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Superman has yet another villain to contend with! James Gunn has released a new BTS photo featuring a Guardians of the Galaxy star in a whole new role.
Superman has a villain problem. Not that its villains are bad. Rather, James Gunn just can’t seem to stop adding them! While the main one is Lex Luthor, there’s no shortage of minor villains ready to take the stage in the upcoming film. Otis, Eve Tessmacher, The Engineer, Rick Flag Sr., Ultraman, even the Hammer of Boravia (Even though we think they may be related to another villain on that list!)
And it seems yet another villain is being added to that list! James Gunn shared a new BTS photo on Instagram showcasing Stephen Blackehart, an actor he’d previously collaborated with in the Guardians of the Galaxy films as Steemie Blueliver, a dispatcher on Knowhere. No, Blackehart is set to join Superman as yet another supporting character, playing the villainous assistant to Lex Luthor known as Sydney Happersen.
Is Superman Hiding Some Mad Science?
Obviously, Stephen Blackehart likely isn’t going to play a major role in Superman. However, the fact that James Gunn decided to share this BTS photo may give us some insight on how the villain will play into the movie. The image shows Blackehart screaming, suggesting that he’s seeing something horrible or being attacked.
In the comics, Sydney Happersen died when Lex Luthor decided not to follow through on his plans to bomb Metropolis, his death being the result of his attempt to launch the missiles. It’s possible that this BTS photo comes from a moment in Superman where Sydney pushes Lex’s experiments further than he wants, with the plan backfiring and leading to his death. Perhaps he unleashes a certain alien parasite onto his body?
Superman is currently scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
