Movies

Every Superman Movie Villain Ranked & Explained (2025)

BBG News

In James Gunn’s upcoming version of Superman, not only will Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, be a significant character, but he’ll also have some formidable adversaries other than Lex Luthor himself. David Corenswet plays the Man of Steel, and it appears that there is already intense animosity between these two characters in the new DC Universe. However, it looks like the traditional DC supervillain won’t stand alone as a primary antagonist in the inaugural live-action DCU film.

In the freshly unveiled preview for Superman, the latest embodiment of the Man of Steel is depicted battling one peril after another. To clarify, the new Superman is seen being detained, assaulted, and sent tumbling from the heavens on multiple occasions by an assortment of foes. With this context in place, here’s a rundown of the villains that Superman currently has (to our knowledge).

9. Lex Luthor

Superman’s Classic Arch-Foe

Initially, it is indicated that Lex Luthor plays a significant role as the main adversary in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film. Known for harboring intense hatred towards Superman, Luthor struggles to comprehend the level of affection bestowed upon the Man of Steel by the world at large, considering him more an alien entity than human: “He’s not a man, but an otherworldly being that has somehow become the center of global discourse.” Based on this perspective, promotional materials for Superman hint that Luthor will spare no effort to take down Superman, even resorting to breaching his Fortress of Solitude.

It’s also been revealed that Lex will likely have a hand in more than just a few of Superman’s upcoming adversaries, with Ultraman and The Engineer being notable examples. Both characters are seen with Lex at the Fortress, although it’s possible that others may share similar ties to him. Moreover, the Superman trailer hints that Lex could potentially hold the position of President of the United States, a role he mirrors from the original DC comics.

8. The Engineer

Angela Spica

In the comic book series, Angela Spica’s character, Engineer, is portrayed by María Gabriela de Faría. She primarily uses nanotechnology for her attacks. Connected to the group called The Authority in the DC Universe, this Engineer has teamed up with Lex Luthor and can be seen clashing with Superman, as well as his canine companion Krypto, within the Fortress of Solitude. With her buzz-saw constructs made from nanotech, Spica poses a significant threat to Superman’s robot helpers, and will display some visually stunning abilities. It appears that she might even outsmart Mister Terrific, who is shown lying unconscious in the ‘Superman’ trailer before The Engineer targets Kal-El directly.

7. Hammer of Boravia

A New Foe Wearing A Powersuit

In the upcoming DCU film directed by James Gunn, a new adversary known as “The Hammer of Boravia” has been confirmed. This golden-armored enemy hails from the war-torn nation of Boravia, which Superman finds himself entangled in, as suggested by movie previews and trailers. The Hammer is seen pursuing Superman in the latest trailer while Lois Lane discusses the unforeseen costs and consequences of his actions. It seems that The Hammer has come to make Kal-El pay for his deeds, regardless of his intentions to help and save lives that were at risk.

6. Ultraman

A Mysterious Foe Matching Superman’s Strength

In a dark suit, mask, and goggles, the identity of Ultraman remains a mystery in James Gunn’s interpretation of Superman. Despite this, his strength and power are evident as he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Man of Steel. Furthermore, it appears that Ultraman functions as Lex Luthor’s protector, but he is also seen collaborating with Rick Flag Sr. from ARGUS and the military when Superman is apprehended.

In the comic books, there’s speculation that Ultraman might not be an evil counterpart of Superman from another reality (Earth-3), but rather Bizarro, a distorted clone of Superman, originally created by Lex Luthor. This theory adds intrigue to the anticipation of discovering who or what lies beneath Ultraman’s mask, should Superman ever manage to remove it during a fight with this enigmatic adversary.

5. Eve Teschmacher & Otis Burg

Luthor’s Classic Hench People

Sara Sampaio portrays Eve Tessmacher, who appears sporadically alongside Lex and at LexCorp. In the comics and original Richard Donner Superman movies, Eve serves as Luthor’s trusted assistant and occasionally love interest. Furthermore, it has been announced that Terence Rosemore will be playing Otis Burg, Lex’s trusted sidekick.

4. Maxwell Lord

CEO of LordTech

It has been verified that Sean Gunn’s character, Maxwell Lord, will also appear in the upcoming Superman film. Known as a billionaire CEO of LordTech, Maxwell Lord is confirmed to be the creator of the Justice League, a team of new heroes set to debut in the upcoming DCU movie. So far, the known members include Hawkgirl, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), and Mister Terrific.

Although he shares some similarities with the Max Lord character from the comics, who established the Justice League International, it’s important to consider if the DCU’s version of Maxwell Lord might possess a sinister side or concealed intentions for his superhero team. Given that he is set to appear in Peacemaker season 2, this intrigue only grows stronger.

3. Metamorpho

Superman’s Jailer?

As a diehard DC Comics fan, I can’t help but notice that in the latest DCU trailer, it’s none other than Metamorpho, who usually plays the hero, found himself locked up alongside Superman. It seems like Rex Mason, using his powers of shape-shifting, might have concocted some kryptonite. This intriguing twist hints that perhaps Metamorpho is working under Lex Luthor’s command and is tasked with keeping the Man of Steel behind bars, exploiting Superman’s age-old weakness to keep him in check.

In the upcoming Superman series, Anthony Carrigan’s character, Metamorpho, will make his live-action debut. It’s hinted that his backstory might be more complex and potentially sinister before he fully transforms into a hero. If it turns out that Metamorpho is working for Lex Luthor, either voluntarily or not, this could tie in with his comic book history where Rex had early associations with the corrupt billionaire Simon Stagg, CEO of Stagg Enterprises, who was responsible for transforming Rex into Metamorpho in the comics.

2. A Giant Kaiju

Terrorizing Metropolis

Despite its origin remaining a mystery, trailers hint that a colossal, fire-spewing monster is set to wreak havoc on Metropolis at some point. This development promises exciting action scenes, as suggested by the sneak peeks of Superman’s confrontations with this beast. It will be intriguing to discover where this titanic creature originated and who might be responsible for releasing it upon the City of Tomorrow.

1. Solaris the Tyrant Sun?

Superman Will Feature A Giant Cosmic Threat

In various sneak peeks and previews of Superman, there are several shots featuring a massive cosmic orb floating over Metropolis as Superman and Lois Lane share a moment. It seems like John Stewart (Guy Gardner’s successor in the Green Lantern Corps) is on screen, using his power ring to attempt to control this celestial body. The prevailing speculation among fans online suggests that this cosmic entity might be none other than DC Comics’ Solaris, the Tyrant Sun.

In comic books, Solaris is a fictional, intelligent sun with immense destructive power and an unusual animosity towards Superman. This character was brought to life by Grant Morrison and plays a significant role in the comic “All-Star Superman.” It’s plausible that the massive cosmic entity depicted in Superman‘s trailers could be the DC Universe’s interpretation of Solaris, although this hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.

James Gunn’s Superman is set to release in theaters on July 11th, 2025.

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

Read More

2025-05-14 23:07

Previous post The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episode 3 Release Date Revealed – War Heats Up!
Next post Alessandra Ambrosio Shares Steamy Cannes Kiss with New Beau Buck Palmer!