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USA Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The new 'Superman' is a hit. So what's coming next in the DC universe?
James Gunn had a very specific plan for his audience when launching the interconnected new DC universe with 'Superman': The less they know at first, the better. 'I wanted it to feel like what I felt like as a kid reading comic books, like I didn't know anything about these guys,' says the 'Superman' director and co-head of DC Studios with Peter Safran. 'I'm seeing Superman and his friends with a guy with a magic ring and a bald guy that can transform his body into stuff and all these different people. There were robots and flying dogs and kaiju and all this sorcery and science that seemed like sorcery. And I loved just bringing that magical world to the screen.' Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox While the new DCU technically started last year with the animated series 'Creature Commandos,' 'Superman' (in theaters now) truly launched the rebooted universe. The latest take on the superhero stars David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as arch nemesis Lex Luthor, and a supporting cast of characters who'll no doubt show up in other TV shows and movies down the line. For example, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern and member of the Justice Gang in 'Superman,' will also play a role in the upcoming HBO Max series 'Lanterns.' Now that 'Superman' is a runaway hit after its big first weekend ($122 million at the domestic box office), here's a rundown of what's to come in the first 'chapter' of Gunn's DCU, labeled 'Gods and Monsters.' John Cena returns as Peacemaker this summer Played by John Cena, the antiheroic Peacemaker first appeared in Gunn's 2021 movie 'The Suicide Squad' and then was seen in the 2022 'Peacemaker' TV series. Season 2 of the HBO Max show premieres Aug. 21 and features not only Cena's character but also Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), a military man from 'Creature Commandos' whose son was killed by Peacemaker. So there's probably revenge on his mind. The 'Peacemaker' trailer also teased an appearance from the Justice Gang, a supergroup featuring Gardner, Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) that appeared in 'Superman" and is bankrolled by billionaire Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). Expect more intel to come out of the show's Comic-Con panel on July 25. Milly Alcock flies as 'Supergirl' in 2026 One of the bigger cameos in 'Superman' was Milly Alcock's first appearance as Supes' cousin Kara, who drops by somewhat inebriated to pick up her pup Krypto. She will be back on the big screen next summer in 'Supergirl' (in theaters June 26, 2026), a cosmic adventure/revenge quest that will mark Jason Momoa's debut as the fan-favorite alien bounty hunter Lobo. The film is based on the comic book 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,' and Alcock matched Gunn's vision for a 'pixie-ish, punk rock' version of the character, he tells USA TODAY. 'It's like this sort of drunken sorority girl Supergirl who's just also really tough. And it's the Supergirl that I always wanted to see that I never knew I wanted to see.' 'Lanterns' kicks off a new slate of DC TV shows Expected to premiere on HBO early next year, 'Lanterns' is a eight-episode series that will feature members of the intergalactic Green Lantern Corps investigating a murder on Earth. Kyle Chandler plays Green Lantern veteran Hal Jordan, Aaron Pierre is rookie John Stewart, and Fillion will reprise his role as the brash Guy Gardner. Other shows in development include 'Waller,' a series with Viola Davis back as Suicide Squad head Amanda Waller, and 'Paradise Lost,' a drama set on the Amazons' island of Themyscira before Wonder Woman's birth. The comedy 'Booster Gold' will feature the time-traveling hero from the future, and also in the works is a 'Blue Beetle' animated series (with Xolo Maridueña reprising his 2023 movie role) and a second season of 'Creature Commandos.' More DC movies are on the way – maybe 'Superman 2'? 'Clayface,' a horror movie centered on the Batman villain, has a release date (Sept. 11, 2026), a director ('Speak No Evil' filmmaker James Watkins) and a star (Tom Rhys Harries). And if you've got a Dark Knight baddie, you need a Dark Knight, though Gunn hasn't cast a Caped Crusader yet for 'The Brave and the Bold.' That will feature Batman (one different from Robert Pattinson's take on the character in 'The Batman' world) as well as son/sidekick Damian Wayne (aka Robin). The DC braintrust also is in need of a new Wonder Woman for her film, one of many in development including 'The Authority,' Luca Guadagnino's 'Sgt. Rock' and James Mangold's 'Swamp Thing.' But don't forget the Man of Steel: David Corenswet has said he's already signed on for another movie, a no-brainer considering the enthusiastic reception for the new movie.


