When James Gunn dropped the first official photo of Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Man of Tomorrow, the internet went nuts. There’s Hoult, staring straight into the camera, rocking that classic green-and-purple battle suit—just like the comics. Gunn posted it from the set with a simple “Fit check. Live from the set of Man of Tomorrow,” and honestly, that was all it took for DC fans everywhere to lose their minds.
Right away, folks started debating: Did they finally nail the comic book look this time? Judging from the first image, yeah, it looks like DC Studios actually paid attention to the source material. The colors pop, the design feels bold, and if you grew up with those comics, it’s an instant hit of nostalgia. Gunn and the crew are pretty clearly out to make die-hard fans happy, showing a suit that looks like it leapt straight off the page.
As soon as that picture hit social media, longtime DC readers jumped in, mostly with praise. People picked apart every detail and found so much that felt right—there’s a kind of trust that comes with seeing an iconic costume done well. It’s not just about flashy visuals either. For a lot of people, it’s proof the movie actually respects its roots.
But the suit isn’t just for show. Gunn made a point of saying they built the whole thing to work for real, not just in CGI. He bragged about how mobile the design is—unlike the clunky armor you sometimes see in big superhero movies. Gunn joked that Luthor even added his own “unbreakable Lexiglas” for the film version. Hoult himself talked up the suit too, saying he moved surprisingly well in it, despite how intimidating it looks. So yeah, expect Lex to do more than just stand around and pose.
Man of Tomorrow is a big deal for the DC Universe—it’s the fourth film in the lineup, and picks up right after Superman (2025). James Gunn is both writing and directing, so you know it’s his vision all the way through. This time, Superman and Lex have to team up to take down Brainiac (Lars Eidinger), which is a twist you don’t see every day.
The cast is stacked. David Corenswet is back as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane, and there’s a solid supporting group: Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, plus Aaron Pierre, who’s debuting as John Stewart from HBO’s Lanterns. So the movie isn’t just about Lex—it’s expanding the whole DCU.
In the end, Man of Tomorrow isn’t just rolling out its own new Lex Luthor. It’s helping set up the entire future for the DCU, weaving together new heroes and stories. With that killer comic-accurate suit, an unpredictable alliance, and a director who’s all-in on details, it feels like DC fans are finally getting the kind of adaptation they’ve wanted for years.
Man of Tomorrow hits theaters July 9, 2027.
