We’re seeing fresh set leaks from the upcoming Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, and if the images circulating online are genuine, they suggest a battered David Corenswet as Superman and a straight-from-the-comics weapon in the hands of Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor. Take this with a pinch of salt — but according to GamesRadar, these photos point to some intriguing creative choices on set.
What Was Reported
Per GamesRadar, the first leaked image — reportedly posted on Reddit — shows David Corenswet in the Superman suit with patches of the costume burned away, exposing his skin underneath. Subsequent images show Lex Luthor wearing a green-and-purple Warsuit, holding a peculiar-looking gun.
- Leaked Set Images allegedly show a visibly injured Superman and a suited Lex Luthor.
- The weapon spotted with Luthor is identified as the Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun, a deep-cut piece of DC Comics lore.
- GamesRadar reports that this gun was first introduced in DC Comics in 1962, with Luthor having drawn up plans for it in a 1961 comic.
Importantly, GamesRadar notes this would be the first time that exact weapon has appeared in a live-action production. The Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun did appear in the animated series Justice League Action, per the same report, but the gun has not been shown on screen in live-action to date. There were mentions of a weapon capable of destroying Superman in Smallville and Superman & Lois, but we never actually saw the Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun itself, GamesRadar adds.
The Source & Credibility
All of these details come via GamesRadar, which collated the leaked set images and contextualised them with comic history. The images themselves were described as having appeared on Reddit before being shared more widely, a typical path for on-set leaks.
We should be cautious: leaked set photos can be misinterpreted, staged, or taken out of context. GamesRadar reports what the images show, but we should treat the claims as unconfirmed until official production photos or studio confirmation arrives. Still, several specific elements in the leaks line up with known production choices — including the presence of Luthor’s warsuit — which adds a layer of plausibility to the claim that the gun is intended to be the comic’s Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun.
What It Could Mean
If true, these leaks could indicate a few narrative and visual directions for Man of Tomorrow:
- Superman Vulnerability — The burned suit patches suggest Superman faces a physical confrontation that leaves visible damage, and the presence of green kryptonite rays could explain how a physical weapon is used effectively against him.
- Lex Luthor’s Arsenal — If Nicholas Hoult's Luthor is shown with the Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun, it would be a deliberate deep-cut pull from the comics, signaling the filmmakers are mining classic Lex hardware rather than relying only on familiar cinematic motifs.
- Live-Action First — GamesRadar reports this would mark the first live-action appearance of the gun, despite its prior animated outing in Justice League Action. If the prop designers are recreating the comic look, fans of comic continuity may be in for a treat.
- Alliances May Shift — The same piece from GamesRadar also notes the movie will see Luthor and Clark Kent join forces against a new enemy, Braniac, which could mean weaponised Kryptonite plays into larger stakes and shifting alliances.
All of this is allegedly filmed as part of James Gunn's DCU Chapter One, with Man of Tomorrow positioned in that slate; GamesRadar also notes the chapter continues next month with Supergirl.
Why This Matters
Fans obsess over which comic elements make the jump to the screen. The appearance of a specific, historically dated weapon like the Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun — credited to Lex Luthor plans from 1961 and first seen in comics in 1962 — suggests the film could be leaning into comic-book specificity rather than broad archetypes. If GamesRadar's reading of the leaks is accurate, we might be looking at a movie willing to both physically test Superman and nod directly to long-running source material.
That said, leaks are often noisy. Take this with a pinch of salt: the photos may be out of context, staged, or changed in editing. Still, if the leaks are genuine and the creative team is really bringing the Nuclear Kryptonite Ray-Gun into a live-action Lex Luthor arsenal, this could be one of the more faithful and surprising comic callbacks in recent superhero filming.
