James Gunn has kicked off filming on Man of Tomorrow, and the first tease points to Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor being back behind bars.
Gunn posted a set image on April 20 confirming cameras are rolling, and the photo included Lex’s prison ID from the fictional VanKull Department of Corrections along with a chessboard, which has already fueled speculation about a prison-set scene.
Warner Bros. has Man of Tomorrow dated for July 9, 2027.
TMZ says inmates at Atlanta prison are upset
Now there is a wild twist to the start of production.
According to TMZ, filming is taking place at the federal prison complex in Atlanta, and inmates are allegedly unhappy because the production is said to be affecting normal routines.
Per the report, prisoners have allegedly been kept in their cells more than usual and have also lost access to the commissary while filming is going on.
TMZ further reported that production is only using a small section of the facility and should be wrapping at the location soon.
TMZ also said the Federal Bureau of Prisons would not comment on internal security practices, but noted that if a facility were placed on modified operations status, it would be for the safety of staff and inmates.
The outlet added that inmates would still have access to meals, water, and medical and psychological services.
A low security federal correctional institution with a detention center.
The location appears to be Atlanta’s federal prison complex
The Atlanta facility is part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons system.
Current Bureau of Prisons materials identify the site as FCI Atlanta, while other Justice Department materials still reference USP Atlanta, reflecting the complex’s long history and evolving designation.
Again, that also lines up with Gunn’s first image, which made it pretty obvious Lex Luthor is in prison at the start of the sequel.
So while fans were busy breaking down the chessboard and Brainiac connections, TMZ says the real-life fallout from filming at the prison may already be causing problems behind the scenes.
Release info
Man of Tomorrow gets released on July 9, 2027. James Gunn is writing and directing.
The cast includes David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Lars Eidinger as Brainiac, Scott Kasics as Argus-Field Agent, Adria Arjona as Maxima, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Aaron Pierre as Green Lantern John Stewart, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, and Andre Royo in an unknown role.
