The controversial change to Superman’s origin story in Superman (2025) has huge potential consequences for the DCU. Superman’s story has always been built on one of the most enduring origin myths in comics. However, James Gunn’s retcon has thrown this classic foundation into question, drastically reshaping the Man of Steel’s purpose and the DCU’s future.
In the world of DC Comics, Superman sent away from a doomed world as a baby, raised among humanity, and destined to become its greatest protector. Superman flips this by revealing a message from his parents suggesting Kal-El’s powers would allow him to enslave humanity. Jor-El and Lara instruct him to claim multiple wives and restore Kryptonian dominance through repopulation.
There has been some debate about whether this message was accurate, both within the movie and among audiences. James Gunn himself has confirmed that the message is indeed real. This shocking revelation not only reframes Superman’s purpose but also sets the stage for massive consequences for the DCU, and sets up several upcoming DCU projects.
What Superman’s Origin Story Retcon Means For The Man Of Tomorrow Movie
The Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is already positioned as a game-changer for the DCU. It will see Clark Kent forced into an uneasy alliance with Lex Luthor to combat a greater cosmic threat. However, the trust required for this team-up is complicated by Lex’s previous actions, namely his release of the “true” Kryptonian message to the world.
As Lex was the person who translated and released the Kryptonian message, their pending partnership will have to surmount this. Lex sought to publicly destroy Superman, calling into question his intentions and humanity. Superman’s faith in his parents – and by extension, his mission – is shaken because of Lex.
Superman’s heroism was initially fueled by his parents’ words of hope. The original half of Jor-El and Lara’s message assured Kal-El that he was a beacon of light, destined to inspire. Yet, with the darker half of the message revealed, that hope feels hollow. Instead of being Earth’s champion, Kal-El was seemingly Krypton’s weapon.
Superman wrestled with his identity until he reaffirmed his humanity and the ideals imparted by his human parents. The sequel will likely emphasize this further. How this inner conflict plays out alongside Lex’s manipulation – and whether Superman can ever truly forgive Lex for weaponizing this – will give Man of Tomorrow the moral complexity James Gunn’s DCU thrives on.
How James Gunn’s Kryptonian Changes Will Affect Supergirl In The DCU
Supergirl’s introduction to the DCU comes with added weight thanks to this divisive Kryptonian retcon. Traditionally, Kara Zor-El arrives on Earth as Superman’s cousin, presumably carrying with her the same survival-based mission Jor-El and Lara had for Kal-El. However, in James Gunn’s new continuity, Supergirl may face a far different reception.
Humanity could Supergirl her less as a savior and more as another potential conqueror, thanks to the restored Kryptonian message. The hints have already been laid. In Superman, Kara is briefly glimpsed in a drunken state, emphasizing her detachment from Earth and suggesting a preference for life among other aliens in space.
This could set up a storyline where she is both unfamiliar with humanity and distrusted by it. Earth’s citizens – haunted by the fear that Kryptonians were bred to dominate rather than inspire – may find it hard to accept another super-powered Kryptonian in their midst, no matter Superman’s example. Beyond Earth’s reaction, Supergirl herself could embody Krypton’s controversial reputation.
Other alien species in the DCU may be more familiar with Krypton’s imperialist undertones. Consequently, Kara could be treated as a representative of a fallen world infamous for its darker ambitions. This creates an entirely new dynamic for her character arc.
Kara may have to prove that she is not defined by Krypton’s legacy. The DCU’s Supergirl won’t just be standing in Superman’s shadow. She may also have to fight against Krypton’s reputation as a civilization of conquerors.
Superman’s Origin Story Change May Explain Guy Gardner’s Presence In Metropolis
Perhaps the most surprising implication of this retcon is its connection to the Green Lantern Corps, particularly Guy Gardner’s presence in Metropolis. In Gunn’s DCU, Gardner is active on Earth. His placement near Superman could therefore be far more than coincidence.
If Krypton’s true legacy is conquest and domination, then the Guardians of the Universe may have deemed it necessary to monitor Kal-El closely. They could have stationed Guy on Earth to act as both protector and watchdog. Traditionally, the Green Lanterns patrol sectors of the universe with a sense of neutrality, intervening only when necessary.
However, Krypton’s history of advanced technology and interstellar influence would certainly put them on the Corps’ radar. If Jor-El and Lara’s supposed intentions for Kal-El become widely known across the cosmos, Superman may not be seen as Earth’s champion at all, but as a potential universal threat. Guy Gardner’s assignment in Metropolis, then, could be explained as a precaution.
Guy Gardner could be an ever-watchful Lantern ensuring that Superman does not fulfill the darker prophecy hidden in his origin. This setup also feeds directly into Lanterns, the upcoming HBO Max series focusing on the Corps. The retcon allows for an organic crossover point between Superman and the Lantern mythos, grounding their connection in galactic politics rather than coincidence.