Superman: Man of Tomorrow

For the comic book series, see Superman: The Man of Tomorrow.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow
4K Ultra HD cover
Directed by	Chris Palmer
Written by	Tim Sheridan
Based on	Characters from DC Superman  by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
Produced by	Jim Krieg Kimberly S. Moreau
Starring	Darren Criss Alexandra Daddario Zachary Quinto
Edited by	Bruce A. King
Music by	Kevin Riepl
Production companies	Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release dates	August 23, 2020 (2020-08-23) (Digital)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Superman: Man of Tomorrow is a 2020 American animated direct-to-video superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. It is the thirty-ninth film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. It was released on Digital on August 23, 2020, and on Blu-ray, DVD, and on 4K Ultra HD on September 8, 2020.

The film chronicles the life of Clark Kent, early in his career as Superman.

Plot

Growing up, Clark Kent becomes isolated around humanity due to his superhuman abilities. As a young adult, Clark is an intern for the Daily Planet, covering the launch of a Lexcorp telescope meant to discover other lifeforms from space. Grad student Lois Lane reveals the fraud Lex Luthor has given to the President, just as Clark sparks a friendly conversation with janitor Rudy Jones. The rocket is launched, but soon explodes in the air; but then, up in the sky, Clark appears and flies the rocket into space, saving the day. Unbeknownst to him, he is watched by a mysterious man. Confirming the disaster is based on Lois' sources, Luthor is arrested, and Lois moves from grad student to ace reporter. Clark sees an article wondering if the "flying man" is a hero or menace, just as he meets Lois, who reveals to him that her way of getting the story is a power play: taking the power away from powerful men. She forgets her photographs, which reveals she has named the “flying man” as the Superman.

S.T.A.R. Labs reveals something coming to Earth, to which Clark flies to intercept, and encounters a Czarnian bounty hunter named Lobo, who is after the last Kryptonian. Battling all over the city, Clark surprises Lobo at every turn, because the bounty hunter never knew Kryptonians had superpowers on Earth. The fight moves to S.T.A.R. Labs; Rudy is pinned from debris, just as Lobo throws a bomb but misses Clark, instead of infecting Rudy with its strange purple liquid. Outside, Lobo reveals his Kryptonite ring, nearly killing Clark in the process, until the mysterious man reveals himself to be a Martian, and attacks Lobo. Healing from the yellow sun, Clark manages to finally beat Lobo, saving the Martian in the process. Despite his heroics, everyone wants answers over the alien menace, including Lois.

Returning to Smallville with his issues, Clark gets advice from his adopted parents, reminding him that with no wrong answers, Clark will have to live with the consequences whether he reveals himself or continues to hide. At the hospital, an infected Rudy wakes up during surgery as a zombie-like Parasite, murdering the people around him and draining their bodies into husks before leaving. Driving home, the mysterious man appears, telepathically attacking Jonathan until Clark intervenes. Revealing to be not an enemy, he introduces himself as J'onn J'onzz the Martian Manhunter. He tells his story that as the last of his kind, he has remained hidden because of the xenophobia humans carry towards people like themselves and urges Clark to do the same, to which Clark disagrees. J'onn surprises Clark with the revelation that he is Kal-El, the Last Son of Krypton, and activates the crystal-shaped device given to him inside his rocket. Clark learns of his Kryptonian heritage, and the last moments of his biological parents, Jor-El and Lara.

The next morning, Martha gives Clark an upgrade: a red and blue costume with the "S" from the crystal. Seeing Lois' first part of the "Superman" article expose, Clark decides to head back to Metropolis. At S.T.A.R. Labs, Lois meets Lobo in his electrified cell, who feeds her lies and would rather sexually harass her than talk. Just then, Parasite shows up, killing the guards and scientists, and gains energy from Lobo's cell, freeing him and becoming a monstrous beast. Parasite escapes, while Lois is saved by Superman. He tells her she is wrong about his intentions and wants to be the one to reveal himself. Lois agrees, and Superman flies off. Superman fights Parasite while J'onn rescues civilians from a train that the monster crashed. Superman's powers do nothing but strengthen him, then the monster absorbs his energy, learning everything about the Man of Steel. J'onn comes to save him, but Parasite does the same with him, and lights him on fire, seemingly killing him. Retreating, Clark is bedridden as his powers have been drained. Lois comes to check on him, to which he tells her he fears he is not a reporter as he thought, covering up for his exploits as Superman. Lois pushes him back up, reminding him of the risks and evil he will face, as that's the job. He takes her advice and meets with someone that can help him: Lex Luthor.

Superman meets with Luthor, wanting his help as Luthor has figured out that the Sun is his power source, and he is now weak because of the Parasite. Returning to LexCorp, Luthor reveals the Parasite would have Superman's weaknesses along with his strengths and he brings in his new partner Lobo, and his Kryptonite ring. From there, they form a plan: taking control of the power plant, and removing all power from the city, attracting the Parasite to them. It works, and a giant-sized Parasite reveals himself to Superman, Luthor, and Lobo. Despite their best efforts, Superman is still powerless, and Lobo is seemingly killed.

