James Gunn Teases Ultraman's Masked Reveal

With Superman's imminent release and multiple trailers setting expectations, most film elements appear clear—except for one enigmatic figure who emerged in the debut trailer: Ultraman.

James Gunn reimagines this DC Comics character with striking originality. Unlike the traditionally evil Superman counterpart from alternate dimensions, Gunn's Ultraman diverges completely in appearance, sporting militaristic gear and a mask despite retaining the iconic chest emblem. His abilities, however, seem to mirror Superman's based on early footage.

New Ultraman Image Fuels Speculation

Gunn's latest social media reveal offers an unprecedented close-up, detailing the character’s rugged goggles and masked visage—yet deliberately avoids exposing the man beneath.

Ultraman. pic.twitter.com/KvdcMYL3XZ

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 24, 2025

Fan theories run wild, suggesting everything from David Corenswet's Superman clone to hidden identities like Martian Manhunter or—jokingly—Henry Cavill or Chris Pratt. IGN's Jesse Schedeen posits parallels to Nuclear Man (Superman IV) or certain Bizarro comic iterations.

So it's confirmed this is Ultraman—but who's playing him? pic.twitter.com/1TanQAGBJv

— sonci4536 (@AtikChafik) June 24, 2025

Doomsday Comparisons Emerge

The masked design has also drawn comparisons to Doomsday’s early humanoid depictions (Superman: The Man of Steel #18), contrasting with Zack Snyder’s monstrous Batman v Superman version.

pic.twitter.com/e97jbFv9yG

— Daniel Guerra (@guerra_daniel) June 24, 2025

Gunn has intentionally obscured Ultraman’s identity, ensuring the reveal lands with impact in theaters. When Entertainment Weekly probed whether Ultraman stems from Lex Luthor’s experiments, Gunn hinted: “Close. He’s Lex’s powerful enforcer.”

The mystery unravels July 11 with Superman’s premiere. Meanwhile, Gunn reassures fans about the film’s dense cast: “Oppenheimer had triple our speaking roles—we’re fine.”