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Was everyone wrong about Ultraman? James Gunn confirms some key details about the villain’s role in the upcoming Superman film for the DC Universe.
When Superman was first announced, fans were ready to speculate about what James Gunn had in store for the Man of Steel. Who would be playing him, what is his future in the DC Universe, does Pink Kryptonite exist? However, what nobody could have expected was that Ultraman would be playing a role in the film, becoming a lightning rod for the wild speculation of fans.
Yet despite how much ink has been spilled theorizing about Ultraman, there’s been little in the way of official details about the character. In fact, James Gunn only recently confirmed that the character was named Ultraman in a profile with Entertainment Weekly! The director teased the character’s role in Superman, suggesting that the theory of him being Lex Luthor’s attempt to create his own Superman isn’t as farfetched as many might think.
“I think that’s close,” Gunn explained in the recent interview. “Ultra Man is sort of Lex’s thug, and is pretty powerful.”
The Truth About Ultraman In The DC Universe
Breaking down James Gunn’s comment, the most likely interpretation of facts given what fans know is that Ultraman will be used by Lex Luthor as his equivalent of Superman, but won’t be created by him. This knocks out any theories that the character may be filling the role of the DC Universe’s Bizarro, with them likely being their own entity with free will to act as they wish.
Given this information, the Ultraman theory that currently holds the most weight is the Parasite theory. The theory suggests that Lex Luthor broke into the Fortress of Solitude and stole Parasite from the alien zoo, using them to replicate Superman’s power in the form of Ultraman. This would explain why no actor has been cast for the role, as the character would likely be solely CGI.
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!
