James Gunn's Superman sequel has added another popular hero to its ranks — and it's someone we'll see in one of this year's DCU projects

• Man of Tomorrow has added one of Lanterns' stars to its ranks
• The Superman sequel is set to begin filming in mid-2026
• Lanterns will premiere this August and introduce us to two more Green Lanterns

Lanterns star Aaron Pierre is set to reprise his role as John Stewart in next year's Man of Tomorrow (MoT) movie.

That's according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), whose sources have indicated that Pierre has joined the ever-expanding ensemble of James Gunn's Superman sequel.

At the time of publication, Gunn hasn't confirmed Pierre's involvement on social media. However, the co-head of DC Studios has announced the addition of new cast members via his social channels before — a case in point being last December's reveal that German actor Lars Eidinger will play the supervillain known as Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow. It's likely only a matter of time, then, until Gunn verifies THR's claim.

Pierre will make his DC Universe (DCU) debut as Stewart, a fan-favorite Green Lantern, in the forthcoming HBO TV Original Lanterns. The live-action show will see Pierre's rookie Lantern Corps recruit team up with Kyle Chandler's veteran Green Lantern in Hal Jordan to investigate a murder mystery in America's rural heartland.

Lanterns is set to premiere on HBO Max and more of the world's best streaming services this August. Meanwhile, Man of Tomorrow will fly into theaters on July 9, 2027. Filming is expected to begin in mid-2026.

How Man of Tomorrow could simplify one of DC Comics' most complicated romances

It remains to be seen how Pierre's Stewart will factor into MoT's story. However, one actor who appeared in Gunn's Superman movie has already suggested that Stewart's potential involvement could allow next year's follow-up to explore a particular romantic subplot between Stewart and their character.

Speaking to Nerdist during the Superman press tour, Isabela Merced, who played Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl in the first DCU Chapter One flick, touched on such a possibility.

"I really love the idea, and that’s why I love Lois and Clark stories — like, that alien-human love story," Merced said. "There’s just something so romantic about that to me. It’s like 'We shouldn’t, but we should, but we shouldn’t.'"

The main obstacle to fulfilling Merced's wish is Stewart and Hawkgirl having an incredibly complicated relationship in a whole heap of DC projects.

For one, in the Justice League animated series and wider DC comic book history, this complex dynamic actually exists between Stewart and Shayera Hol, who's gone by the superhuman pseudonyms Hawkgirl and Hawkwoman. Meanwhile, Saunders is more commonly associated with Carter Hall, aka Hawkman.

Given Hawkgirl's extremely convoluted backstory — one not helped by numerous source material retcons — though, it's possible that the DCU may simplify things. The easiest way to do that? Make Stewart and Saunders hit it off in Man of Tomorrow. Or, at the very least, start laying the groundwork for a romance relationship by creating some sexual tension in said flick. Just don't make it as eyeroll-inducing as Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff's short-lived dalliance in Marvel's Age of Ultron film, please, Mister Gunn.

For more on two of the next four DCU productions, find out everything we know so far about Lanterns. Then, get the full lowdown on Man of Tomorrow.

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