James Gunn is putting an extraordinary amount of time into Man of Tomorrow as Warner Bros. Discovery looks toward the next major chapter of its new DC Universe following the disappointing box office performance of Supergirl.
During Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest earnings discussion, CEO David Zaslav reaffirmed the company’s confidence in DC Studios and highlighted Gunn’s work on Man of Tomorrow, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2025’s Superman. According to Zaslav, Gunn is currently deeply focused on the project and working extremely long days as production moves forward.
The comments arrive at an important moment for DC Studios. Supergirl, the second theatrical movie in the rebooted DC Universe, struggled commercially after arriving in theaters in June, putting additional attention on the franchise’s upcoming projects and particularly on Man of Tomorrow.
James Gunn Is Working Up to 18 Hours a Day
Zaslav emphasized Gunn’s commitment to the upcoming movie, revealing that the DC Studios co-CEO has been working extraordinarily long hours while simultaneously overseeing the broader DC Universe.
According to Zaslav, Gunn can spend as much as 18 hours a day working as he balances his responsibilities at DC Studios with his direct involvement in Man of Tomorrow.
The workload reflects the unusual position Gunn occupies within Warner Bros. He is not simply directing another DC movie. Alongside Peter Safran, Gunn is responsible for overseeing the larger interconnected universe while also writing and directing one of its most important upcoming theatrical releases.
Man of Tomorrow is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.
Supergirl’s Box Office Performance Put More Attention on DC’s Future
The comments come after Supergirl delivered a disappointing theatrical performance for Warner Bros.
The movie, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, opened significantly below expectations and struggled to build momentum at the box office. Reports indicated that the film carried a production budget of approximately $170 million, making its weak theatrical performance particularly damaging.
Despite that setback, Warner Bros. leadership has publicly maintained its confidence in the direction of DC Studios.
Zaslav said the studio continues to feel positive about DC and pointed toward its upcoming slate rather than suggesting that Supergirl’s performance would lead to a major retreat from the franchise.
That makes Man of Tomorrow increasingly important. Superman successfully introduced audiences to Gunn’s new version of the DC Universe in 2025, and its follow-up will now arrive with considerably more attention surrounding the future of the franchise.
Man of Tomorrow Will Expand Superman’s Story
Man of Tomorrow will bring David Corenswet back as Superman, with Nicholas Hoult returning as Lex Luthor.
Gunn has previously indicated that the movie should not necessarily be viewed as a conventional Superman 2. Instead, Superman and Lex Luthor will both play major roles in the story, expanding the universe established in the first movie.
Milly Alcock is also expected to return as Supergirl, directly connecting the upcoming film with Kara Zor-El’s story.
The project is already in production, putting Gunn in the unusual position of directing the next major DC movie while continuing to oversee the studio’s wider slate of films and television projects.
Warner Bros. Remains Confident in DC Studios
Supergirl’s disappointing performance inevitably raised questions about whether Warner Bros. could reconsider its plans for the new DC Universe, but the company’s latest comments suggest that is not currently happening.
Zaslav expressed confidence in Gunn and Safran while highlighting the number of DC projects currently moving forward.
The wider pipeline includes projects across both theaters and television, reinforcing Warner Bros.’ intention to continue building the interconnected universe despite the setback suffered by Supergirl.
Man of Tomorrow, however, is positioned to become one of the biggest tests of that strategy.
The first Superman movie established the foundation of Gunn’s theatrical DC Universe. Supergirl demonstrated that simply being connected to that universe does not guarantee commercial success. Man of Tomorrow will now have an opportunity to show whether Superman can continue serving as the centerpiece of the franchise.
With Gunn reportedly dedicating as much as 18 hours a day to his responsibilities and production already underway, Warner Bros. is clearly placing significant attention on what comes next.
Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.
FAQ
What is James Gunn currently working on for DC?
James Gunn is currently focused heavily on Man of Tomorrow while also serving as co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran.
How many hours a day is James Gunn reportedly working?
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said Gunn can work as much as 18 hours a day while handling his responsibilities at DC Studios and Man of Tomorrow.
Is Man of Tomorrow Superman 2?
The movie continues the story established by Superman, although James Gunn has previously indicated that it should not necessarily be viewed as a traditional Superman 2.
When will Man of Tomorrow be released?
Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.
Will Supergirl appear in Man of Tomorrow?
Milly Alcock is expected to return as Kara Zor-El, connecting Supergirl with the upcoming movie.
