James Gunn’s Superman has finally arrived in theaters, marking the official start of the new DC Universe. The film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The movie delivers a fresh take on the iconic hero while setting up future stories in the DCU. Here’s a breakdown of the ending and post-credit scenes.
How Superman Defeats Lex Luthor and Ultraman
The final act of Superman sees Lex Luthor unleashing chaos on Metropolis. He opens a pocket dimension rift, threatening to tear the city apart. At the same time, he sends his forces to invade Jarhanpur, a neighboring country of Boravia. Superman must stop both threats while facing Luthor’s powerful allies—Ultraman and The Engineer.
During the battle, Ultraman is revealed to be a clone of Superman, created by Luthor using stolen DNA. Superman eventually defeats Ultraman by throwing him into the black hole within the pocket dimension. Meanwhile, Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) helps close the rift, saving Metropolis. Luthor’s crimes are exposed by Lois Lane and the Daily Planet, leading to his arrest.
“Superman rejects his Kryptonian father’s message of conquest, choosing instead to embrace the values taught by his Earth parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.”
Supergirl’s Surprise Arrival and Krypto’s True Owner
In the final scene, Supergirl (Milly Alcock) crashes into the Fortress of Solitude. She’s drunk, having partied on a planet with a red sun, which allows Kryptonians to feel alcohol’s effects. She reveals that Krypto the Superdog is actually her pet, not Superman’s. The playful interaction between Supergirl and Krypto hints at her wild personality, setting up her solo movie, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
“Supergirl stumbles in, asking, ‘Why did you move the door?’ before demanding, ‘Where is my dog?’”
The Two Post-Credit Scenes Explained
Superman includes two post-credit scenes, but neither teases a major future storyline. Instead, they offer small character moments.
- Mid-Credits Scene: Superman and Krypto on the Moon
A brief shot shows Superman and Krypto sitting on the moon, looking at Earth. This peaceful moment mirrors a famous panel from the comic All-Star Superman, one of Gunn’s inspirations for the film. - Post-Credits Scene: Superman and Mister Terrific’s Banter
Superman and Mister Terrific inspect a repaired building in Metropolis. When Superman points out a minor imperfection, Terrific gets annoyed and walks away. The scene ends with Superman muttering, “Darn it, I can be such a jerk sometimes.”
Why the Post-Credit Scenes Are Different from Other Superhero Movies
Unlike most superhero films, Superman doesn’t use its post-credit scenes to set up future movies. Instead, they focus on character moments. This approach avoids the common pitfall of teasing storylines that may never happen, a lesson Gunn learned from his past work in the MCU and DCEU.
“Gunn has said he regrets setting up too much in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which included five post-credit scenes, some of which were never fully explored.”
What’s Next for the DCU After Superman?
The film’s biggest tease for the future is Supergirl, who will star in her own movie next year. Other characters like Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) also appear, hinting at a larger Justice Gang team-up in future films. However, Superman works as a standalone story, focusing on Clark Kent’s journey rather than forcing connections to other DCU projects.
Also read: CBFC Cuts Kissing Scene From New Superman Movie For Indian Audiences
Credits: Sources include IGN, CBR, TheGamer, GamesRadar, and Collider.
