The future of DC's new cinematic universe keeps on giving surprises, and James Gunn is making sure every detail counts. After the release of Superman, many fans were left wondering what happened to one of the film's most intriguing characters. Now, thanks to comments from the director himself, we know that Man of Tomorrow will bring back a villain who promises to be a hot topic.
Because yes, Ultraman and the mysterious Angela Spica, known as The Engineer, were defeated in the Man of Steel's first great adventure, but the outcome of their story was far from over. And like a true master of hype, Gunn confirmed it with a smile that only means one thing: the sequel is going to be much more explosive.
The Engineer's return to Man of Tomorrow
In Superman, the battle at the Metropolis Meteors stadium produced some spectacular images: the hero throwing Ultraman and The Engineer into the baseball field in a sequence that seemed to mark the end for both of them. However, Gunn has already clarified that the engineer survived and will return in Man of Tomorrow with a much more prominent role.
For those who aren't quite familiar with her, Angela Spica is a classic character from the Wildstorm comics who later became part of the DC universe. Her alias, The Engineer, comes from the nanobots circulating in her blood that allow her to transform her body into true living technology. In the film, María Gabriela de Faría brought her to life, and she did so with a disturbing magnetism, displaying both the fragility of a scientist and the coldness of an assassin.
Who is Angela Spica really?
An ally of Lex Luthor, she helped him prove that Superman was a danger to humanity. Spica helped infiltrate the Fortress of Solitude itself, where they found a message from Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van that, twistedly interpreted, portrayed Kal-El as a supposed conqueror.
With that information, Spica and her allies managed to trap Superman in a pocket universe, although we already know how things end when you try to imprison the Kryptonian. Once free, Superman thwarted Luthor's plans and closed the black hole that threatened to devour Earth. Spica and Ultraman were defeated, but the key detail is that she never died, she was merely rendered unconscious. And now, her return in Man of Tomorrow not only makes sense, but opens up a world of possibilities for the saga.
Ultraman and the Great Unknown
The other villain who raised questions was Ultraman. In the film we discover that he wasn't just another enemy, but a clone of Superman himself. Gunn recalled that in the comics, Ultraman hails from Earth-3, where he's part of the Crime Syndicate, the evil version of the Justice League.
In the film, the character's fate is as enigmatic as it is promising. Superman threw him into the black hole opened by LuthorCorp, but the director declined to confirm whether that means his end. Did he end up in another dimension? Will he become Bizarro, as some fans speculate? The door is open, and knowing Gunn, we'll soon have an explosive answer in Man of Tomorrow.
Peacemaker could also join the party
As if that weren't enough, rumors suggest John Cena will return as Peacemaker in Man of Tomorrow. Gunn hasn't officially confirmed this, but he dropped several hints. He noted that the antihero isn't exactly a Superman fan, and that his hatred of the Kryptonian will be relevant in future stories.
In fact, Gunn himself revealed that the conference room we saw in Superman, where Lex Luthor and Rick Flag Sr. debated the future of humanity, will reappear in the Peacemaker season 2 finale. The big question is whether Lex will be sitting at the table again and, more importantly, how that moment will connect with what we'll see in Man of Tomorrow.
James Gunn's Big Plan
What's becoming clear is that the new DC universe isn't improvised. Gunn and Peter Safran have designed a framework where each film and series adds pieces to the puzzle. Superman was just the first card on the table, and now Man of Tomorrow is shaping up to be the masterstroke that will consolidate this new era of superheroes.
The return of The Engineer is no coincidence: his profile fits perfectly with Gunn's vision for DC, blending villains with human backgrounds, moral dilemmas, and a touch of visual spectacularity. And if we add to that the mystery of Ultraman, the possible arrival of Bizarro, and the presence of Peacemaker, the sequel could become the most anticipated event of the coming years, as it will be released on July 9, 2027.