Nicholas Hoult Teases Major Update on DC’s Man of Tomorrow

Nicholas Hoult has read James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow script, and he sounds genuinely psyched to keep being Lex Luthor. If you're wondering what that actually means for the next Superman movie, here’s the lay of the land.

Hoult on playing Lex (and why he’s into Gunn’s take)

Talking to Variety, Hoult said he feels lucky to join the long line of actors who have taken a swing at Lex Luthor, and he clearly likes the way Gunn is shaping the character going forward. Translation: he feels looked after, he enjoys playing this guy, and the script made him happy. Simple as that.

Gunn’s tease: this isn’t just Superman’s movie

Over on Howard Stern’s show, Gunn gave the clearest snapshot of where Man of Tomorrow is headed. The short version: Lex and Superman won’t exactly be buddies, but they will have to team up, at least partially, to fight something bigger. And Gunn emphasized it’s not a one-man show.

"It is a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. And it’s more complicated than that, but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie."

That’s a pretty notable framing. A Superman sequel that doubles as a Lex character piece is not the usual playbook, and I’m curious how far they push the uneasy alliance angle.

What we know right now

• Title and saga: Man of Tomorrow is the follow-up to 2025’s Superman and the next chapter in what Gunn is calling the Superman Saga.
• Cast: David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
• Writer/director: James Gunn is writing and directing the sequel.
• Plot shape: Gunn says Superman and Lex will have to work together against a larger threat, and the movie will focus on both of them in a real way.
• Rumors: Brainiac is reportedly the villain. Wonder Woman and a 'major new male character' are also rumored to show up.
• Timeline: Filming is expected to start in April 2026.
• Release date: July 9, 2027, in theaters.
• DCU placement: This will be the fourth movie in the new DC Universe.

Plenty is still under wraps, but between Hoult calling the script 'awesome' and Gunn framing this as a two-hander, Man of Tomorrow sounds like it’s leaning into the Superman/Lex dynamic in a way we don’t usually see on the big screen. I’m in.