The Ending Of James Gunn’s Superman Explained

Contains spoilers for “Superman”

In simpler terms, James Gunn’s “Superman” isn’t just a fresh portrayal of the iconic superhero on screen, played by David Corenswet this time around. It’s also a significant step that sets the stage for an expansive cinematic universe where Superman plays the central role.

In essence, the movie devotes a good amount of time to Superman’s narrative, but it also sets up numerous foundations for future stories, introducing new characters, adversaries, locations, among other elements. Given its runtime slightly over two hours, there’s a lot to digest before the finale, leaving plenty of room for speculation about what lies ahead in the storyline. In simple terms, this is a comprehensive analysis of the ending of the 2025 film “Superman.

What you need to remember about the plot of Superman

Prior to discussing the conclusion of “Superman,” let’s go back a bit and review the current situation as the final episode begins. The movie resumes three years later after Superman unveiled himself and began helping the world in various manners, but when we encounter him, he has recently experienced his first defeat.

Recently, Superman found himself entangled in a global dispute, thwarting an attack on Jarhanpur by neighboring nation Boravia, which attracted the notice of a mysterious superhero referred to as “The Hammer of Boravia.” However, unbeknownst to him, his latest adversary, who can outmatch Superman in combat, is none other than Ultraman – a being crafted by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and controlled from a base within Metropolis. In a surprising turn of events, Ultraman defeats Superman on two separate occasions. Following these victories, Luthor approaches the U.S. government and guarantees them that he possesses the means to capture and incarcerate Superman if required.

In his ordinary identity as Clark Kent, Superman is collaborating with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) to implicate Lex Luthor in the conflict in Boravia, suspecting he’s pulling the strings from behind. As they delve into their investigation, Luthor manages to infiltrate Superman’s Fortress of Solitude and, with the assistance of the Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria), retrieves the entire message that Superman’s Kryptonian parents sent along when they launched him towards Earth.

What happened at the end of Superman

Whilst collaborating with Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) to vanquish a kaiju in Metropolis, Superman uncovers that Luthor has secretly gained access to the Fortress, unveiling an untouched portion of his parents’ (Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan) message. This previously unseen piece advises Superman not only to safeguard and aid Earth’s populace but also to govern them as a superior monarch. This revelation, which Luthor cleverly exploits, serves as the foundation for turning public sentiment against Superman, ultimately resulting in his apprehension.

Luthor then confines Superman within a separate dimensional realm, and proceeds with the Boravian invasion plans. These actions will eventually grant him control over half of Jarhanpur, thereby establishing himself as ruler of his own nation.

Assisted by Lois Lane, Mr. Terrific, and the shape-shifting hero Metamorpho (played by Anthony Carrigan), Superman manages to break free from his interdimensional confinement and sets out to confront Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho take action to thwart the Boravian invasion. In Metropolis, Superman engages in combat with Ultraman, a strong but mindless clone of himself created by Luthor, while Mr. Terrific tries to contain a colossal rift in dimensions triggered by Luthor’s portals to his personal universe.

Understanding that Lex Luthor is manipulating Ultraman via drones monitoring their battle, Superman orders his dog Krypto to take out those drones. Without Lex’s assistance, Ultraman succumbs in the fight against Superman and plunges into a black hole stemming from a rift in dimensions. Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen (portrayed by Skyler Gisondo) publish their account, leading to Lex’s arrest.

What the ending of Superman means

Through the movie, Superman is seen battling supervillains and strengthening bonds with other metahuman heroes. However, his true struggle lies within himself. For most of his life, Superman has found solace in a partially deciphered message left by his parents, which he used as a source of inspiration for his heroic acts. He thought they sent him to Earth to aid humanity, but when Luthor uncovers the distorted part of the message, it challenges that notion.

Confronted with the fact that his parents aimed for him to become a ruthless ruler over an entire planet, Superman grapples with self-doubt, fearing there might be a deep-rooted inclination within him to act as a dictator. Despite his persistent efforts to do what’s right, he can’t help but question if the powerful, governing aspect of his Kryptonian character has merely been suppressed over the years.

