Paramount Reportedly Isn’t Happy With James Gunn’s ‘Man of Tomorrow’
James Gunn’s ‘Man of Tomorrow’ was meant to be the next big step for the new DC Universe. The ‘Superman’ sequel, which Gunn wrote and directed, picks up where the 2025 film left off. Principal photography is finished, and the movie is now in post-production ahead of its July 9, 2027 release.
The studio behind it has changed a lot since filming began. After Paramount-Skydance acquired Warner Bros., Gunn and Peter Safran stepped down as heads of DC Studios and handed control to former Marvel producer Jeremy Latcham. Gunn said he felt somewhat relieved to leave the corporate side behind and return to pure filmmaking.
Now a new report has raised concerns about the Superman sequel. In a column on Gunn and Safran’s time in charge, Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman wrote about a rumor that the studio wasn’t enthusiastic about how ‘Man of Tomorrow’ was coming together and now wants to edit out a lot of Gunn’s Easter-egg ephemera.
The claim should be treated with caution. Gleiberman presented it as an unconfirmed industry rumor and offered it as one of several possible reasons for the leadership change. Skydance hasn’t said publicly whether it plans to change the film’s editing.
The rumor is part of a broader critique. Gleiberman also questioned why the head of DC Studios was still busy directing films, and he argued that Gunn came across as a less effective corporate overseer than he is a filmmaker.
Here you go: the #Superman trailer. Krypto, take us home. Watch the teaser trailer now and ❤ this post to get updates from @superman before it hits theaters this July. https://t.co/w77kiKef54
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 19, 2024
Easter eggs are a big part of Gunn’s style, which is why the rumor caught fans’ attention. In the same column, Gleiberman described ‘Superman’ as very busy in tone: jokey, frenetic, and packed with Easter eggs and other self-conscious flourishes. Gunn has long filled his films with comic book cameos and hidden references, and he seemed to enjoy doing it on this one.
When production began, he shared a set photo on Instagram that included a chessboard and later confirmed on Threads that it was a deliberate nod to the famous 1997 rematch between Garry Kasparov and IBM’s Deep Blue. If the rumor is accurate, the version of ‘Man of Tomorrow’ that reaches theaters could look noticeably different from the one Gunn set out to make.
Some outlets have made much stronger claims. Cosmic Book News, citing unnamed insiders, reported that the film was considered too bloated and that some characters and Easter eggs might not make the final cut. None of those claims have been verified by a major trade outlet, and the studio hasn’t commented.
The sequel is shaping up as a 2-hander between David Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. The 2 are expected to team up against Brainiac. Rachel Brosnahan also returns, with newcomers Lars Eidinger, Aaron Pierre and Adria Arjona joining the cast.
Familiar faces are coming back as well. Nathan Fillion returns as Guy Gardner, with a new hairstyle after wearing the same bowl cut wig in ‘Superman’ and ‘Lanterns.’ Despite the turmoil, Gunn has sounded upbeat. He has publicly described making ‘Man of Tomorrow’ as a wonderful experience and said he will stay involved with other DC projects.
In his farewell statement, he also confirmed that the film is still set for its July 9, 2027 premiere. How much of his version reaches theaters may not be clear until the first trailer arrives.
Would you be disappointed if Paramount cut some of James Gunn's Easter eggs from Man of Tomorrow?
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