The military arrive, but their attacks only make Parasite stronger and larger. Superman decides to become the bait and lure him away from the plant, just as Luthor grabs the Kryptonite for a weapon he designed. Just as Superman is grabbed by Parasite, Luthor double-crosses him and shoots his Kryptonite weapon, nearly killing both Superman and Parasite until J'onn (who had faked his death with his telepathic powers) intervenes. As J'onn chases Luthor, and Lois watches from the bridge of unsuspecting targets, Superman tries to reason with Parasite and getting Rudy to come out. At the same time, he takes control of a vengeful crowd and reveals that despite being an alien, he is from Earth, making him more human, and will not hide because of fear anymore. Just as Rudy's memories of his wife and daughter emerge upon seeing a mother and her child amongst the crowd, the reactor inside the power plant overloads, attracting the Parasite. Superman is too weak to stop it as Parasite absorbs the power, but is overwhelmed, disintegrating into ashes in the progress.

Superman and J'onn meet up on top of the Daily Planet along with Lobo who had survived by reassembling his limbs. Before he leaves, he reveals the truth of his lie: there are more Martians and possibly more Kryptonians too. J'onn decides to leave, in hopes of finding more of his people. Superman is met by Lois, whom in a power play, decides to reschedule their interview. Lois goes back inside with nothing, while Clark smiles in the background.

Voice cast

Voice actor	Character
Darren Criss	Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman
Alexandra Daddario	Lois Lane
Zachary Quinto	Lex Luthor
Ike Amadi	J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter
Ryan Hurst	Lobo
Brett Dalton	Rudy Jones / Parasite
Neil Flynn	Jonathan Kent
Bellamy Young	Martha Kent
Cristina Milizia	Maya, Petey, Kaylie
Eugene Byrd	Ron Troupe
April Stewart	Mrs. Ross
Piotr Michael	Perry White
David Chen	Med Student, Scientist

Production

In July 2019, the film was announced at San Diego Comic Con. In May 2020, the voice cast were revealed for the film.

Release

Superman: Man of Tomorrow was released on digital on August 23, 2020, and on Blu-ray, DVD, and on 4K Ultra HD on September 8, 2020. The film was made available online for free during DC FanDome on September 12.

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 7.11/10.

The film peaked at #1 of the Top Ten Blu-ray Sellers for Week and the Top Five Home Media Sellers for Week, achieving an HD market share of 100%.. The film gained an Total Est. Domestic Video Sales of $3,181,007.

Music

A soundtrack album by Kevin Riepl was released by WaterTower Music on September 10, 2020.

External links

• Superman: Man of Tomorrow at the Internet Movie Database

[Edit] Superman franchise media
Comic strips	Superman (1939–1966) • The World's Greatest Superheroes (1978–1985) Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939-1966 (2013–present) - Reprint book collection
Radio	The Adventures of Superman (US, 1940–51) • The Adventures of Superman (UK, 1988)
Live-action serials and films	Serials	Superman (1948) • Atom Man vs. Superman
	1951 film series	Superman and the Mole Men • Stamp Day for Superman (short film)
	1978 film series	Superman (1978) • Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut) • Superman III • Supergirl • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace • Superman Returns
	DC Extended Universe	Man of Steel • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
	DC Universe	Superman
	Animated films	Superman animated shorts (1941–1943) • Brainiac Attacks • Doomsday • All-Star Superman • Unbound • Superman/Batman: Public Enemies • Superman/Batman: Apocalypse • Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam • vs. The Elite • The Death of Superman • Reign of the Supermen • Red Son • Man of Tomorrow • Battle of the Super Sons
	Documentary films	Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman • The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? • Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Television	Live-action	Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy (pilot) • Superboy • Lois & Clark • Smallville • Supergirl • Krypton • Superman & Lois
	Animation	The New Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy • Superman • The Animated Series • Krypto the Superdog • Legion of Super Heroes • My Adventures with Superman
Novels	The Adventures of Superman (1942) • Superman: Last Son of Krypton • Miracle Monday • Superman: Doomsday & Beyond • Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel • It's Superman! • Superman Returns • Enemies & Allies
Video games	Superman (1979) • Superman: The Game (1985) • Superman (1987) • Superman (1988) • The Man of Steel (1989) • Superman (1992) • The Death and Return of Superman • The New Superman Adventures • Shadow of Apokolips • The Man of Steel (2002) • Countdown to Apokolips • Returns • MultiVersus
Music	"You've Got Possibilities" • Superman III (soundtrack) • Superman Returns (soundtrack) • "Save Me" (Remy Zero song) • Man of Steel (soundtrack) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (soundtrack) • Metropolis Symphony
Parodies	Captain Caveman (The Flintstone Comedy Show segment) • Mighty Mouse • My Hero (UK TV series) • Stupor Duck • "Superduperman" • Super-Rabbit • Underdog (TV series) • Super Grover (Sesame Street)
Other media	It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (musical) • The Adventures of Seinfeld & Superman (advertisement)
Toys	Lego Superman
Related characters	Lois Lane in other media • Lex Luthor in other media • Supergirl in other media
Related articles	Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation • "Crisis on Infinite Earths" • Hollywoodland • Lucy and Superman • "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" • National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. • Sunman (1992 video game) • Superman curse • Superman ice cream • "Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit" • "The Reign of the Superman" • Superman and Lois Lane • Superman '78