… For the record, we do NOT think that James Gunn is going to destroy Metropolis and go straight to some cataclysmic doom and gloom story in only his second Superman movie. Ahem, this is no longer the DCEU, right?
But it does seem like he is taking a page from that tale and others where in spite of their general animosity, a love of Metropolis and the like will bring Superman and Luthor into a state of detente and partnership. It certainly is ironic given how much virulent xenophobia and bigotry Hoult’s Luthor expressed toward immigrant Superman in this past summer’s film. If one wants to be completely guileless and “punk rock” in a Clark Kent sense, one might even assume the Man of Tomorrow’s big speech about being a good person got through to the narcissistic billionaire at the end of Superman.
… More likely though is that like Charles Xavier in a 20th Century Fox X-Men movie, Clark shouldn’t get too close to trusting his, um, old friend.
The announcement also raises the question of what threat could be bad enough to cause them to join forces? Perhaps a brainiac even more vain and egotistical than the LuthorCorp CEO?
The news of Man of Tomorrow getting fast tracked just two years after Superman, and one year after next summer’s anticipated Supergirl movie starring Milly Alcock, also suggests plans for Gunn’s DCU are changing fast after the fairly warm reception Superman received. The DC Universe’s cinematic kickoff indeed crossed $600 million worldwide, a first for a DC movie in some years. That’s a far cry from the heights of some of DC’s 2010s movies, but the bad taste those films left in audiences’ mouths seemed to presage steep drop-offs in their sequels and follow-ups.
In two years, then, we might be able to test whether like Batman Begins to The Dark Knight, if Superman and perhaps the greater DC Universe is on a different trajectory. Now if you’ll excuse us, it’s time to blast some Mighty Crabjoys.
