James Gunn’s Superman: Man of Tomorrow Movie Title Is Genius for 3 Reasons (And I Can Prove It)

The DC Universe’s future just got a little clearer with the recent announcement that the world of Superman would be further explored in the July 2027 feature Man of Tomorrow. This James Gunn directorial effort will apparently chronicle Superman and Lex Luthor being forced to work together to combat some gigantic, new threat. As if that proposed plotline isn’t already eye-catching, there’s also that title. Rather than calling this some variation on Superman II, this title will have the standalone moniker of Man of Tomorrow, rooted in Superman’s nickname that dates back to 1939.

This bold naming choice deviates from typical modern superhero movie naming norms, where even superhero monikers getting passed to new people (like with Captain America) are treated as further sequels in a pre-existing franchise. In three fundamental ways, this name is an ingenious decision and offers exciting teases for what kind of unique artistic impulses Man of Tomorrow could explore.

1) It Emphasizes That The Story Isn’t Just About Superman

Before Man of Tomorrow’s title and plot were officially revealed, writer/director James Gunn was always hesitant to dub the film either Superman II or a typical standalone Superman sequel. In describing this project’s concrete plot, he’s made sure to emphasize that it’s equally a Lex Luthor solo movie as much as a return to the cast and world of Superman. Eschewing the word “Superman” in Man of Tomorrow’s title helps sell that idea. Plus, while that name is a nickname for Superman, its use here could refer to either Lex or Supes.

After all, Lex, with all his technology and vision of dominating the planet, is also a “Man of Tomorrow,” albeit of a different sort compared to Superman. There’s so much that can be interpreted into the choice of these three words, which, on its own, instantly conveys that this title is doing something right. More importantly, this title already suggests this next entry in the DC Universe will be a two-hander rather than a straightforward Superman-centric adventure.

2) It Suggests a New Aesthetic Rather Than Mimicking The First Film

With the Man of Tomorrow title, Gunn and company also have an open invitation to give this 2027 blockbuster a distinct visual aesthetic compared to Superman. After all, the title already doesn’t promise audiences the same movie they saw in July 2025. That bursts open the door for all kinds of exciting new visual possibilities. Now, nobody is expecting Man of Tomorrow to suddenly be shot on VistaVision and/or 70mm photography, given the cinematography norms of prior Gunn blockbusters.

Still, a DC Universe feature more focused on Lex could incorporate more arch camera angles or distinctively ominous color cues compared to the bubbly imagery dominating Superman. Not confining this entry to just being a standard two-hour extension of Superman means that it can carve out its own visual identity.

3) It Helps Further Distinguish the DC Universe From Other Superhero Franchises

Typical superhero movie franchises have unabashedly embraced the naming scheme of Superhero Name: Subtitle for sequels. It’s been the norm not just for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also for the DC Extended Universe and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Save for the occasional Spider-Man 2 or Iron Man 3, the naming schemes of these follow-ups are meant to explicitly remind audiences of superhero movies they already watched and enjoyed before. With the DC Universe’s first project that hews closest to a “sequel,” Man of Tomorrow establishes that this franchise will have a different approach to follow-ups.

Rather than standard sequels, the DC Universe will apparently just do new standalone movies that follow up on pre-existing mythos and characters. This approach is one of the many ways that the DC Universe is attempting to carve out a unique aesthetic compared to other superhero franchises, many of which have run solo superhero sagas like Thor or Captain America into the ground with four or more installments. Instead of regurgitating familiar brand names, Man of Tomorrow’s title promises the possibility that the next adventure for the DC Universe’s Superman and Lex will be a completely different beast.

In a challenging environment for superhero films, anyone trying to enter this field needs to take big risks and swings. Man of Tomorrow’s title suggests that the DC Universe is preparing to do just that, or at the very least, redefine the long-standing standard naming conventions for superhero movie sequels.

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