Through a heartfelt talk with his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince), Superman gains clarity. Expressing concerns about losing his identity, Pa Kent explains that parents can’t dictate their children’s destinies, and just because Superman’s birth parents may have said something negative, it doesn’t make him inherently evil. Clark Kent’s goodness is a choice he makes daily, which means he remains capable of being the hero he aspires to be for the world. Despite numerous superpowered conflicts in the movie, this inner struggle is Superman’s most significant battle—one he ultimately conquers successfully.

What the ending means for Lex Luthor

At the start of the movie, Lex Luthor is poised not only to weaken, but completely overpower Superman, a task he’s been meticulously planning for three years. Driven by his resentment towards what he perceives as Superman’s undeserved arrogance, Luthor has devised a complex strategy not just to defeat the Man of Steel, but to establish his own kingdom. This, in turn, would bring him one step closer to the global influence he believes he deserves.

Ultimately, Luthor’s schemes unravel completely. His intentions to seize control over half of Jarhanpur, his deception towards the American populace, his covert partnership with Boravia’s administration, and other hidden details are exposed. The authorities apprehend him, marking the end of his freedom, but we are left wondering about the future consequences.

Just like many versions of Lex Luthor from comic books, Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal showcases him as a brilliant tactician. Despite suffering a humiliating defeat and being weakened in the movie, we can’t rule out his potential return for future installments. He likely has backup plans hidden within his corporate empire, along with vast financial resources to hire legal experts who could potentially overturn his current predicament. The film concludes Lex Luthor’s evil scheme for now, but it seems this is just a temporary setback rather than the end of the story.

What the ending means for the Justice Gang

In the opening scenes, I find myself as a lone vigilante, but I’m far from being the only superhero out there. There’s Guy Gardner, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific who form an unofficial team we call “The Justice Gang.” This team is backed by billionaire Maxwell Lord, played by Sean Gunn. At this point in the story, The Justice Gang isn’t directly working with me, but they do join forces when needed. Interestingly, they choose to keep their distance when I’m in a tussle with the U.S. authorities.

Towards the finale of the movie, it’s Mr. Terrific and Lois Lane’s detective work that leads to a change in the Justice Gang’s tune. They ultimately decide to lend a hand, with Metamorpho joining their team during this time. The Hall of Justice, though still under construction, provides them with an existing framework. This structure mirrors similar organizations seen in DC Comics. By the end, when all metahumans unite, it hints that the iconic superteams beloved by comic book enthusiasts might soon be appearing on screen.

As a gamer, I can’t help but wonder how many powerful metahumans will start showing up at the Hall of Justice now that Superman and his team have made such a big impact on a global scale. Will the sense of unity among heroes hold strong for long? The movie “Superman” doesn’t give us those answers, but one thing is certain: this is just the beginning of an epic saga filled with superhero adventures, so it won’t be too long before we get to see what happens next!

How the world reacts to Superman

In the storyline of “Superman”, our hero has been active for three years and is well-known to the public, with his background and exploits widely recognized. However, a series of events in Boravia and Jarhanpur, along with Lex Luthor’s machinations in Metropolis, thrust Superman into the global limelight more than ever before, paving the way for fresh developments in the character.

In the closing scenes of the movie, a U.S. government representative states that after Superman’s intervention to thwart the Boravian invasion, it is now the metahumans who dictate the rules. Previously, world governments saw superheroes like Superman as allies or annoyances, but not as significant players in global politics. However, Superman’s actions – preventing a war and bringing down Lex Luthor’s empire – have forever altered this perspective.

In the days to come, significant international conflicts are likely to involve Superman in some capacity – either as an ally or a peacemaker. As countries make crucial decisions, they’ll need to take into account his immense power and sway. It’s essential to remember that Superman isn’t the only individual with superhuman abilities; there are others out there too. This realization means that some wars might be prevented due to Superman’s vigilance, and in times of global crisis, he will become the world’s go-to figure – whether he wishes to intervene or not. This creates a delicate political landscape that will undoubtedly grow more intricate over time.

