Will James Gunn’s Superman 2 Happen? Here’s Everything We Know

Warning! This article contains major SPOILERS for Superman

Now that Superman has hit theaters, the next biggest question about James Gunn’s DCU is whether Superman 2 is on the cards. This is largely because Superman has been so well-received, no doubt sparking a wave of excitement over where the Man of Steel will go next.

It is safe to say that David Corenswet has made waves as DC’s latest live-action Superman, landing with a flourish in Superman despite concerns among die-hard DCEU fans that he could never live up to the bar set by his predecessor, Henry Cavill. What he ultimately delivered was a fresh rendition that embraced his humanity.

As the first installment in the entire DC Universe, a lot is riding on the franchise’s first tentpole. Superman is arguably a litmus test for the entire cinematic universe and whether there is an appetite for future DCU installments. Thankfully, it is safe to say that the prognosis looks good.

Superman is due to be followed by Supergirl on June 26, 2026, with other confirmed projects like The Authority yet to receive concrete release dates. As for whether a direct Superman sequel is in the works, here is everything we know so far.

Superman 2 Is Not Confirmed

But The Future Looks Positive

With Superman having only been released on July 11, 2025, there is no confirmation yet on a sequel. This stands to reason, given James Gunn’s somewhat cautious approach to the DC Universe, with the DC Studios co-CEO asserting that upcoming projects must have completed scripts before they are greenlit.

Nevertheless, positive news has come from Superman’s lead, David Corenswet. In an interview with Vanity Fair, in which Corenswet and Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult were subjected to a lie detector test, Corenswet confessed that his contract extends to a sequel, stating:

“I’m already under contract for a sequel.”

As encouraging as this statement may be, it should not be seen as confirmation that a sequel is en route. Although Corenswet may be contracted to appear in a sequel, several factors may stymie its progress, similar to how Man of Steel 2 was initially planned but never came to fruition.

Instead, the closest movie confirmed to at least directly lead on from Superman is Supergirl. This will star Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El, Kal-El’s cousin, and may even include David Corenswet’s Kal-El in a cameo similar to Supergirl’s brief appearance in Superman. Short of further story details for Supergirl, however, this is pure speculation.

Superman 2 Cast: Who Could Return

Most Of The Cast Could Return

Superman was stuffed with characters from every corner of DC Comics, from the conventional to the obscure. Superman story stalwarts like Lois Lane and Lex Luthor are likely to reappear opposite Corenswet’s Superman in future DCU adaptations. However, more obscure characters like the Justice Gang aren’t necessarily a surefire bet.

Nevertheless, Superman succeeded in making characters like the Justice Gang and Metamorpho feel right at home in a Superman story. Additionally, the movie established a firm friendship between the titular hero and Justice Gang member, Mister Terrific – a relationship cemented by the two starring alongside each other in the Superman post-credits scene.

With that in mind, any actor who appeared in Superman could reprise their roles in a sequel. Still, among the most likely to return include:

David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent

Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor

Pruitt Taylor Vince as John Kent

Neva Howell as Martha Kent

Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen

Milly Alcock as Supergirl

Ironically, the only character precluded from appearing due to their apparent death in Superman is another character played by David Corenswet: Ultraman. Angela Spica, AKA the Engineer, was also revealed to have survived her fall from the atmosphere as one of Luthor’s lackeys announces she still has a heartbeat, though she is most likely to reappear in The Authority.

Superman 2 is more likely to feature a fresher cast if and when it is confirmed as part of the DCU as it continues to introduce new characters. With Lex Luthor now imprisoned at Belle Reve, Superman will likely face off against a brand-new villain from his DC Comics career, such as Brainiac, although Lex is still likely to play a role.

Superman 2 Story Details: How James Gunn’s Movie Sets Up A Sequel

Superman Has An Open Ending

Although Superman emerges victorious against Lex Luthor and his obsessive schemes, he hasn’t exactly quelled every threat Metropolis faces. One scene, for instance, sees Superman hand-wave the presence of an interdimensional assailant as the Justice Gang battle it instead, suggesting gargantuan threats to the city are a dime a dozen.

Still, it is unlikely that Superman 2 will amount to little more than a fight between Superman and a new monster. Instead, Superman sets up a deeper conflict for the eponymous hero to tackle in the form of his heritage and his biological parents’ true intentions for sending him to Earth: to rule over it and repopulate it with Kryptonians.

This might put him at odds with another Kryptonian mainstay of Superman movies: General Zod. Alternatively, given the star power of Bradley Cooper, who only appears briefly in Superman as part of a recorded message, some unusual circumstances might bring him face to face with his father, Jor-El.

More terrestrial concerns may also center on the aftermath of Lex Luthor’s plot in Superman​​​​​. The Superman post-credits scene, for instance, saw the Man of Steel and Mister Terrific surveying the damage done to Metropolis. This damage may come back to haunt Superman in the future, worsening the discourse surrounding his decision to operate outside the bounds of government.

Given James Gunn’s interest in avoiding a cinematic universe comprising movies that must be seen for audiences to keep abreast, it is unlikely that Superman 2 will be set up by another movie like Supergirl, though not beyond the realm of possibility. Whatever the case, Superman’s open ending means that its sequel could go in whatever direction it pleases.

Source: Vanity Fair