James Gunn Calls It Quits With One of His Closest Collaborators on ‘Superman 2’

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A key member of James Gunn’s team won’t be joining him for the upcoming Superman 2 (also known as Man of Tomorrow). Gunn is preparing for a large-scale production of the sequel, which will feature a major DC villain threatening Earth. This new film also marks some changes in the production crew as Gunn develops the DC Universe.

Okay, so it’s official: Sam McCurdy will be handling the cinematography on the upcoming Superman film, which we’re now calling Man of Tomorrow. James Gunn himself confirmed it on Threads after a fan spotted a production listing. It’s a bit of a surprise, though, as it means we won’t be seeing Henry Braham behind the camera this time around – he was a frequent collaborator with Gunn, so that’s a noticeable change for this DC sequel.

James Gunn discussed his work with actor Chris McCurdy on the Crew Call with Anthony D’Alessandro podcast, with McCurdy also present. Gunn shared that after working together on Season 1 of Peacemaker, he was impressed by McCurdy’s creative approach and how well they connected, noting their strong and effortless working relationship.

Michael Bonvillain, the director of the ‘Peacemaker’ pilot, hired Sam, and then I started working with him. He was the second cinematographer on the first season, and I quickly admired his style and how well we all communicated on set. We just naturally connected and worked well together.

James Gunn and Henry Braham have collaborated on several projects, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and 3, The Suicide Squad, and Superman. They recently worked together on The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, filmed right before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Meanwhile, Matthew McCurdy will work with Gunn again after previously collaborating on Season 1 of Peacemaker. McCurdy’s other notable work includes Game of Thrones, Shogun, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

The upcoming film Man of Tomorrow is a direct sequel to the 2025 Superman movie, again directed by James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios. The film stars David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Frank Grillo, and Lars Eidinger. In a surprising turn, the story will feature Clark Kent and Lex Luthor working together to face a greater danger: the supervillain Brainiac. Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 9, 2027.

New Cinematographer’s Impact on Superman 2 

James Gunn is famous for his vibrant and colorful films, particularly his superhero movies from Marvel and DC. While Henry Braham was key in creating that look through his cinematography, the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow aims to achieve a similar visual style, guided by the vision of cinematographer Jeff McCurdy.

Superman 2 is packed with exciting scenes, particularly because it introduces Brainiac to the big screen in live-action for the first time. His distinctive appearance as a green-skinned alien is sure to be visually captivating, and the movie might expand the scope of the action into outer space, following the first film’s Earth-bound story.

James Gunn and Peter Braham created a visually striking and lively depiction of Earth in the new Superman film, emphasizing the architecture and natural landscapes throughout. Considering the work of cinematographer Henry McCurdy on Peacemaker – a project completed before it became part of Gunn’s DC Universe – we can expect his style to blend perfectly with the established look of this franchise.

Although we won’t see the finished product of McCurdy’s work until at least the end of the year—and maybe even later—Man of Tomorrow is already generating a lot of excitement for its visuals and storyline.

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2026-01-19 08:34