‘Superman’ (2025) May Have Already Repeated the DCEU’s Biggest Mistake

It’s been over 10 years since Man of Steel (2013) introduced Henry Cavill’s Superman. But instead of a direct sequel, Warner Bros. and DC decided to jump straight into Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)—a film that gave us a titanic clash of the two most popular and most revered superheroes of all time, but ended up serving mostly as a trailer for the shared cinematic universe known as the DCEU.

And that’s exactly what this year’s Superman (2025) seems in danger of doing all over again.

James Gunn’s highly anticipated reboot is finally out in theaters, with David Corenswet in the red cape (and the classic red trunks) and a supporting cast that includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, and, of course, Krypto the Dog.

Superman (2025) Teases the Next Step for the DCU

While Superman (2025) is very much a solo outing (although it is also populated with other lesser-known superheroes who will undoubtedly return in future DCU installments), it has already teased the next entry by introducing Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (House of the Dragon‘s Milly Alcock) ahead of her own standalone film, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is already in development and scheduled for release next year.

In a pre-credits scene, Kara arrives at the Fortress of Solitude in a drunken state to pick up her dog, Krypto.

So once again, Superman might not get his own direct sequel anytime soon. The first wave of DCU’s new theatrical entries is titled “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” and includes several upcoming titles such as Clayface and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

While there’s every chance a direct sequel to Superman (2025) could be sandwiched in between two of the upcoming projects, it’s not part of the current slate of films.

For fans still frustrated by what happened with Cavill’s version—the character was pushed aside for crossover setups, rewrites, and team-ups—it’s hard not to feel déjà vu.

Related: ‘Batman’ (1989) Sequel Gets Official Director’s Cut — Here’s How You Can Watch It

Supergirl Could Soar as High as Superman

Corenswet deserves better and so does Superman.

That’s not to say the inclusion of Supergirl is a bad move. If handled well, it could be a clever way to expand the universe from the get-go. But when Superman’s reboot is already being used to launch another hero’s franchise, it raises familiar red flags. Is Superman being built to tell a story—or to sell one?

We’ve seen what happens when the foundation isn’t fully set before the spinoffs start. It’s the same mistake that derailed the DCEU the first time around. And if the new DCU is serious about course correction, it has to resist repeating that pattern.

Superman (2025) is in theaters now.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2026) releases on June 26, 2026.

Have you seen Superman (2025)? Let us know in the comments!