Get ready, DCU fans! The upcoming Man Of Tomorrow, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2025's Superman, is bringing back a familiar face in a much bigger way than we expected. Frank Grillo, who plays the tough-as-nails Rick Flag Sr., is set to have a major role, directly building on some huge developments from Peacemaker Season 2.

TL;DR: Your Quick Takeaways on Man of Tomorrow's Latest News

  • Frank Grillo confirms Rick Flag Sr. has a "big part" in Man of Tomorrow, connecting directly to events from Peacemaker Season 2.
  • The film, due July 9, 2027, will see David Corenswet's Superman and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor reluctantly team up against a significant threat, now reported to be Brainiac.
  • Flag Sr.'s involvement hints at deeper DCU integration, particularly with the "Salvation" metahuman prison project he co-spearheaded with Lex Luthor's team.

Imagine Superman, the beacon of hope, having to reluctantly join forces with his greatest adversary, Lex Luthor. Now, throw in a no-nonsense government agent, Rick Flag Sr., who's actively imprisoning metahumans, and you've got the thrilling setup for DC Studios' next big cinematic event: Man of Tomorrow. It's not "technically Superman 2" in title, but it absolutely continues David Corenswet's journey as the Man of Steel.

Frank Grillo Confirms Rick Flag Sr.'s Central Role in the Upcoming Sequel

The news broke when Frank Grillo himself took to Instagram Stories, confirming his involvement and responding to earlier hints from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. But it's not just a quick cameo; Grillo elaborated to The Hollywood Reporter that his character, Rick Flag Sr., will be a "big part of the sequel's story" (Source: The Hollywood Reporter, "Frank Grillo Confirmed for Man of Tomorrow, James Gunn’s Superman Sequel," November 13, 2025).

This is a big deal because Flag Sr. isn't just a side character. He’s currently the director of A.R.G.U.S., a government agency that deals with superhuman threats and paranormal occurrences. His history with Superman isn't exactly chummy, especially after overseeing Superman's transfer into Lex Luthor's prison in the previous 2025 movie. While Superman regained public trust, the bad blood between him and Flag likely remains.

"My character, Rick Flag Sr., is a big part of the sequel’s story, so I’m excited about it."

— Frank Grillo, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter

Unpacking the 'Peacemaker' Season 2 Finale's Ramifications

If you followed Peacemaker Season 2, you know Flag Sr. has been busy. In the finale, he used the Quantum Unfolding Chamber — a device capable of accessing different dimensions — to create "Salvation," a prison dimension for metahumans. He even dumped John Cena's Christopher Smith (Peacemaker) there. This Salvation project was a joint effort, spearheaded by Flag Sr. and members of Lex Luthor's own team.

This critical detail creates a fascinating dynamic for Man of Tomorrow. Imagine a scenario where Lex Luthor, still holding a grudge despite their forced alliance, might try to convince Flag Sr. that Superman himself should be exiled to Salvation. If A.R.G.U.S. could actually pull that off, trapping Superman, then a potential crossover with Peacemaker would become incredibly plausible. Fans have been buzzing about the possibility of Superman eventually crossing paths with Smith, and this could be the perfect setup.

For example, a fan like Sarah, eagerly following the DCU, might envision a scene: "What if Superman, during his reluctant team-up with Lex, is double-crossed? Lex whispers a plan to Flag, and suddenly the Man of Steel finds himself hurtling through a portal, landing on Salvation. Who does he run into first but a bewildered Peacemaker, muttering, 'Well, this is just peachy!'"

Addressing the Complexities of a Potential Superman-Peacemaker Crossover

While the idea of Superman and Peacemaker meeting up is undeniably exciting, there are a couple of narrative challenges. First, Man of Tomorrow is designed to feature Lex Luthor as a co-lead alongside Superman. Bringing in John Cena's Peacemaker, known for his larger-than-life personality, could risk overshadowing Luthor's significant role and development in the story.

Second, the core premise of Man of Tomorrow involves Superman and Luthor reluctantly joining forces to battle an even greater, shared threat. It's difficult to see why Luthor would want to imprison Superman on Salvation if he knows he'll desperately need the Kryptonian's help to save humanity. However, James Gunn, with his knack for balancing dark humor and compelling character arcs, has a proven track record of smoothing out such narrative kinks. Given that there are currently no plans for Peacemaker Season 3, Man of Tomorrow could indeed be the prime opportunity to bring Christopher Smith back into the DCU fold.

Who Else is Returning and What's the Big Threat?

David Corenswet will return as Superman, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. We'll also see Rachel Brosnahan back as Lois Lane. Beyond them, Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl) has also teased her involvement (Source: The Direct, "'Superman 2' Confirmed to Include 3 Peacemaker Actors," November 8, 2025). Maria Gabriela de Faria as The Engineer and Milly Alcock as Supergirl are also expected to appear, according to IMDb.

The "bigger threat" that forces Superman and Lex Luthor into an uneasy alliance has been a hot topic of discussion. While earlier speculation pointed towards a cosmic entity known as The Centre, recent reports confirm that Brainiac will be the main villain (Source: JoBlo.com, "Man of Tomorrow: Brainiac will reportedly be the main villain in Superman sequel," November 13, 2025; ComicBookMovie.com, "Man Of Tomorrow: Brainiac Has Been Confirmed As The Villain Of James Gunn's Superman Follow-Up," November 13, 2025). This iconic villain's presence promises a high-stakes conflict that will challenge both heroes and reluctant villains alike.

Man of Tomorrow is set to hit United States theaters on July 9, 2027 (Source: Warner Bros. Pictures, "Man of Tomorrow: Surprising DC Character Will Be ‘Big Part’ of Superman 2," November 13, 2025). The film starts filming next year, so keep an eye out for more exciting updates as production ramps up!

Your Burning Questions Answered About 'Man of Tomorrow'

When does Man of Tomorrow come out? Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release in United States theaters on July 9, 2027. Who is playing Superman in Man of Tomorrow? David Corenswet will reprise his role as the Man of Steel. Who is the main villain in Man of Tomorrow? Reports indicate that the iconic Superman villain Brainiac will be the primary antagonist. Will Man of Tomorrow connect to other DCU projects? Absolutely! Frank Grillo's significant role as Rick Flag Sr. ensures direct connections to the events of Peacemaker Season 2, particularly around the Salvation project for metahuman imprisonment.

Sources

  • The Hollywood Reporter, "Frank Grillo Confirmed for Man of Tomorrow, James Gunn’s Superman Sequel," November 13, 2025.
  • The Direct, "'Superman 2' Confirmed to Include 3 Peacemaker Actors," November 8, 2025.
  • JoBlo.com, "Man of Tomorrow: Brainiac will reportedly be the main villain in Superman sequel," November 13, 2025.
  • ComicBookMovie.com, "Man Of Tomorrow: Brainiac Has Been Confirmed As The Villain Of James Gunn's Superman Follow-Up," November 13, 2025.
  • Warner Bros. Pictures, "Man of Tomorrow: Surprising DC Character Will Be ‘Big Part’ of Superman 2," November 13, 2025.