DC: 13 Superheroes And Villains Confirmed To Be In James Gunn’s Superman

Flying into theaters on July 11, 2025, is James Gunn’s Superman, which is not only a reboot of the Superman franchise in live-action, but the first movie set in the new DC Universe. With James Gunn wanting to create a lived-in DC Universe that feels more akin to what is shown in the comics or the animated TV shows, many new characters are being introduced.

Through the information given by James Gunn, official announcements, trailers, and the confirmed cast, several DC superheroes and villains are set to appear in the film. From iconic pieces of Superman’s history to more obscure characters that will likely expand the DCU for more stories, Superman is set to be a massive film.

Updated on June 19, 2025, by Melody MacReady: With only a month to go before the release of the new Superman movie, many may have noticed that James Gunn has included a variety of characters to establish that the film takes place within an already thriving DC Universe. Superman is depicted as being in his third year as a costumed superhero, and he encounters several superheroes and villains throughout the film. Thanks to the release of additional promotional materials, more characters have been revealed, providing audiences with intriguing details about some mysterious figures. This has sparked excitement about what James Gunn has planned, not only for Superman but for the entire DC Universe.

13

Superman

The Metropolis Marvel Will Be Pushed To His Limit

• Real Name: Clark Kent/Kal-El
• Played By: David Corenswet

A Superman movie isn’t complete without its titular character, and this version introduces a brand-new take to launch the DCU. Portrayed by David Corenswet, this Superman is set to face significant challenges from villains, giant monsters, and even other heroes, but he leaves an impact, which is shown by people calling and chanting for him in the trailer.

Like Batman or Spider-Man, audiences know the origins of Superman well enough that it makes sense to show a version of the character who is already a hero in a world full of heroes. His suit is shown to be inspired by multiple comics, from Kingdom Come to the New 52 era of DC Comics.

12

Krypto The Super Dog

A Good Dog With A Lot Of Power

• Real Name: Krypto
• Played By: Ozo

James Gunn has built a career out of making audiences fall in love with CGI animals, with the two live-action Scooby-Doo movies, Rocket Raccoon in Guardians Of The Galaxy, Sebastian the Rat in The Suicide Squad, and Eagly in Peacemaker. Now, James Gunn is going to bring Krypto the Super Dog to the big screen.

Krypto is a dog with the same strength and speed as Superman, which is likely going to lead to plenty of memorable action sequences. It is said that Superman struggles with caring for Krypto because he is like any dog: hyperactive and always wanting to play, which can be disastrous with his powers. It has audiences curious about how Superman and Krypto’s friendship evolves in the film.

11

The Superman Robots

The Guardians Of The Fortress Of Solitude

• Real Name: Superman Robots
• First Appearance: The Man Of Steel

Apart from Krypto, the Superman Robots are Superman’s only link to Krypton, and their brains are filled with the knowledge and history of his home planet. As depicted in the comics, these robots serve as Superman’s primary defense for the Fortress of Solitude, protecting the remnants of Krypton and assisting him in his mission to safeguard Earth.

In James Gunn’s version, each robot is given a unique number for identification. Notably, the talented voice actor Alan Tudyk, a veteran of DC projects, lends his voice to Superman Robot #4, who appears to be the leader of the Superman Robots, especially when Superman is injured and needs to be healed quickly with solar energy.

10

Lex Luthor

He Hates Superman In Every Universe

• Real Name: Alexander Luthor
• Played By: Nicholas Hoult

Despite having battled extraterrestrial and interdimensional threats capable of destroying a planet with ease, Lex Luthor remains Superman’s greatest enemy. Unlike Clark Kent, Luthor comes from an upper-class background and is driven by a profound narcissism and superiority complex, showing little regard for others. In James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, Lex Luthor is portrayed by Nicholas Hoult.

While not much is known about the latest version of the character, it is evident that he harbors a deep-seated hatred for Superman. It also remains unclear whether he will serve as the main villain or as an underling to a larger mastermind. However, with a fresh and imaginative approach to the DC Universe, this may be the first cinematic depiction of Lex Luthor to feature the iconic exo-suit he is known for wearing.

