Director James Gunn hinted at a connection to DC's "Kingdom Come" storyline in his upcoming Superman film (formerly Superman: Legacy).
As Gunn's Superman finally begins production, plot details of the DCU movie have been kept under wraps. The DC studio boss cast a number of new characters for the film, including several new superheroes, but the story remains unclear.
The synopsis of the film promises to see David Collenswaite's Iron Man "reconcile his Kryptonian bloodline with his earthling upbringing:"
Superman: Legacy follows Superman's journey in Smallville, Kansas as Clark Kent reconciles his Kryptonian bloodline and his earthling-upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human goodness in a world where goodness is an outdated concept. ”
James Gunn's Kingdom Comes to Superman trailer
James Gunn's "Kingdom Come" trailer began in December 2022, just a month after he served as DC Studios co-CEO, and he shared the storyline and its most iconic ** of Superman, with the caption "Plans are being made."
Now, as Superman begins production, Gunn has unveiled Iron Man's new official logo. While the logo's red-yellow color scheme may distinguish it from the distinctive red-black color of the "Kingdom Come" Superman logo, its unique pattern shows clear similarities.
Explain DC's Kingdom Coming
First, what is the story of "Kingdom Coming" about? Well, it's a four-time series written by Mark Wade and set in an alternate future in the DC Universe.
The story explores a world in which key Justice League superheroes, such as Superman, have retired as the public begins to favor a new generation of protectors who prefer to use lethal force.
However, a tragedy in Kansas that killed Captain Atom triggered a nuclear** that destroyed the American Midwest, killing a large number of people**, and these new superheroes pushed their limits even further.
Thus, Superman ends his retirement as he returns to re-form the Justice League and restore order, leading to a conflict between generations.
How Kingdom Coming is connected to James Gunn's Superman
With James Gunn's Superman opening up a whole new universe of DC superheroes rather than focusing on an old and chaotic world, the potential connection of "Kingdom Come" can be confusing at first.
A key difference between DCU Superman and Kingdom Coming is the age of Man of Steel. While the story of DC Comics is about an old Kryptonite in his 60s who retires, James Gunn's film sets it as an actor the same age as actor David Colenswaite, leaving him around 30 years old.
Perhaps Superman's story will revolve around a younger Carl Eyre coming into the spotlight as a superhero, inspiring hope, both for existing superheroes who might be disoriented, and for a new generation.
DCU Films has announced several superheroes who will appear outside of Man of Steel, including Mr. Remarkable as Eddie Gessergi, Eagle Girl as Isabella Merced, Elemental as Anthony Carrigan, and Green Lantern as Nathan Fillian.
This could also prepare for The Authority, a DCU movie that will star a cast of heroes known for their cynicism and brutality. The members of this team, including the character of engineer Maria Gabriela de Faria, who will be in Superman's appearance, may be the best of these more brutal heroes.
So, this could allow Carl El to pass on his usual hopes to these older and more mature heroes, while laying the groundwork for the numerous new characters that will join the DCU in the coming years.
So while Superman won't be the first hero of this world, as he will be joining a world where superheroes already exist, his arrival should mark a turning point in this DC saga, so it's an interesting point to get into it.
While this is mostly speculation at the moment, there are clear indications that Superman will draw inspiration from the "Kingdom Come" storyline. But these may be more superficial uses of the underlying premise and themes than direct adaptations of the story and its events. Superman