Superman ending explained: What it means for new DCU movies and Peacemaker season 2

Indian Express

12-07-2025

Superman, starring David Corenswet, marks the first film of the rebooted DC Universe. The much-awaited film, directed by James Gunn, in its final moments, throws open the gates to the bigger stories in the franchise, while also connecting to Peacemaker Season 2. The film kicks off by establishing that humanity has known about metahumans (superheroes) for over 300 years. Then, Gunn tears the city of Metropolis in two. While the story mostly stands on its own, it quietly lays down the groundwork for something big upcoming.
The new movie, which hit theatres on July 11, stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, aka the Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Without rehashing the whole origin story, the film picks up after Superman has already landed on Earth, been raised on a Kansas farm, and is now working as a reporter at the Daily Planet. He's dating fellow journalist Lois and finds himself in deep trouble with LexCorp's billionaire CEO, Lex Luthor, who's hell-bent on taking him down for good. Here's how it all ends.
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For most of the film, Lex manages to turn public sentiment against Superman. But in this story, Lex isn't any normal villain, he's cracked the code to create a 'pocket universe,' a dimension outside reality. Travelling through portals and trapping anyone he holds a grudge against is second nature to him. It's where he hides all his illegal experiments, like a swarm of super-intelligent monkeys flooding the internet with hate against Superman. Later, Lex unseals this pocket universe right over Metropolis, shaking the entire city and pushing it to the edge of collapse, right after Superman's government-sanctioned imprisonment. It's a last-ditch move to distract him while war breaks out between two fictional nations, Boravia and Jarhanpur.
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As humanity cries for help, Superman returns to the fight and defeats Angela Spica, a.k.a. The Engineer (played by María Gabriela de Faría). He also learns about Ultraman, Lex's clone of Superman, which leaves him anxious. 'How do I fight myself? Am I really capable of that kind of darkness?' he mutters.
In the final act, Superman confronts Lex in his flying office and delivers an impassioned speech. Meanwhile, Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) helps reverse the rift and seals the city back together. On the ground, Lois, Jimmy Olsen, and the Daily Planet crew expose Lex's crimes, leading to his arrest. And yes, the Justice Gang makes it out alive.
In the story, the 'pocket universe' tech is directly connected to something from Peacemaker Season 1. A device called the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC), which exists outside reality and was designed by Peacemaker's father. John Cena's Peacemaker even makes a quick appearance in Superman, and James Gunn confirmed that Peacemaker Season 2 is headed towards the same universe-changing tech. In fact, two characters introduced in Superman: Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), will appear in Season 2. 'And then we see a bunch of other characters later on in the [Peacemaker] season from other parts of the DCU and from Superman,' Gunn told EW. 'There might even be one really, really, really big cameo near the end of the show.'
Towards the end of Superman, Supergirl (played by Milly Alcock) shows up inside the Fortress of Solitude. She's introduced as Superman's cousin, and her solo film, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, will follow this movie and Peacemaker Season 2.
Other DCU Teases
Belle Reve Prison: After Lex is defeated and arrested, he's taken straight to Belle Reve, the same high-security prison featured in Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller runs the place. She's getting her own show.
Justice Gang = Justice League? The movie teases the next big team-up by introducing the Justice Gang, featuring names like Mister Terrific and Metamorpho. A new Justice League might just be on cards
Angela Spica/The Engineer: She's part of The Authority (another DCU film in the pipeline). She survives the final battle, and word is, Gunn's got long-term plans for her.