9

The Engineer

Setting Up The Authority For The DCU

• Real Name: Angie Spica
• Played By: María Gabriela de Faría

James Gunn has stated that, despite the number of characters in Superman, it remains the Man of Steel’s story, with the setup of other DCU narratives being a minor aspect of the film. For example, The Engineer is set to debut in the film, and she is a character that fans will likely see again in The Authority, based on the Wildstorm comics of the same name.

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Played by María Gabriela de Faría, The Engineer can be compared to the T-1000 from the Terminator franchise; her body is made of liquid metal that she uses to form weapons and other objects. The Authority is a darker team of superheroes set to appear in their own movie in the DCU.

8

The Hammer Of Boravia

New Armored Villain Straight Out Of The Silver Age

• Real Name: Unknown
• Played By: Unknown

Superman movies have invented new threats before, such as Nuclear Man in Superman 4: The Quest For Peace. The Hammer of Boravia is James Gunn’s creation, a villain in a massive armored suit that takes the fight straight to Superman in Metropolis, capable of not only flying but shooting massive laser beams from their visor.

There is a chance that the Hammer is actually Ultraman in a different suit, designed not only to create a false flag incident, but also to lessen people’s faith in Superman. It also shows that Superman will be put through a gauntlet in the film, with one constant threat after another, and at least two of them being pawns of Lex Luthor.

7

Colonel Flag

Could Be The DCU’s Equivalent Of Nick Fury

• Real Name: Rick Flag Sr.
• Played By: Frank Grillo

The first example of characters bridging stories is Colonel Flag, or Rick Flag Sr., who first appeared in the DCU’s Creature Commandos as the team’s leader and a high-ranking officer of the ARGUS program. It has already been confirmed that ARGUS will play a part in Superman, with Rick Flag Sr. leading them, but in what kind of role is uncertain.

Frank Grillo is reprising his role in Superman, but also in the new Peacemaker season, coming to Max on August 21, 2025. He seems to be the biggest connective tissue in the DCU so far. Frank Grillo is one of several actors who have played both Marvel and DC characters, as he portrayed the Captain America villain Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

6

Ultraman

Fans Are Speculating Who The Man In Black Is

• Real Name: Kal-Il
• Played By: Unknown

Since leaked set photos surfaced online, fans have been intrigued by the mysterious villain in a dark suit that Superman will face. It has now been revealed that this character is Ultraman, a dark reflection of Superman from an alternate universe in the source material.

Unlike a simple duplicate of Superman with a U-shaped symbol, the Ultraman in the new DC Universe wears a full-body suit. This design choice likely stems from Ultraman’s weakness towards sunlight in the comics, prompting the need for a suit that keeps him powered at all times while also concealing the actor portraying him in James Gunn’s Superman.

5

Maxwell Lord

The Founder Of Justice League International

• Real Name: Maxwell Lord
• Played By: Sean Gunn

Sean Gunn portrayed both Kraglin and did the performance capture for Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy, plus he played G.I. Robot and Weasel in Creature Commandos. Now, he is set to play Maxwell Lord in Superman, a character who has been on both sides of the morality scale in the comics.

Maxwell Lord is another corporate tycoon like Lex Luthor, but he is more directly involved with superheroes. Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific are all seen wearing suits created by Maxwell Lord, showing that he created the Justice Gang, which is a more corporate superhero team. This is both a good and a bad thing, as Lord later becomes a twisted killer in the comics.

4

Mister Terrific

Lex Luthor Wishes He Were This Terrific

• Real Name: Michael Holt
• Played By: Edi Gathegi

Making his cinematic debut is Michael Holt, also known as Mister Terrific. The best way to describe him is as a Batman-like hero who uses his intelligence and finances to become the perfect high-tech hero. From the “fair play” jacket to the T-Spheres, Edi Gathegi looks straight out of the comic books and has the potential to become a member of the real Justice League in a future film.

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In the comics, he is considered one of the most intelligent characters in the DC Universe, surpassing even Lex Luthor, which could be a potential plot point as he can be seen fighting LuthorCorp soldiers. It’s also shown that he is one of several heroes working under Maxwell Lord, thanks to the design of his costume, but it is theorized that he will betray the Justice Gang to help Superman in the film.