During the give and take they referenced Popeye, saying:

• Bailey: If you think about your — forgive me. I assume your body wasn’t — I mean, maybe you were born Superman?
• Corenswet: No, no, no. I was what one of my high school crushes very unaffectionately described as a string bean.
• Bailey: Some people are Popeye, and some people are Olive Oyl.
• Corenswet: And I was Olive Oyl. So yeah, I put on 40 pounds with Paolo.

40 pounds is a ton of weight to gain for Superman, so clearly the 32 year-old actor put in a ton of work. In addition to workouts with the aforementioned Paolo, Coresnswet had to consume a ton of calories in order to bulk up. Luckily that effort paid off, as he looked pretty incredible in his debut in the DCU.

Later in the same chat between the two heartthrobs, Jonathan Bailey related his prep to play Fiyero in Wicked to the physical work David Corenswet did ahead of Superman. He spoke to his fellow theater kid, saying:

Life can get in the way of filmmaking, and that's exactly what happened when it was time for Bailey and the company of Wicked to record "Dancing Through Life" for the first movie (which is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription). Specifically, director Jon M. Chu having to step away for a bit thanks to having a baby. But just like Corenswet trained his body, the Fellow Travelers actor worked on his voice to make sure it was able to handle days of singing on set.

Superman is streaming now on HBO Max and Wicked: For Good is still in theaters as part of the 2025 movie release list. Given both of Bailey and Corenswet's recent success, it feels like the sky's the limit in regards to their respective careers.

David Corenswet has been everywhere this year, and not just because Superman dominated the box office and the 2025 movie calendar. The actor is now addressing the viral behind-the-scenes clip that lit up social media — the moment he and director James Gunn were caught in a passionate creative debate on set. Instead of brushing it off, Corenswet is using the spotlight to explain what that exchange really meant to him.

In his Variety Actors on Actors sit-down with Jonathan Bailey, a conversation—part career therapy session, part geek-out over craft—he explained why he values that kind of creative back-and-forth. What Corenswet seems to reslish working with a director like James Gunn, who storyboards everything yet still invites actors to push and occasionally challenge him. The architect of the upcoming DCU movie slate even shared the footage on social media with pride, calling it one of his favorite moments on set. When it came to Corenswet's take on that specific conversation, he explained:

What makes the breakout talent’s take land is that it comes wrapped in humility and self-awareness, two traits highlighted throughout the interview. Corenswet admitted that his instinct to question everything has been with him since theater school. He continued:

That push-pull between instinct and surrender is exactly what shows up in the behind-the-scenes footage Gunn shared on Instagram. The clip, pulled from Adventures of Making Superman, captures their passionate debate over Clark’s climactic speech to Lex Luthor. The director keeps urging Corenswet to lean deeper into Superman’s vulnerability, while the Pearl veteran asks for clarity about why the character would reach that emotional pitch.

It’s the kind of exchange audiences rarely see on a massive studio production — an open, respectful argument in front of the whole crew, ending with the heartthrob performer returning to set and delivering the take that brought both DC Studio co-CEOs to tears.

Below is the video Gunn posted, giving fans a real-time look at the moment:

Moments like this explain why David Corenswet’s take on the Man of Steel has resonated so widely. He’s approaching the role with the same mix of vulnerability and precision that shows up in that on-set debate, and the final film reflects it. If anything, the clip only deepened my appreciation for the thought that went into shaping Clark’s emotional arc. Corenswet's performance — paired with Gunn’s vision for Chapter One of the DCU and beyond — makes the movie worth revisiting, or catching for the first time if you’ve somehow missed it.

If the behind-the-scenes footage has you curious to see how it all plays out on screen, Superman is now streaming with an HBO Max subscription.