A universe of metahumans

At the start of this movie, we discover that metahumans – powerful individuals with extraordinary abilities – have been present on Earth for about three centuries. This implies that Superman and the Justice League are simply the most recent additions to a lengthy roster of such beings. The film doesn’t delve into the origins or current count of active metahumans, but it does make clear that they have been a part of our world for quite some time.

It seems likely that many of these metahumans are taking care of their respective territories. For instance, it wouldn’t be surprising if Wonder Woman was guarding Themyscira, Aquaman was patrolling the oceans, or even the Flash was speeding through Central City. With Lex Luthor having created Ultraman, a Superman clone, and the Engineer infused with nanotechnology, we can easily envision other artificially made heroes being active as well.

Guy Gardner isn’t the only Green Lantern; there might be many others in the same league, ready to jump into action at any moment. The appearance of Hawkgirl hints that there could be more heroes with Nth Metal powers lurking nearby. Lex Luthor’s pocket dimension prison could potentially harbor a variety of metahumans, such as Metamorpho. All in all, the universe is full of powerful beings – gods and monsters – as the text suggests, offering endless possibilities for new characters to emerge.

Who knows Superman’s secret identity?

In the story “Superman”, at some point, Lois Lane visits the Hall of Justice to seek assistance from the Justice League and discovers that Superman’s other metahuman associates were already privy to his secret identity as Clark Kent. Lois expresses worry over how many individuals actually know that Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same.

It’s clear that Clark Kent’s parents from Kansas are well aware of his true identity, and it quickly becomes apparent in the movie that Lois Lane is also privy to this information. Including the members of the Justice League, we now have at least six individuals who know Superman’s hidden persona.

However, it’s possible that there are more individuals aware of the secret identity. Towards the end of the movie, Superman and Lois secretly share a passionate kiss in an empty building, leaving Jimmy Olsen and Perry White (played by Wendell Pierce) speculating about their relationship. It’s crucial to note that their knowledge of the romance doesn’t imply they know Superman is Clark Kent, but it seems they might be getting close to figuring it out. This brings the number of people privy to the secret identity up to eight, raising questions about potential consequences for Superman and whether this could lead him into trouble. The answers to these questions will have to wait until future movies.

Who makes a cameo at the end of the movie?

In the movie, at one point Superman reveals that Krypto, his powerful dog, is not really his, but rather a temporary arrangement or foster situation. It’s only towards the end of the film when Superman is recuperating from his fight with Ultraman in the Fortress of Solitude that we discover what he meant by this.

Kara Zor-el, Superman’s cousin (portrayed by Milly Alcock), bursts into the Fortress, appearing slightly disoriented and insisting on seeing her pet. The pet immediately leaps onto her, initiating a game of catch. Superman clarifies to his refurbished Superman robots that Kara enjoys partying on planets without a yellow sun. This is because she becomes more susceptible to the effects of alcohol when away from the yellow sun.

This young woman appears to be living a carefree life, yet she’s adorned in a Supergirl costume, indicating her readiness or perhaps even her existing role as a hero, similar to her cousin. Given that she will star in the upcoming “Supergirl” movie in 2026, this portrayal could possibly be a sneak peek at her transformation from a party-loving alien into a savior of the world.

What does the end of Superman mean for the franchise?

In the realm of DC Comics, there are numerous potential storylines for the DC Universe hidden within “Superman,” so many that it’s hard to keep track. Given that additional movies and TV shows are on the horizon, let’s discuss some of the most significant ones.

Guy Gardner introduces us to the Green Lantern Corps in this universe, and future series “Lanterns” will include Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart among other Green Lanterns. Next year, Supergirl is set for her own movie. The Engineer belongs to the comic book supergroup The Authority, but their standalone film remains uncertain despite it being a key interest of James Gunn in his DCU plans. Lastly, Lex Luthor ends up in Belle Reve prison at the end of the film, which is where Amanda Waller usually resides; she might also appear in an upcoming streaming series.

In addition, there’s a tidbit about three centuries of metahumans. It’s unclear who the first ones were, but it might refer to the Amazons. They are expected to reappear in a new Wonder Woman narrative and a streaming series called “Paradise Lost,” which delves into their home, Themyscira. These hints, among others, indicate a world teeming with stories that could last for years, even decades.

2025-07-11 02:01