DC fans have spent the better part of the last decade trying to keep up with reboots, canceled storylines, surprise cameos, and actors stepping in and out of iconic superhero roles. One minute, a major hero appears central to the franchise’s future, and the next, the entire direction changes again. That uncertainty followed DC through the end of the SnyderVerse and into the beginning of James Gunn’s new DC Universe.Now, according to fresh insider reports, another major Justice League hero may be getting completely reworked for the next era of DC films. Even more interesting, the actor previously tied to the character reportedly will not be returning. While Gunn has repeatedly promised a more connected and carefully planned universe, the latest rumors about the Superman (2025) sequel, Man of Tomorrow, suggest the studio is still heavily reshaping the board behind the scenes.And honestly, at this point, fans probably aren’t shocked anymore.DC Finally Found Stability With Superman (2025)After years of uneven releases and divided reactions, DC finally seemed to regain momentum with Superman (2025). The film introduced audiences to David Corenswet’s Clark Kent, while also giving Rachel Brosnahan a fresh take on Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult a far more calculated Lex Luthor.More importantly, though, the movie felt like an actual beginning.Instead of focusing entirely on standalone storytelling, James Gunn used Superman to quietly build the foundation for the next chapter of DC heroes. The film introduced several recognizable comic book characters who clearly appear destined for something larger down the line.Nathan Fillion stepped into the role of Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, bringing a more arrogant and chaotic energy to the Corps than audiences usually see onscreen. Isabela Merced debuted as Hawkgirl, while Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific quickly became one of the breakout additions from the movie.At the same time, DC also used the film to begin teasing the future beyond Superman himself. Milly Alcock’s upcoming Supergirl project already feels heavily connected to the wider universe Gunn is building, especially as DC leans deeper into cosmic storytelling.Right now, the roster is still relatively small compared to Marvel’s massive cinematic lineup. Still, Gunn appears to be carefully planting pieces instead of rushing directly into a giant crossover event.Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Another Justice League Hero May Already Be RecastThat slower build may now be expanding much faster than expected.Following the debut of the “Justice Gang” in Superman, many fans started speculating that Gunn was already quietly setting up the future Justice League. Now, insider chatter surrounding Man of Tomorrow is making those theories even louder.According to industry scooper Daniel Richtman, casting information for the upcoming film reportedly points to the arrival of Martian Manhunter in the DCU. If true, that would mark the official reboot of one of the SnyderVerse’s more surprising Justice League reveals.Fans may remember that Harry Lennix portrayed General Calvin Swanwick throughout Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Then, in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), the film revealed Swanwick had secretly been Martian Manhunter the entire time.It was one of the more unexpected twists from Snyder’s version of the franchise.But if Gunn truly is rebooting the character now, it appears Lennix may not be coming back with him.Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Instead, speculation has started surrounding two actors currently attached to Man of Tomorrow in undisclosed roles: Andre Royo and Sinqua Walls. Neither actor has officially been confirmed as Martian Manhunter, but fans immediately connected the dots after the latest reports surfaced.That possibility alone has already sparked debate online. Some DC fans hoped Gunn might preserve at least parts of the SnyderVerse continuity, while others fully expected a complete reset once the new DCU officially launched.Adding even more fuel to the rumors, Gunn previously referenced Chocos cookies earlier this year — a longtime favorite snack associated with Martian Manhunter in DC lore. Fans instantly treated it like a potential tease.At this stage, nothing has been officially confirmed by DC Studios. Still, the signs increasingly point toward J’onn J’onzz finally joining Gunn’s new universe in a major way.Credit: DC ComicsMan of Tomorrow Is Starting To Look MassiveEven without Martian Manhunter rumors, Man of Tomorrow already sounds far bigger than a traditional Superman sequel.Some insiders have also connected the Andor star Adria Arjona to the project, reportedly as Maxima, the powerful queen of Almerac. If accurate, that would add another major cosmic figure to an already crowded lineup.Meanwhile, Lars Eidinger is reportedly stepping into the role of Brainiac, which could completely change the scale of the DCU moving forward.Brainiac has always been one of Superman’s most dangerous villains because his threat extends far beyond Earth itself. The character’s obsession with collecting worlds, civilizations, and knowledge creates opportunities for enormous interconnected storytelling. DC Studios already revealed the first glimpse of Kandor — Krypton’s famous bottled city — which immediately triggered speculation that Brainiac may already be influencing events behind the scenes.Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Some fans even believe Gunn’s DCU could eventually tie Brainiac directly to Krypton’s destruction.If that happens, it could also connect naturally to Martian Manhunter’s origins. In many comic storylines, J’onn J’onzz survives the destruction of his people and arrives on Earth carrying immense trauma from losing his world. Linking Brainiac to that devastation could provide a clear reason for Martian Manhunter to unite with Superman and the growing lineup of heroes.That possibility is exactly why many fans no longer view Man of Tomorrow as merely another Superman film.Instead, the project increasingly resembles the early stages of a full Justice League movie disguised as a sequel.Credit: DC / Warner Bros.The DCU Still Has One Big Challenge AheadEven with all the excitement surrounding these reports, DC still faces one major obstacle: consistency.Fans have watched multiple versions of Batman, Superman, the Joker, the Flash, and, now, potentially, the Martian Manhunter cycle through the franchise in a relatively short amount of time. Every reboot creates excitement, but it also forces audiences to reset their emotions yet again.James Gunn clearly wants a cleaner long-term plan than DC had before. So far, Superman has successfully given fans hope that the studio may finally be moving in the right direction. But as more casting rumors, retcons, and Justice League reshuffling begin surfacing, the pressure only grows larger.If Man of Tomorrow successfully balances Superman, Brainiac, Supergirl, Martian Manhunter, and the expanding hero roster, DC may finally have the crossover foundation it has chased for years.But if the constant resets continue, fans could once again find themselves wondering which version of the DC Universe actually matters.The post James Gunn Reportedly Axes ‘Justice League’ Hero, Recasts Key Actor for ‘Man of Tomorrow’ appeared first on Inside the Magic.