James Gunn Promises a ‘Less Comic Booky’ Man of Tomorrow

by

Although Man of Tomorrow, James Gunn’s sequel to this year’s Superman, isn’t scheduled to be released until summer 2027, the writer/director is already noting differences between the two films. During an interview on the Ringer-Verse podcast, he explained that Superman “feels more like a traditional comic book” in certain aspects, compared to the Superman and Lex Luthor relationship he plans to delve into in the upcoming movie.

James Gunn says ‘MAN OF TOMORROW’ will be “less comic booky” than ‘SUPERMAN.’

“[The film] has to do with the dual characters of Lex and Superman at the centre.”

(Via: )

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) September 21, 2025

Many reviewers liked the general feel of Superman, with some saying it “captures the spirit of classic DC Silver Age comics,” and others commenting, “This Superman film finally shows us why these iconic characters have remained popular for almost 100 years.” However, James Gunn appears determined to lead the DC Universe (DCU) in a new and distinct direction.

Take the Gunn, Leave the Comic Booky

The Silver Age of comics, often mentioned in relation to Superman, describes comic books – mostly from DC Comics – aimed at children and published from the mid-1950s to 1970. However, the Peacemaker that James Gunn appears to have used as his biggest influence isn’t the one from the 1960s; it’s the more intense and realistic version from the late 1980s. Gunn also stresses that the Peacemaker TV show on HBO Max is a key element of his DC Universe.

He shared with Ringer-Verse, “Episode 8 [from Peacemaker season 2] is incredibly significant to the story of Man of Tomorrow.” Gunn also mentioned on his social media that Peacemaker serves as a prequel to Man of Tomorrow.

Peacemaker has faced criticism due to its explicit content, including nudity, intense violence, and often offensive jokes. Essentially, it’s a stark contrast to the typically wholesome and family-oriented image of Superman.

If a less “comic booky” style for James Gunn means moving away from the older, more fantastical Silver Age of comics, will viewers expect Man of Tomorrow to resemble its earlier series, Peacemaker? We’ll have to wait and see, but Gunn will undoubtedly share plenty of details as things develop.

Gunn Talks (and Talks, and Talks) Upcoming Projects — Not Just Man of Tomorrow

There’s much more going on in the DCU than Superman and Peacemaker.

The eight-part series Lanterns, featuring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, and helmed by James Hawes, is set to premiere on HBO Max next year. James Gunn explains, “It has a very different feel compared to Superman.”

The latest installment in the Superman story, Supergirl, featuring Milly Alcock and helmed by Craig Gillespie, will be released in cinemas on June 26, 2026. James Gunn shared with Howard Stern that Milly Alcock “might be the best bit of casting I’ve ever done in my entire life.”

A Batman will eventually appear in the DC Universe (distinct from Matt Reeves’ standalone The Batman film), but the actor to play him in The Brave and the Bold hasn’t been chosen yet. James Gunn recently told The Hollywood Reporter that while watching 1923, he wasn’t looking for someone to play the Caped Crusader. 1923 stars Brandon Sklenar, who many fans think would be a great Batman and has said he’d like the role.

It appears Sklenar isn’t the only actor interested in playing Bruce Wayne. Many prominent actors are actively seeking the role and are directly contacting James Gunn to express their interest. Gunn recently shared with IGN, “I can’t tell you the amount of big actors that have told me they want to be Batman.”

James Gunn claims that a lot of well-known actors are interested in taking on the role of Batman; he also clarified whether THE SUICIDE SQUAD is officially part of the new DCU canon.

— rhinexus (@rhinexus) September 30, 2025

As we’ve mentioned before, Gunn has a definite idea of what Batman’s costume will look like in The Brave and the Bold. And, different from Man of Tomorrow, he’s aiming for a suit that’s more faithful to the comic books, not less. However, his comments make us wonder how much control he’s exerting as co-CEO of DC Studios. Typically, directors handle choices about casting and costumes. And it’s unclear whether Andy Muschietti is still the director.

Although it appears James Gunn is mainly concentrating on Man of Tomorrow, with also overseeing the large DCU as a high priority, he still makes time to share his thoughts on other DC projects. In a YouTube promotional video for the new video game, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Gunn states that the game “brings together all the different aspects of Batman that fans have enjoyed throughout the years.”

It’s difficult to say exactly how much he was involved, considering everything else he was already handling, so his level of participation will likely remain a guess.

James Gunn gives a monologue on the legacy of Batman:

There’s a certain appeal to Batman that resonates with people globally. Is it the compelling, sad backstory that inspires hope, or is it the fact that Batman consistently draws incredibly talented artists from various creative fields…

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 20, 2025

No matter what artistic choices are made for Man of Tomorrow, those who worked on Lego Batman don’t seem interested in moving away from a style heavily inspired by comic books.

Final Thoughts

Superman received positive feedback for capturing the classic style of Silver Age comic books. However, labeling the series Peacemaker as a precursor to a Man of Tomorrow story that feels less like a traditional comic book has left fans uncertain about the direction of the DCU. At the same time, James Gunn consistently takes a prominent role in all DCU projects, even those he isn’t writing or directing, which some believe overshadows other creatives and raises concerns about whether he’s taking on too much.

Suggesting a Man of Tomorrow that’s less like a comic book might be a way to prevent audiences from getting tired of superheroes, but the actual issue could be people getting tired of James Gunn’s work.

Read More

2025-10-01 15:59