The main villain for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie was potentially revealed in the trailers, but a new scoop has possibly confirmed it.
While unconfirmed by the studio, the report has intensified speculation that the Man of Steel will face Ultraman, a cloned version of himself created by Lex Luthor in the DCU reboot.
Is Ultraman the villain of James Gunn’s Superman movie?
A new rumor from scooper @MyTimeToShineHello claims, “I can now 100% confirm that the Superman clone and final boss for the Superman movie is indeed Ultraman.”
This update aligns with earlier speculation based on set photos showing a figure in black with a “U” symbol on his chest. Although Lex Luthor is confirmed to appear, reports now suggest the film’s climactic battle will feature Superman facing a clone version of himself—Ultraman.
Last year, DC Film News shared an X post stating, “DanielRPK is confirming ULTRAMAN is the main villain in ‘SUPERMAN’. He is a clone made by Lex Luthor, so no multiverse shenanigans.” Now, the rumor has likely been confirmed by MTTSH, who shared the same information recently.
Ultraman made his debut in Justice League of America #29 (1964) as a villain from Earth-Three. In the comics, Ultraman gains powers from Kryptonite exposure and often acquires new abilities with each encounter. He has teamed up with multiple versions of Lex Luthor, including those from Earth-One and Earth-Two, in attempts to destroy Superman across different universes. In another version, Ultraman leads the Crime Syndicate, an evil counterpart to the Justice League.
Set photos and leaks suggest James Gunn reimagines Ultraman as a clone instead of a multiversal counterpart. This approach differs from traditional portrayals. Earlier fan theories pointed to Bizarro as the villain, but sources now confirm Gunn chose Ultraman as the final antagonist.
Superman is the first DCU feature and will debut in 2025. Gunn directs the film, with David Corenswet playing Clark Kent/Superman. Rachel Brosnahan stars as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor.
The movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
