Clever Superman Theory Makes The DCU’s Reboot The Boys’ Perfect Replacement

New speculation around James Gunn’s Superman and the DC Universe it is set to launch suggest some surprising similarities with the Prime Video series The Boys. Releasing in 2025, the cast of Superman is extensive and features several well-known DC heroes played by performers like Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced. As the film is currently shooting, some set photos featuring characters like Mister Terrific have appeared online. Details of these photos have caused some speculation that has led to comparisons to The Boys.

The Boys has been an enormously successful series for Prime Video. Based on comics by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the series imagines a world where corporations exploit and control heroes, similar to what is suggested in DCU set photos of Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. The main heroes in The Boys are direct analogs to DC heroes, with Homelander standing in for Superman and A-Train representing The Flash. As a result, it is surprising to suddenly see ties between the series and the upcoming DC universe.

DCU’s Superman Is Set Up To Be The Boys Season 1 For 2025

Superman seems poised to explore the corporatization of superheroes. Recent set photos have surfaced from the filming of Superman that suggest a Justice League replacement by showing the uniforms of various heroes, including Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific. Each uniform appears to be emblazoned with images that are associated with LordTech. Considering Superman himself is not affiliated with this group, it seems likely there will be some kind of disagreement between the parties involved.

The Boys has been a fantastic satire of superhero stories, and the genre has certainly evolved over the years. With a look to the future, Superman seems ready to take up the mantle for 2025 and beyond. The DCU seems set to explore the responsibilities of heroes and their relationship to commercialization. As The Boys concludes with season 5, the DCU is set to continue this thrilling journey.

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DCU’s Superman Set Photos Make A Truly Promising Movie Story Possible

Various Influences From Garth Ennis And The MCU Can Shape The DCU

Understanding the current state of superhero storytelling is crucial in shaping a new cinematic universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe successfully explored the influence of government and corporate relationships on heroism in films like Captain America: Civil War, but it took some time to get there. The DCU, even as a new universe, must address these realities sooner. The way audiences perceive and engage with superhero stories has evolved, and this evolution must be considered in the DCU’s narrative development.

Fortunately, with set photos showing a costumed hero speculated to be Ultraman arresting Superman, it appears that these realities are already set to be addressed. With the film cited to draw influence from Kingdom Come, a story that famously engages with the ideas of heroes as a commercialized institution, it appears that some of this smart, effective commentary may make its way into the DCU. As stories progress through to The Authority – which itself serves as a superhero parody, despite its heroes existing in the main DC universe – it will be interesting to see how the franchise examines these themes.

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The DCU Is Perfectly Placed To Weigh In On The Modern Superhero Genre

Self-Awareness And Reflection Are Key For Finding Success With Superman

Superhero movies and television have changed through the years. While early iterations tended to focus on less serious stories, around the 2000s they evolved to tell larger narratives about the world. With the MCU as the most successful entry in the genre’s canon, superhero storytelling has grown grand, sweeping, and immense. It is no longer easy to tell an isolated story without addressing the state of the genre. Similarly, there is more than one flavor of the superhero experience that the DCU will have to contend with, with humorous shows like Harley Quinn and serious films like The Dark Knight drawing from the same lore.

Luckily, James Gunn appears to be building a universe that is well aware of that. Superman is set to take place in a populated world that features different kinds of heroism. Some aspects will be subverted and likely warped by institutions, while others, like Superman himself, can bring a fresh and invigorating look at heroism and the superhero genre. Dark and gritty themes that have been popularized can still be engaged with, but Superman himself can remain a bright light at the center of the stories.

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Superman has a great deal to live up to, but everything coming out about the movie is giving audiences faith that it will be able to do so. The film appears to be smartly built around classic themes, but intends to explore them in new and engaging ways. If done well, Superman could represent the future of superhero cinema, and how the genre can continue to thrive and survive going forward, even potentially exploring territory that previously may have looked almost impossible for it to delve into.

Superman (2025)

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.’ rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”

Release Date

July 11, 2025

Cast

David Corenswet , Rachel Brosnahan , María Gabriela De Faría , Edi Gathegi , Nicholas Hoult , Frank Grillo , Nathan Fillion , Milly Alcock , Sara Sampaio , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Skyler Gisondo , Anthony Carrigan , Wendell Pierce , Beck Bennett , Sean Gunn

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