USA Today
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Spoilers! Those 'Superman' cameos, post-credit scenes explained
Spoiler alert! We're discussing important plot points and the ending of 'Superman' (in theaters now), so beware if you haven't seen it yet. What if Superman's parents sent him to Earth from their dying planet not to help mankind but to rule over us? That's the intriguing twist on the usual Man of Steel mythos that marks the new 'Superman,' which launches the rebooted DC movie universe. In it, Clark Kent (David Corenswet) is in his third year of being Superman and protecting Metropolis when he loses his first fight and causes an international incident by stopping war from breaking out between fictional neighboring nations Boravia and Jarhanpur. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Still, Superman is a really popular dude, which sticks in the craw of billionaire tech bro Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Lex's bad-guy crew raids the hero's Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica and discovers a hidden message from his mom and dad telling him to use his powers to take over Earth and even have a harem of wives. The supervillain reveals it to the world, turning the public against Superman and making Supes' life hell, including kidnapping his dog Krypto. Let's dive deep into that epic ending – which 'made me feel like a big kid again,' Hoult says – plus a few noteworthy cameos and a couple of post-credit scenes. What happens in the ending of 'Superman'? Superman has to deal with the existential crisis of what his parents' surprising message means as well as all manner of obstacles, from fighting a giant kaiju to being tortured by Kryptonite in Lex's interdimensional pocket universe. But as the hero begins his underdog comeback, Luthor's true plans come to light: He's in cahoots with Boravia, and when they take over Jarhanpur, Lex will get his own country. When Lex realizes he's on the ropes, he goes scorched earth and causes a rift in the pocket universe that begins tearing Metropolis in half. After Superman defeats Lex's henchman Ultraman – a Superman clone also played by Corenswet – he confronts Lex (who's attacked by Krypto), science whiz Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) fixes the rift, and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) breaks the exclusive that Lex is a traitor. 'Get his bald ass to Belle Reve,' a soldier says while sticking Lex in a transport vehicle headed to the penitentiary for superpowered baddies led by Suicide Squad honcho Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). 'I feel like Lex is smart enough that no matter where he ends up, he will thrive somewhat,' Hoult tells USA TODAY. 'You can only keep a genius like that down for so long. But of course it's going to be a lot on him. Belle Reve is an intense place to be.' Are they are any surprise cameos in the new 'Superman'? There are some familiar folks in the movie from director James Gunn's other DC efforts. John Cena reprises his role from 'The Suicide Squad' and TV's 'Peacemaker,' while Frank Grillo, who played military commander Rick Flag Sr. in the animated 'Creature Commandos,' brings him to live action in 'Superman.' (He also will appear in the upcoming 'Peacemaker' Season 2.) The most high-profile cameo appears early, with Bradley Cooper speaking Kryptonian as Superman's father Jor-El. Corenswet didn't know until recently that the fellow Philly native would be playing his dad (since Cooper's character shows up in a recorded message). Cooper is 'somebody who I've admired for a long time,' he says. 'Superman' also introduces the star of DC's next big-screen venture. At the end of the movie, Supes is hanging at the Fortress of Solitude when his drunk cousin Kara (Milly Alcock) shows up to pick up her dog. (Apparently Krypto is hers, and Superman was just his foster dad for a bit.) With party girl Kara, the central figure of 'Supergirl' (in theaters June 26, 2026), Gunn wanted someone who was completely opposite to strait-laced Supes. 'Superman was raised by these loving parents in really a non-dysfunctional family,' the director says. 'Where Supergirl came from, it's pretty hellish and she doesn't have a lot of joy in her upbringing. It was a terror pretty much. She just watched people around her dying the whole time. So they're different people.' Does 'Superman' have a post-credit scene? Yes, there are two! The first one is a quick, heartwarming mid-credits sequence where Krypto is seen hugging Superman high above Earth. And then after the credits roll, there's a funny scene where Mr. Terrific is trying to fix all the buildings in Metropolis, some aren't quite lining up and Superman hints to that fact. A ticked-off Terrific walks off in a huff. 'Darn it, I can be such a jerk sometimes,' Superman sighs. Corenswet acknowledges there are a few G-rated lines and phrases like 'darn it' or 'good gosh' – a favorite of his uncle's – that he'd throw in during scenes to match Superman's Boy Scout ethos. 'Superman says 'Golly' and all these things,' he says. 'And he wants to say 'Jesus Christ' or '(expletive) hell' or whatever. You can't say that.'


