MAN OF TOMORROW May Adapt ALL-STAR SUPERMAN’s Iconic Prison Riot Scene

There’s a new rumor making the rounds forMan of Tomorrow, and if it turns out to be legit, it could deliver one of the coolest and most unexpected Superman sequences we’ve seen on screen.

Word is that a major prison scene is being planned, and fans of the comics might recognize exactly where this could be heading.

The setup is already in place. At the end of Superman, Lex Luthor landed behind bars after nearly wiping out Metropolis. Then PeacemakerSeason 2 shook things up by having Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. recruit Lex to help build a metahuman prison called Salvation.

That arrangement eventually led to Lex being transferred out of Belle Reve and into Van Kull Maximum Security Prison, which sounds like the perfect location for something big to go down.

Now comes the interesting part. A rumor shared by Superman Saga News claims thatJames Gunn is planning to shoot a large-scale jail sequence later this month. The production reportedly needs over 100 extras, with filming split between a real prison and a soundstage. That alone suggests this isn’t just a quick throwaway scene.

So what could it be?

There’s always the chance this is a straight-up prison break, but there’s a much more exciting possibility sitting right there in the comics.

Fans are already pointing to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman #5, which features Clark Kent visiting Lex in prison for a Daily Planet interview. When a riot breaks out, Clark secretly uses his powers to keep Lex alive, saving him again and again without revealing who he really is.

If Gunn pulls from that story, it could make for a pretty awesome moment in the movie. It’s not just action, it’s character-driven in a way that flips the usual Superman and Lex dynamic on its head.

That dynamic is clearly at the heart of this sequel. Superman and Lex will be fighting side-by-side, with Lex finally suiting up in his classic green and purple War Suit. Meanwhile, Brainiac is stepping in as the main villain, pushing the story into much bigger territory.

Gunn has been pretty open about how different this movie will feel compared to its predecessor. He said, "I like my movies to be different. Guardians 1 is not the same as Guardians 3. They're different. And Man of Tomorrow will not be the same as Superman. And it is Lex's story too, so it's the two of them. That colours it in a totally different way."

He also teased how it connects to the larger DCU while still standing on its own: "I don’t know what people have guessed, but Man of Tomorrow is really—it’s very, very connected to Peacemaker—but it’s also its own thing. I mean, it has its own story that’s separate from this."

Gunn also pointed out that he’s thinking long-term, saying: "Yes, [my plans] definitely go significantly further than Man of Tomorrow. So whether or not that'll be me that's able to fulfill that promise depends on a lot of things in life."

All signs point to Man of Tomorrow being a major turning point for the DCU. The story will force Superman and Lex Luthor into an uneasy alliance as they face off against Brainiac, a threat that goes far beyond Metropolis.

The film stars David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Lars Eidinger as Brainiac, and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.

If this rumored prison sequence ends up being inspired by All-Star Superman, fans could be in for something really cool. It’s the kind of scene that mixes tension, humor, and heart in a way that fits Gunn’s style perfectly.

Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9, 2027.