Superman is set to premiere in just over two weeks, and the film’s marketing efforts are in full swing. On Wednesday, James Gunn unveiled an image of “Ultraman,” likely one of the movie’s main antagonists, but fans are still left guessing about the character behind the mask.
Gunn posted a close-up of the villain in his costume on his X account, with a straightforward caption reading “Ultraman.” While the superpowered threat has been hinted at since the first official teaser for Superman, this image offers us the clearest view of the character so far.
Unlike many representations where Superman dons a nearly indestructible suit—thanks to his powers or the unique properties of Kryptonian fabric—Ultraman’s outfit clearly lacks such resilience. The image reveals the dilapidated state of Ultraman’s costume, featuring cracked goggles and fabric peeling off the mask. This unsettling appearance starkly contrasts with the immaculate uniforms of the heroes in the film.
Currently, not much is known about Ultraman’s identity or role in the movie aside from his alliance with Lex Luthor (who Gunn has identified as the film’s primary villain) and The Engineer. Nevertheless, fans are busy theorizing. Trailer footage depicts Ultraman overpowering Superman in several sequences, particularly during their confrontation at the Metropolis Meteors baseball stadium. Given that Ultraman possesses powers similar to Superman’s, the list of potential identities for Ultraman is limited.
Recent trailer footage has provided another clue, featuring brief glimpses of what seems to be an unmasked Ultraman battling the Last Son of Krypton. This figure, utilizing heat vision and sporting a suit resembling Ultraman’s, has notably long and untidy hair, prompting further speculation about the character’s identity.
In the comics, Ultraman hails from Earth-3, a dimension that inverses the roles of heroes and villains, and leads the malevolent Justice Syndicate. The character made his debut in 1964’s “Justice League of America #29,” created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. Interestingly, instead of being harmed by green Kryptonite, Ultraman typically derives power from it.
Like many DC characters, Ultraman’s origins have varied due to events like “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and “Flashpoint.” In the New 52 storyline, he was known as Kal-Il and defeated the Justice League through his Justice Syndicate, seizing control of the world during the “Forever Evil” arc.
At this stage, a direct adaptation of Ultraman seems improbable. The character’s basis in multiversal lore would pose a significant challenge for the first film in an emerging cinematic universe. It appears more likely that the film will borrow elements from Ultraman’s character, such as his name and the fundamental idea of him being an “evil Superman.” Given that trailers showcase Lex Luthor’s access to Kryptonite, it might even be possible that Ultraman’s drug-like reliance on the substance will be incorporated.
Another unlikely speculation suggests that Ultraman might be a version of the infamous Superman villain Doomsday. This theory primarily stems from the resemblance between Ultraman’s attire—especially the goggles—and the containment suit initially worn by Doomsday, the character primarily recognized for killing Superman. As Doomsday grows stronger and more monstrous, his suit progressively deteriorates until he breaks free.
It seems far-fetched for this theory to come to fruition. DC has already faced criticism for adapting “The Death of Superman” in “Batman v. Superman,” and introducing Superman’s deadliest foe during his first cinematic appearance would likely be perceived as a significant misstep. It would also seem odd for the studio to revisit the same villain (aside from Lex Luthor) for consecutive films, especially with numerous Superman villains still available.
Several other theories regarding Ultraman range from plausible to nearly impossible. One of the more compelling ideas suggests that Ultraman may be an adaptation of the character Bizarro. This theory holds some merit.
As mentioned earlier, Ultraman’s abilities closely resemble those of Superman, leading fans to suspect he may possess Kryptonian origins or DNA. His association with Luthor hints that the classic Superman villain might have some influence over this mysterious threat. The character’s unkempt hair and tattered costume also suggest that Luthor could be exerting control or keeping him captive. It’s conceivable that Luthor, utilizing Clark’s DNA, could have created a Superman clone for his own ends.
Supporting this idea is the fact that Ultraman’s obscured face in the released footage could be concealing David Corenswet, the actor portraying Clark Kent. This would also mark the first significant film adaptation of the iconic DC character Bizarro (unless we include the odd scene from Christopher Reeve’s Superman III). While Bizarro has been prominently featured in CW’s Superman & Lois, Gunn would receive accolades for exploring more obscure Superman villains.
A similar theory posits that Ultraman might be a reimagined version of the Superman villain Parasite. Parasite’s ability to absorb the powers of those he touches could explain Ultraman’s speed, strength, and heat vision demonstrated in the trailers. Like Bizarro, Parasite has yet to appear on the big screen despite some television adaptations.
Alternatively, it’s feasible that Ultraman may simply be a generic character endowed with Superman-like powers. Given the presence of Krypto and Supergirl in this universe, it’s plausible that the villain could be another surviving Kryptonian under Lex’s control. Some fans even speculate that Ultraman’s mask might be hiding Henry Cavill, suggesting he could reprise his role as an evil version of the darker Superman. However, this theory seems quite unlikely.
Regardless of Ultraman’s true identity, fans will have to wait until Superman premieres on July 11 to uncover the answer.
