Theory for James Gunn's SUPERMAN Says That Suggests Kal-El Was Sent to Earth… to Conquer It — GeekTyrant
A new fan theory is picking up traction that reimagines Superman not as Earth's protector, but as its potential conqueror.
With James Gunn's Superman set to hit theaters in July 2025, some fans are digging into clues from the trailers and piecing together a pretty wild possibility… What if Kal-El wasn't just a refugee from a dying world… but part of a long game of planetary domination?
It all stems from a video posted by @bluerayangel on X, who suggests that the movie might draw inspiration from Invincible 's Omni-Man, a seemingly noble alien who was actually sent to soften up Earth for takeover.
The comparison's definitely interesting, and if Gunn is going that route, it'd be one of the boldest takes on Superman we've seen on screen. @bluerayangel says:
'Here's the theory you probably haven't heard yet. James Gunn's Superman seems to be struggling with his identity, his Kryptonian heritage, and his human upbringing with the Kents.'
That emotional tug-of-war has been central to Superman stories forever, but the theory kicks things up a notch.
They continue: 'In the trailer, we hear him talk about how he feels like, maybe he's not who he thought he was, and his father, Pa Kent, tells him, 'Your choices, your actions, that's what makes you who you are.' So what if? In this version of Superman, Jor-El is revealed to have sent Superman to Earth to conquer it.'
It would radically shift not only how Kal-El views himself but also how humanity, and possibly Lex Luthor, views him. And that's exactly where the theory goes next.
The user adds, 'Maybe they go with the Superman: Birthright comic storyline where Lex gets hold of the Fortress of Solitude and manipulates it. Maybe he finds a way to control what Jor-El says to Superman.
'Maybe he's the one that implants this idea that Superman was sent by Kryptonians to conquer. That Kryptonians themselves are evil. And the whole point of this story, this Superman, is to prove that people are not born evil.'
It's not exactly a new idea to make Lex a master manipulator, but combining that with a corrupted message from Jor-El or a reprogrammed Kryptonian history could offer a fresh way to explore the character's internal battle. It also reframes the usual 'alien outsider' narrative into a story about free will and nature versus nurture.
At this point, we don't have confirmation about how closely the film will follow traditional Superman lore. For all we know, this theory could be totally off-base. But the idea of Lex shaping Superman's beliefs, or even tampering with the Kryptonian message, feels like exactly the kind of meta-narrative twist Gunn loves to play with.
Until more is revealed, fans will have to keep theorizing. But if Gunn's Superman really is wrestling with the possibility that he was meant to conquer Earth… that's a whole new kind of legacy to fight against.
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