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Only 1 DC Villain Can Force Superman and Lex Luthor to Work Together in the DCU
It takes just a few minutes for the DC Universe to set the stage for the rivalry between Superman and Lex Luthor. Three years into his superhero career, the Man of Steel suffers his first loss at the hands of the Hammer of Boravia, a villain who owes his existence to Luthor. Superman slowly peels back the curtain on Luthor’s real scheme, as he puts together a major conflict overseas to goad the titular hero into sticking his nose where the world doesn’t think it belongs. By the end of the movie, Luthor has nowhere left to hide, and his rival lets him have it about his twisted mindset that lands him in prison.
Jail isn’t going to be Luthor’s final resting place, though. James Gunn has confirmed that a follow-up to Superman is in the works called Man of Tomorrow. While the Man of Steel will still have a major role, the spotlight will seemingly shift to Luthor, who is sure to have big plans for the DCU. It will be Superman’s job to keep him in line, but the idea of them working together only makes sense if they have a common enemy. Fortunately, DC has the perfect character for the job.
It Will Take a Major Threat to Get Superman and Lex Luthor on the Same Page
As great as it would be for Luthor to turn over a new leaf after witnessing Superman bare his heart, that’s not going to happen. The villain’s time in Belle Reeve will probably be spent coming up with a million different ways to remove the Man of Steel’s head from his body. However, if a villain arrives that Superman can’t handle on his own, he’ll have to reach out to the greatest mind on the planet. A few names come to mind when thinking about that situation, including the leader of Apokolips, Darkseid. It’s too early to go down that route, though, as Darkseid is an evildoer who would need the full force of the DCU to bring him down. The other option is a character who craves knowledge just as much as Luthor: Brainiac.
Superman might not know it, but he probably already has a major connection to Brainiac because, in most DC realities, the villain captures the capital city of Krypton, Kandor. In a few cases, Brainiac is even responsible for the destruction of Superman’s planet. The DCU doesn’t have to go in that direction, but it would be a great way to reveal just how dangerous the android is. He can set his sights on Earth and plan to absorb whatever information he can before destroying the world. That won’t sit right with Luthor, who spends every waking moment expanding his mind. In order to protect himself, Luthor will have to step up and come up with a solution to Superman’s Brainiac problem. The idea has all the makings of a worthwhile sequel story and makes up for a major mistake from previous Superman movies.
Brainiac Is Long Overdue for His Big-Screen Debut
It’s hard to believe, but Brainiac has never appeared in a live-action Superman movie. His resume includes appearances in live-action TV series such as Smallville and Krypton, as well as numerous animated films and shows. The DCU has to make that right, especially if it wants to continue to move away from the direction of the DC Extended Universe. Zack Snyder’s franchise avoids a direct sequel to Man of Steel by pushing all of its chips in with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Like Man of Tomorrow seemingly plans to do, it brings a couple of characters with very different views of the world together to fight a powerful enemy. But BvS doesn’t work because it bites off more than it can chew.
By keeping the focus on Superman and his corner of the universe, Man of Tomorrow will ensure that the franchise’s direction doesn’t veer into dangerous territory. The movie may also show Luthor in a new light, one that helps him win back the public’s favor. Going that route opens up countless avenues, including one where the billionaire ends up in the Oval Office. If bringing Brainiac into the fold is all it takes to make the DCU unique from everything that’s come before, then Gunn and Co. can’t pull the trigger fast enough.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9, 2027.
Would you like to see Brainiac appear in the Superman sequel? Do you think he could take the DCU to uncharted territory? Let us know in the comments below!
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