1 Peacemaker Scene Sets Up James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow

by

Just recently, fans received the most significant hint yet about James Gunn’s next Superman movie, Man of Tomorrow. The hit HBO Max series serves as a link between the two DCU films, with the latter scheduled for release in theaters in the Summer of 2027. Gunn has repeatedly stated that Peacemaker will be a crucial part of what’s being called the “Superman Saga,” and that the season finale will feature major spoilers and insights into what viewers can anticipate from Man of Tomorrow. The newest episode delivers on Gunn’s promise with a pivotal scene that will dramatically change the future of the DCU.

During the sixth episode of its second season, Christopher Smith is shocked to discover his idea of a perfect dimension is actually Earth-X, a world controlled by Nazis. While Peacemaker, Vigilante, Adebayo, Harcourt, and Economos are investigating this perilous alternate reality, the episode also focuses on Rick Flag Sr., who embarks on a risky course of action that will likely lead to trouble. Within this storyline, Peacemaker features a particularly memorable scene that DCU fans should watch to fully grasp the story of James Gunn’s forthcoming Man of Tomorrow film.

1 Peacemaker Scene Perfectly Sets Up James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow

“Ignorance is Chris,” the sixth episode of Peacemaker‘s second season, contains a crucial scene for establishing the bigger picture of the DCU, especially Man of Tomorrow. The scene unfolds when the new director of A.R.G.U.S. visits an inmate at Belle Reve prison. This prisoner is revealed to be the supervillain Lex Luthor, played again by Nicholas Hoult from Superman. Amanda Waller (Flag) questions Luthor about interdimensional technology, noting the connection between the technology that damaged Metropolis and Peacemaker’s device. Staying true to his character, Luthor refuses to cooperate until he’s promised something worthwhile in return. Although Flag can’t grant Luthor his freedom, she offers to move him to a different prison, one without the powerful metahumans he dislikes. The A.R.G.U.S. director also suggests that helping with this could give Luthor “an opportunity for redemption,” which visibly intrigues him. This prompts Luthor to reveal the identity of one of his employees, Sydney Happerson, who can assist in tracking Peacemaker’s portal. The scene ends before Flag can fully explain her deal with Luthor, leaving viewers to wonder what’s next for the imprisoned villain.

Fans expect Lex Luthor to reappear with Superman, but not necessarily as a villain. James Gunn has explained that the new movie will feature a partnership between Luthor and Superman, as they join forces to combat a danger that’s larger than either of them. Luthor’s Peacemaker scene cleverly prepares the way for Man of Tomorrow, showing how the villain starts to rebuild his reputation and return to public favor. His agreement with A.R.G.U.S. probably means he’ll have a bigger part in the organization, maybe as an advisor helping them find and capture metahumans who threaten the world. This aligns with the “chance for redemption” Rick Flag mentioned at Belle Reve, but it also lets A.R.G.U.S. closely monitor the dangerous supervillain. It also places Lex Luthor in a good position for his part in Man of Tomorrow. No longer imprisoned and hidden, Luthor will be easily accessible to share his knowledge when this “bigger threat” arrives on Earth.

What Threat Will Superman and Lex Luthor Face in Man of Tomorrow?

Peacemaker sets the stage for Lex Luthor’s comeback, but it leaves viewers wondering about one big thing: What danger is heading to Earth? The villain appearing in Man of Tomorrow will need to be a significant threat to force , temporarily working together to save the planet. Many fans believe Brainiac could be the main villain in Man of Tomorrow. Brainiac is a super-intelligent robot from space and one of Superman’s most famous enemies who hasn’t yet appeared in a major movie. He was considered for several Superman films, including Man of Steel 2, the sequel to Superman Returns that was never made, and even James Gunn’s first Superman movie. Now, Gunn seems to be hinting at Brainiac’s involvement in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, posting a picture of the completed script with a brain on the cover. Although Brainiac hasn’t been officially confirmed, he’s currently the most likely candidate to be the big threat Earth faces in the next chapter of the Superman story.

Regardless of whether Man of Tomorrow includes Brainiac, the movie’s central conflict will be the most significant challenge the DCU has encountered so far. General Zod, a Kryptonian determined to rebuild his home world on Earth, is another possible antagonist. A potential invasion from Peacemaker‘s Earth-X could also be large enough to force Lex Luthor and Superman to team up. However, even their combined power might not be sufficient to overcome the coming danger. James Gunn has suggested that other heroes will appear in Man of Tomorrow, such as Hawkgirl, Green Lantern (Jon Stewart), and Supergirl. Because of this, Man of Tomorrow may show the first official team-up in response to a threat like Brainiac, Zod, or Earth-X.

Peacemaker recently changed things up for the DCU by starting an unexpected path to forgiveness for Lex Luthor. After being defeated in Superman, Luthor is now trying to regain public trust. Even though he’s scheduled to work with Superman in Man of Tomorrow, he’s still not someone to rely on. Fans will have to be patient and see what plans the villain is hiding as he attempts to break free and try to eliminate Superman once again.

New episodes of Peacemaker air Thursdays at 9:00 pm EST, exclusively on HBO Max.

Man of Tomorrow will open in theaters on July 9, 2027.

Read More

2025-10-03 23:10