Superman 2: Blue Beetle Returns for Man of Tomorrow

Exciting news from DC! According to Variety magazine, Xolo Maridueña will play Jaime Reyes, aka Blue Beetle, in the upcoming "Superman" sequel, "Man of Tomorrow".

Back when "Blue Beetle" was released in 2023, James Gunn had already made clear just how important the character is to the newly launched DC Universe. On Michael Rosenbaum's podcast, the filmmaker explained:

"The first DCU character, for sure, Blue Beetle, and the first full DCU movie is 'Superman'".

Blue Beetle was the first Latino superhero to headline his own film within the DC Universe. Maridueña himself expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to continue his journey as Blue Beetle:

"Regardless of if we get 20 movies or if it's just this one, I feel truly fulfilled. If we get to do another one, I'm so ready – and shit, I'll put on another 20 pounds and get even bigger."

In "Superman: Man of Tomorrow", David Corenswet also returns as Superman. In the film, the Man of Steel finds himself forced to team up with none other than his archenemy Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult. Together, they must face an even greater threat: the highly intelligent alien Brainiac, portrayed by Lars Eidinger. The film is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027.

The Cast

But who else is actually in the cast alongside Corenswet? Of course, Rachel Brosnahan returns as reporter Lois Lane and Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen. Milly Alcock will reprise her role as Supergirl following the events of the first film – her story was recently explored in greater depth in her own solo film. The "Justice Gang" is also back in action: Nathan Fillion reprises his role as the edgy Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced takes flight as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi returns as the highly intelligent Mister Terrific.

James Gunn has also revealed that the enigmatic businessman Maxwell Lord will make a significant appearance in the film. However, he wants to return the character to his more complex origins from the comics – so we shouldn't expect a typical villain like the one in "Wonder Woman 1984". In the second season of "Peacemaker", the role was played by the director's brother: Sean Gunn.

The cast list also features several other prominent names: in addition to familiar faces from the first "Superman" movie, these include Matthew Lillard in a yet-to-be-revealed role and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. He also plays the role in the "Lanterns" series.

Adria Arjona, known from "Andor", is set to portray the alien queen Maxima. In the comics, she has her sights set primarily on Superman, whom she sees as the only man worthy of becoming her partner and king – we can already sense the potential for an entertaining conflict with Lois Lane in the battle for Clark's affections.

With so many characters, the film could quickly feel overloaded – a risk especially for casual viewers who aren't deeply familiar with the source material. However, if anyone can effortlessly juggle large ensembles and give every character emotional depth, it's James Gunn – just look at films like "Guardians of the Galaxy" or "The Suicide Squad".

Here's what's happening behind the scenes

As far as the production status goes, we're already right in the thick of it! Filming has been in full swing since April 2026 – under the mysterious working title "Exodus". Gunn is keeping fans entertained with little teasers like an "Exodus Bingo" card. Filming for this massive project is taking place at the state-of-the-art Trilith Studios in Atlanta, as well as at locations in Cincinnati and the United Kingdom.

While we're not allowed to show any of the set photos that have been leaked so far, here's a hint: Superman's suit has been slightly redesigned – it now looks a bit more muscular, which was a point of criticism from some fans in the previous film. We'll likely see the final look in the first trailer for the new Superman movie at the latest – but that's probably still a while away.