USA Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
2 jaw-dropping 'Superman' cameos made DC fans thrilled
James Gunn's new DC Universe launched this week, with his Superman movie hitting theaters to positive reviews and audience fanfare. This is the first time audiences have been able to see and enjoy David Corenswet as the blue, red, and gold-clad superhero, along with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. MORE SUPERMAN: James Gunn is Sam Raimi's heir apparent As is the case with a lot of comic book movies, Superman had both post-credit scenes and a couple of fun cameos thrown in. WARNING: Spoilers for the new Superman ahead! Proceed at your own risk! The first cameo we get is none other than John Cena as Peacemaker. The wrestler-turned-actor reprised his role from Gunn's 2021 version of The Suicide Squad. In Superman, Peacemaker joined a talk show after the people of Metropolis turned on Superman following the reveal of the true nature of the message sent from his parents when he arrived on Earth. The second cameo is at the very end of the movie, as Supergirl returns to pick up her dog, Krypto. Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) plays Superman's cousin and is the lead for the next DC Universe movie with Supergirl, which is scheduled to release June 26, 2026. Fans loved the Superman cameos


Gulf Today
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
‘Superman' director Gunn remakes the hero for the big screen
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... a purple and orange shape-shifting chemical compound? Writer-director James Gunn's 'Superman' was always going to be a strange chemistry of filmmaker and material. Gunn, the mind behind 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'The Suicide Squad,' has reliably drifted toward a B-movie superhero realm populated (usually over-populated) with the lesser-known freaks, oddities and grotesquerie of back-issue comics. But you don't get more mainstream than Superman. And let's face it, unless Christopher Reeve is in the suit, the rock-jawed Man of Steel can be a bit of a bore. Much of the fun and frustration of Gunn's movie is seeing how he stretches and strains to make Superman, you know, interesting. In the latest revamp for the archetypal superhero, Gunn does a lot to give Superman (played with an easy charm by David Corenswet ) a lift. He scraps the origin story. He gives Superman a dog. And he ropes in not just expected regulars like Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) but some less conventional choices — none more so than that colorful jumble of elements, Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). Metamorpho, a melancholy, mutilated man whose powers were born out of tragedy, is just one of many side shows in 'Superman.' But he's the most representative of what Gunn is going for. Gunn might favour a traditional-looking hero at the centre, like Chris Pratt's Star-Lord in 'Guardians of the Galaxy.' And Corenswet, complete with hair curl, looks the part, too. But Gunn's heart is with the weirdos who soldier on. The heavy lift of 'Superman' is making the case that the perfect superhuman being with 'S' on his chest is strange, too. He's a do-gooder at a time when no one does good anymore. Not everything works in 'Superman.' For those who like their Superman classically drawn, Gunn's film will probably seem too irreverent and messy. But for anyone who found Zack Snyder's previous administration painfully ponderous, this 'Superman,' at least, has a pulse. It would be hard to find a more drastic 180 in franchise stewardship. Where Snyder's films were super-serious mythical clashes of colossuses, Gunn's 'Superman' is lightly earthbound, quirky and sentimental. When this Superman flies, he even keeps his arms back, like an Olympic skeleton rider. We begin not on Krypton or Kansas but in Antarctica, near the Fortress of Solitude. The opening titles set-up the medias res beginning. Three centuries ago, metahumans first appeared on Earth. Three minutes ago, Superman lost a battle for the first time. Lying bloodied in the snow, he whistles and his faithful super dog, Krypto, comes running. Like some of Gunn's other novelty gags (I'm looking at you Groot), Krypto is both a highlight and overused gag throughout. Superman is in the midst of a battle by proxy with Luthor. From atop his Luthor Corp. skyscraper headquarters, Luther gives instructions to a team sitting before computer screens while, on a headset, barking out coded battle directions to drone-assisted henchmen. '13-B!' he shouts, like a Bingo caller. Whether this is an ideal localizing of main characters in conflict is a debate that recedes a bit when, back in Metropolis, Clark Kent returns to the Daily Planet. There's Wendell Pierce as the editor-in-chief, Perry White, and Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen. But the character of real interest here is, of course, Lois. She and Kent are already an item in 'Superman.' When alone, Lois chides him over the journalistic ethics of interviewing himself after some derring-do, and questions his flying into countries without their leaders' approval. Brosnahan slides so comfortably into the role that I wonder if 'Superman' ought to have been 'Lois,' instead. Her scenes with Corenswet are the best in the film, and the movie loses its snap when she's not around. That's unfortunately for a substantial amount of time. Luthor traps Superman in a pocket universe (enter Metamorpho, among others) and the eccentric members of the Justice Gang - Nathan Fillion's Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi's Mister Terrific and Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl — are called upon to lend a hand. They come begrudgingly. Associated Press


