How a single piece of Jim Lee artwork reveals the ambitious future of the DCU
When James Gunn casually dropped that Jim Lee artwork on Instagram Wednesday afternoon, I literally had to do a double-take. There it was: Superman leaning against Lex Luthor in his iconic green and purple war suit, both figures rendered in Lee’s unmistakable style, with Superman holding a screwdriver and sporting that knowing smirk. The caption was simple: “Man of Tomorrow. In theatres July 9, 2027.”
But for those of us who’ve been following Superman comics since the Reagan era, this image carries weight that goes far beyond a simple sequel announcement. What Gunn just revealed isn’t just the next chapter in his Superman saga—it’s potentially the foundation for something we’ve never seen in a major superhero film: a proper Legion of Doom.
The War Suit That Changed Everything
Lex Luthor’s war suit first appeared in Action Comics #544 in June 1983, designed by the legendary George Perez as part of DC’s collaboration with Kenner’s Super Powers toy line. Having grown up collecting those action figures, I can tell you that Luthor in his purple and green armor was one of the most striking pieces in the entire collection. But the suit’s creation wasn’t just about merchandising—it fundamentally altered the dynamic between Superman and his greatest nemesis.
For decades, Lex had been relegated to plotting from the shadows, relying on proxies and elaborate schemes because he simply couldn’t match Superman physically. The war suit changed that equation entirely. Suddenly, Lex could go toe-to-toe with the Man of Steel, transforming him from a scheming scientist into what was essentially an evil Iron Man.
What strikes me about Gunn’s choice to feature the war suit so prominently is the timing. In his first Superman film, we saw Lex’s attempt to defeat Superman through a clone ultimately fail. Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor learned a crucial lesson: if you want to beat Superman, you can’t rely on intermediaries. You have to be able to face him yourself.
The fact that Gunn has confirmed the script is already complete tells me this isn’t a hasty decision made in response to box office success. This has been the plan all along, and the film’s $612.6 million worldwide gross simply gave Warner Bros. the confidence to move forward aggressively.
“Man of Tomorrow” Isn’t Just a Catchy Title
The title “Man of Tomorrow” carries serious comic book pedigree that goes beyond Superman’s classic nickname. The phrase was notably used in Alan Moore and Curt Swan’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” from 1986, which served as the final story for the pre-Crisis Superman. More intriguingly, there was also a 1995 comic series called “Superman: The Man of Tomorrow” that featured Lex Luthor’s return from imprisonment and his team-up with classic villains like Joker and Parasite.
But here’s what really gets my comic book collector heart racing: the 2020 animated “Superman: Man of Tomorrow” featured Lobo, Parasite, and Martian Manhunter, with a plot that involved Superman and Lex temporarily working together against a larger threat. Sound familiar?
The artwork Gunn shared—and the fact that David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult both posted complementary pieces by Jorge Jiménez and Mitch Gerads respectively—suggests we’re looking at both conflict and collaboration. Corenswet’s image shows the heroes standing together; Hoult’s shows them fighting. This duality feels intentional.
The Legion of Doom Setup We’ve Been Waiting For
Here’s where my decades of reading DC Comics kicks in with some educated speculation. The Legion of Doom originated in the 1978 “Challenge of the Super Friends” animated series, led by Lex Luthor assembling 13 supervillains to counter the Justice League. While the team has appeared in various animated projects and comics over the years, we’ve never seen a proper live-action adaptation.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. By July 2027, we’ll have had Supergirl (2026) and Clayface (2026) to expand the villain roster, plus the HBO series “Lanterns” to introduce more cosmic threats. Isabela Merced has already confirmed she’s returning as Hawkgirl, and we know from the first film that this DCU is populated with heroes like Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, and others.
What if “Man of Tomorrow” isn’t just about Superman and Lex? What if it’s about Lex realizing that to truly defeat this emerging league of heroes, he needs his own team? The war suit could be Lex’s proof of concept—his demonstration that he can physically match Superman—before he expands his recruitment efforts.
The Breakneck Production Timeline That Actually Makes Sense
Reports suggest filming will begin in June 2026, giving the production just 13 months from start to finish for a July 2027 release. On the surface, this seems rushed, but Gunn’s Marvel experience tells a different story. Having worked within the MCU’s notoriously tight schedules, he understands how to deliver quality content under pressure.
More importantly, Gunn has confirmed the script is already complete and he’s in the rewriting phase. This isn’t a situation where they’re scrambling to meet a deadline—this is a filmmaker who’s had his beats planned since before the first film was released.
The accelerated timeline also serves a strategic purpose. Getting “Man of Tomorrow” into theaters before Matt Reeves’ “The Batman Part II” in October 2027 ensures that Gunn’s DCU maintains momentum and market presence. It’s smart franchise management.
Looking Beyond the War Suit
What excites me most about this announcement isn’t just seeing Lex in his iconic armor—though as someone who’s been reading Superman comics since the 1980s, that’s pretty thrilling. It’s the bigger picture Gunn is painting.
The fact that this isn’t being positioned as “Superman 2” but rather as the next chapter in the “Superman Saga” suggests we’re looking at a more ensemble-driven story. The DCU has been methodically introducing heroes across multiple projects, and “Man of Tomorrow” feels like it could be where those threads start weaving together more significantly.
The Legion of Doom has always worked best as a dark mirror to the Justice League—each villain specifically chosen to counter a particular hero. If Gunn is thinking that far ahead (and everything about his approach suggests he is), then “Man of Tomorrow” could be laying the groundwork for the kind of villain team-up movie that would make “Avengers” look quaint by comparison.
The Bottom Line: What Man of Tomorrow Means for DCU’s Future
Superman proved that there’s still an audience for earnest, colorful superhero storytelling, earning over $600 million worldwide and becoming the year’s highest-grossing comic book movie. But more than that, it established the tone and world-building foundation that makes a Legion of Doom movie not just possible, but inevitable.
That Jim Lee artwork isn’t just promotional material—it’s a promise. A promise that Gunn understands the comics that inspired him, respects the source material that made us fall in love with these characters, and has the vision to bring concepts to the screen that we’ve been dreaming about for decades.
The Superman sequel, officially titled “Man of Tomorrow,” represents more than just another superhero movie. With Lex Luthor’s war suit making its live-action debut and the strategic expansion of the DCU through 2027, we’re looking at the potential foundation for the villain team-up movie that could redefine superhero cinema.
Mark your calendars for July 9, 2027. If my four decades of comic book reading has taught me anything, it’s that when Lex Luthor suits up in his war suit, it’s never just about Superman. It’s about changing the entire game.
What do you think? Are we finally going to get the Legion of Doom movie we’ve been waiting for? Share your theories in the comments below.