James Gunn's Superman: Exploring Ultraman, Hammer of Boravia, and The Engineer

The summer blockbuster season is intensifying, with James Gunn’s Superman generating significant buzz. Warner Bros. has unveiled a new trailer, offering deeper glimpses into the storyline and the dynamic between David Corenswet’s Superman and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane.

Yet, the spotlight shines brightest on the villains. The trailer highlights Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, alongside María Gabriela de Faría’s The Engineer, the newly created Hammer of Boravia, and the enigmatic Ultraman.

This raises a key question: who is the true antagonist in Gunn’s Superman? Is Lex Luthor overshadowed by other DCU villains? Let’s dive into the rogues’ gallery featured in Superman and how they intertwine.

Superman: Behind-the-Scenes Cast and Character Photos

Who Is the Hammer of Boravia?

Introduced in the latest trailer, the Hammer of Boravia is a towering, armored figure. Unfamiliar to DC fans, this character is a fresh creation by Gunn, not drawn from existing comics, a bold move given DC’s vast roster of untapped villains.

The character first appeared in promotional materials, with a faux-Daily Planet headline proclaiming, “‘Hammer of Boravia’ Wreaks Havoc Downtown.” The trailer depicts this chaos, showing the Hammer clashing with Superman and unleashing a powerful laser assault.

The Hammer of Boravia clearly relies on advanced technology to challenge Superman, donning a weaponized battlesuit reminiscent of the Zaku from Gundam. Gunn’s references to kaiju suggest a heavy influence from Japanese media, blending with Superman’s Silver Age comic roots and All-Star Superman vibes, creating a distinctive East-West fusion.

Warner Bros. reveals that the Hammer represents Boravia, a fictional nation that recently invaded Jarhanpur. Superman’s intervention to halt the conflict draws the Hammer’s fury to Metropolis. The trailer shows glimpses of this invasion and the political repercussions of Superman’s actions, with even the U.S. Secretary of Defense scrutinizing him.

Gunn’s Superman tackles Kal-El’s struggle to be a global force for good while navigating international consequences. This echoes themes from Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman, exploring Superman’s unintended fallout from acting beyond U.S. borders. Hopefully, this doesn’t lead to a grim fate for Jimmy Olsen early in the film.

María Gabriela de Faría’s The Engineer

After a brief appearance in the initial teaser, The Engineer, played by María Gabriela de Faría, takes center stage in the new trailer. Her nanotech-powered abilities are showcased, marking her as a clear adversary to Superman.

This portrayal flips her comic origins, where The Engineer, Angela Spica, is a member of The Authority, a proactive superhero team less concerned with collateral damage than the Justice League. Gunn’s inclusion of her highlights the clash between Superman’s traditional heroism and a more cynical, modern breed of heroes, reflected in his Kingdom Come-inspired angular S logo.

Yet, Angela’s heroic status in the DCU is questionable. The trailer shows her aligned with Luthor, eagerly confronting Superman in a baseball stadium and attacking his robotic allies in the Fortress of Solitude. Even Krypto faces her wrath, though he lands a solid counterblow.

It seems The Engineer, like Luthor, views Superman as a threat to humanity. Whether her perspective shifts by the film’s end remains uncertain. Gunn once planned an Authority spinoff, now on hold, but this suggests a broader arc for de Faría’s character.

Is Ultraman in James Gunn’s Superman?

The trailer shows The Engineer alongside a masked figure sporting a prominent U emblem, sparking speculation about Ultraman’s presence in the DCU.

The character’s strength and durability, matching Superman’s, fuel theories of him being Ultraman. However, the film appears to deviate from the comics, where Ultraman is an evil Superman from Earth-3, leading the Crime Syndicate of America. Earth-3’s Lex Luthor is a hero, hinting that Hoult’s Luthor may see himself similarly.

Gunn’s Superman likely avoids multiverse complexity, reimagining Ultraman as a genetically engineered mimic of Superman, akin to Nuclear Man or Bizarro. His masked appearance suggests possible disfigurement, setting up a dramatic reveal, potentially with Corenswet’s likeness.

Ultraman, not Luthor, seems poised as the film’s primary physical threat. Superman will face a foe with equal power but lacking his moral compass, promising intense battles that leave Kal-El battered.

Superman vs. Kaiju

The trailer emphasizes the film’s grand scale, with collapsing buildings evoking Man of Steel’s climactic destruction. Superman’s mission to save lives is tested as Metropolis faces potential devastation.

Beyond human foes like the Hammer and The Engineer, Superman battles massive kaiju, reminiscent of Legendary’s Monsterverse or Pacific Rim. One scene recalls Gunn’s 2024 costume reveal, showing Superman preparing amid a monster’s rampage, with Lois Lane present.

Why Metropolis is plagued by kaiju remains unclear. Are these creatures summoned, or is this a typical DCU crisis? Lex Luthor seems a likely culprit, possibly orchestrating a crisis to undermine Superman.

Let’s now focus on Lex Luthor himself.

Lex Luthor: Supporting Villain?

The trailer reveals Superman facing numerous foes, but Hoult’s Lex Luthor avoids direct combat. With allies like The Engineer and Ultraman, Lex has no need for his classic armor.

Hoult’s Luthor aligns with tradition, viewing himself as humanity’s savior, resentful of Superman’s popularity. He sees Superman as an external threat, even dehumanizing him as “it.”

Lex works to discredit Superman, possibly collaborating with ARGUS and Rick Flagg, Sr. The trailer shows Superman imprisoned alongside Metamorpho, facing brutal treatment, highlighting the severity of his political fallout.

Lex appears to play a subtler role than expected, orchestrating events through proxies while tarnishing Superman’s image. He remains the thematic antagonist, with Ultraman as the physical threat. The film likely concludes with Superman proving Lex wrong, reaffirming hope and decency, though not through physical combat. Lex may persist in the DCU, undeterred by prison.

Lois Lane and Clark Kent’s Relationship

Amid the villain-centric trailer, the dynamic between Brosnahan’s Lois Lane and Corenswet’s Clark Kent deserves attention. The opening scene reveals Lois knows Clark’s secret, fitting her reputation as a sharp reporter who sees through his disguise.

This echoes the 1978 Superman’s interview scene, but Gunn prioritizes Lois’s journalistic scrutiny over romance, questioning Clark about the political consequences of his actions.

The state of Lois and Clark’s relationship is ambiguous. Unlike the comics, where Clark reveals his identity after they fall in love, Lois has already deduced it. Their initial scene suggests friendship, not romance, though a later kiss hints at evolving feelings.

Gunn discussed the Lois/Clark dynamic during IGN’s 2024 set visit, noting, “It’s a complex relationship, with long scenes exploring how an intelligent, stubborn journalist connects with someone who can lift skyscrapers.”

Gunn ensures Lois avoids the damsel-in-distress trope, portraying her as an intellectual equal to Superman and Luthor.

Who do you think is the ultimate villain in Gunn’s Superman? Which battle are you most eager to see? Share your thoughts in the comments.