DC Studios’ ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Is Already Halfway Done and Sounds Like the DCU’s Biggest Film Yet
The DC Universe has been on a genuine roll since James Gunn officially launched his era of the franchise with ‘Superman’ in the summer of 2025. That film pulled in more than $600 million in box office earnings, not counting merchandise sales, and with ‘Supergirl’ now arriving in theaters, momentum for what comes next is building at a remarkable pace.
‘Supergirl’ is set to premiere in theaters on June 26, 2026, with ‘Clayface’ following on October 23, and the HBO series ‘Lanterns’ slated to debut on August 16. Each of these titles is weaving threads into the larger tapestry that Gunn has been carefully constructing since taking the reins at DC Studios alongside co-CEO Peter Safran. For fans keeping close watch on the calendar, the next major theatrical milestone in that plan is ‘Man of Tomorrow’, and the latest production update makes it sound as ambitious as anything the studio has attempted.
At the blue carpet premiere of ‘Supergirl’ in Brooklyn, DC Studios executive producer Lars P. Winther offered the most candid look yet at where ‘Man of Tomorrow’ stands. Speaking via The Brandon Davis Show from the premiere, Winther said the film is already halfway through shooting, adding: “Man of Tomorrow is going to be epic. We’re already halfway through shooting. We move quick[ly].” Principal photography began on April 20, 2026, at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, under the working title ‘Exodus’, with additional filming planned in the United Kingdom and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Winther also shed light on the expanded role Milly Alcock’s Supergirl will play in the film. He explained that her arc in ‘Supergirl’ ends in a way that positions Kara to reconnect with her cousin Clark and return to a more Earth-based story, noting: “She’s done her wild ways, and now she’s going to try to get back in with her cousin and be more on Earth again.” He added that DC Studios already knows what the next film after ‘Man of Tomorrow’ will be, and that Alcock is a significant part of those plans too.
The film’s villain is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing aspects of the production. Lars Eidinger, who was cast as Brainiac following a worldwide search, characterized the character as “the incarnation of Satan” and drew comparisons between the role and Shakespearean extremes, while Gunn described Brainiac as representing what happens when intelligence completely loses its connection to humanity. Eidinger’s audition process was anything but ordinary, requiring a two-hour makeup session and a full 3D body scan at Trilith Studios. He was escorted under an umbrella while leaving the makeup room to ensure no outside photographers could capture what Brainiac looks like.
‘Man of Tomorrow’ stars David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult as Superman and Lex Luthor respectively, with the central story revolving around the two reluctantly teaming up to face the threat posed by Brainiac. The ensemble also includes Rachel Brosnahan, Isabela Merced, Frank Grillo, Aaron Pierre, and Adria Arjona. The film is scheduled for release in IMAX theaters on July 9, 2027, and will serve as the fourth installment in Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
With ‘Supergirl’ just hitting theaters and ‘Man of Tomorrow’ already burning through production at this pace, Gunn’s DCU is moving with a confidence that the franchise has rarely felt before. Whether it’s the Superman and Supergirl family dynamic or Brainiac finally making his long-awaited big-screen debut, there is a lot riding on this one — so what part of ‘Man of Tomorrow’ has you the most excited?