Tom's Guide
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best movies like 'Heads of State' to stream on Netflix, Prime Video and more
Prime Video's latest No. 1 movie is "Heads of State," Ilya Naishuller's high-octane action-comedy that sees Idris Elba and John Cena butting heads as two leaders who are forced to settle their differences after being targeted by a powerful enemy. The pair's public rivalry threatens the two nations' relationship, but when Air Force One is blown out of the sky, they're forced to rely on one another on a globetrotting caper to save the day, alongside MI6 agent, Noelle Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas). It's an entertaining romp, and one that's dominated the Amazon streaming service's charts since it premiered at the start of the month. If you're one of the many viewers who have already streamed "Heads of State" and are on the hunt for a similar adrenaline-pumping watch, I can help. Below, I've put together a list featuring five more movies like "Heads of State" (and where you can stream them right now!) that I think fans of the Prime Video hit just might love. If you want to kick back and watch another head of state take the fight into their own hands, '90s action movie "Air Force One" seems like the next logical step. In Wolfgang Petersen's 1997 action thriller, Harrison Ford stars as President James Marshall, an uncompromising leader who refuses to negotiate with terrorists. When a group led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman) hijacks the presidential aircraft, Marshall (a Vietnam War veteran) springs into action and works to save everyone on board by taking the plane back. Watch "Air Force One" for free on Pluto TV now Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I remember being told time and time again that I simply had to watch "The Nice Guys" for the longest time. And ever since I saw it, I've taken every opportunity to recommend it as one of the best buddy comedies you can watch. If you were taken in by Cena and Elba's back-and-forth, and you want another buddy comedy to scratch that same itch, then Shane Black's "The Nice Guys" is the movie for you. This hilarious '70s-set movie pairs up private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and tough guy enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) on an investigation that sees them looking into the disappearance of a missing girl. It's madcap, wry fun, and lets the pair flex their comedic muscles brilliantly. Watch "The Nice Guys" on Paramount Plus now If you specifically want to see Cena and Idris Elba back in the frame, then James Gunn's pre-DCU movie "The Suicide Squad" should be your next watch. Swapping the downbeat vibe of David Ayer's 2016 predecessor for a raucous comic book adventure, "The Suicide Squad" sees two Task Force X teams that include the likes of Bloodsport (Elba), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Peacemaker (John Cena) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) on a clandestine mission to destroy a laboratory that houses "Project Starfish." It's a thrilling mix of chaotic fun and anarchic violence that should more than satisfy anyone on the hunt for more thrills. Watch "The Suicide Squad" on Max now Want more action? "White House Down" seems like the perfect next watch. Rolan Emmerich's action thriller sees the White House assaulted by a paramilitary group after President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) signs a controversial agreement. Police officer John Cale (Channing Tatum) was on site with his daughter for an interview with the Secret Service. That interview doesn't go his way... but after the attack, Cale works to rescue his daughter and the President. It's explosive, dumb, popcorn fun. Watch "White House Down" on Netflix now *Honorable mention here also goes to "Olympus Has Fallen," a very similar flick that also sees the White House under siege and rescued by Gerard Butler, which you can rent on Prime Video now. If you're just looking for another action comedy you can stream in the same place, I'd recommend "Deep Cover," which was one of Prime Video's big releases for June 2025. Tom Kingsley's comedy sees down-on-her-luck improv teacher Kat (Bryce Dallas Howard) getting an offer she can't refuse from an undercover British cop (Sean Bean). He offers her a brilliant new opportunity that'll really stretch her skills: infiltrating gangland London. To do so, she recruits two of her students (played by Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed), and the trio set off to impersonate hard-edged gangsters and break into the city's underworld. As you might expect, chaos ensues. "Deep Cover" is another pairing of unlikely personalities, and a good dose of fast-talking, fast-moving, silly fun. If you haven't gotten round to it yet, give it a watch. Watch "Deep Cover" on Prime Video now Not seeing anything you like the look of? For even more streaming suggestions, check out our guide to the best movies on Prime Video for more help finding another must-watch flick.