The following contains set photos and may contain spoilers for the upcoming movie Superman, which is playing in theaters in 2025.

James Gunn's Superman is one of the most anticipated superhero films on the way, not only because it will be the first true solo Superman film in over a decade, but also because it will serve as a major launching pad for the DCU. Principal photography is well underway with a stop in Cleveland, which has led to set photos revealing a proper look at David Corenswet's Superman suit, characters from the Daily Planet, Lex Luthor, and most recently, the other DCU heroes who will appear in the film.

Recent set photos offered a first look at Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner version of Green Lantern, sporting the classic bowl cut from the comics while wearing a white, black, and green suit. Isabela Merced was also in the set photos as Hawkgirl wearing her cowl and a jacket similar to Guy Gardner's. Gunn has said on social media that the current scenes they are shooting outside won't spoil the film, but there is one detail from the first looks at the Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl's suits that could reveal a major plot point in the DCU related to the Justice League.

Will Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord Show Up in Superman?

• Maxwell Lord was created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, who first appeared in Justice League #1, published in May 1987.
• Sean Gunn frequently collaborates with his brother James. In the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Sean notably played Kraglin and performed onset work for Rocket Raccoon.
• Sean has also played Weasel and Calendar Man in The Suicide Squad. In the DCU, Sean will play G.I. Robot and reprise the role of Weasel in the Creature Commandos animated series, in addition to portraying Maxwell Lord.

With Cleveland posing as Metropolis, set photos have also captured various Easter eggs that will be present throughout the iconic DC city in the film. One notable Easter Egg featured a look at the LordTech logo. In December, before the start of Superman filming, it was revealed that Sean Gunn will play Maxwell Lord in the DCU. Maxwell Lord was most recently played by Pedro Pascal in Wonder Woman 1984 in a more villainous role. The character has played both sides in the comics, similar to Amanda Waller.

It's unclear when audiences can expect to see Gunn's Maxwell Lord in the DCU. The fact that he was reported as playing the role suggests he will play a major one, and Superman might be the start of it. In the comics, Lord is the leader of Justice League International, a superhero team established by the United Nations.

Are the Justice League International in Superman?

• The Justice League International made its DC debut in the same issue as Maxwell Lord in 1987.
• The first Justice League International roster featured the likes of Batman, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Captain Marvel, Doctor Fate, Doctor Light, Guy Gardner, Martian Manhunter, Mister Miracle, and Oberon.
• The Justice League International is full of lesser-known superheroes that feel right up Gunn's alley based on his previous DC and Marvel projects like Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker.

While Gunn's Superman film will center on the Man of Steel, he will be part of a DCU already full of other superheroes. In addition to Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl, the DC Studios film will feature appearances from Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, and the Engineer. Now, not all of these superheroes might be part of the superhero team, but based on the suits of Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl, they seem to be at least two characters part of what could be Justice League International.

If you look closely at Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl's super suits, not only are they similar with the jacket and leather look straight out of an early 2000s superhero film, but they also feature the logo for LordTech seen in other set photos. The logo for LordTech doesn't feature an "L" and "T" as you might expect. Instead, the logo features a "J" and "L" with an "I" in the middle. This could mean that Superman will feature a Justice League International team sponsored by Maxwell Lord in the DCU. Some have also speculated the team could be The Terrifics. However, the matching team uniforms and LordTech logo point toward the DCU introducing the Justice League International early on instead.

How Could Justice League International Tie-Into Superman's Story?

• In 1938, Superman debuted in Action Comics #1, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, becoming the first-ever superhero.
• Superman Returns and Man of Steel failed to deliver takes on Superman with universal acclaim. Superman Returns was a love letter to Richard Donner's films, while Man of Steel placed Kal-El in a modern world that questioned his existence while viewed as a controversial figure.
• Gunn will look to start his DCU off with a beloved take on Superman featuring a blend of modern and classic elements, represented visually by Corenswet's suit.

The DC Extended Universe began with the idea of Superman being the first superhero to exist in the world. That will not be the case with the DCU and the proper Justice League team might not be the first team. In the comics, the Justice Society of America was a team that predated the Justice League. Some speculated the team Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl were part of would be the Justice Society in Superman. The set photos suggest they will be part of Justice League International with Maxwell Lord's role hinted at in the DCU early on.

Much has been made about how Gunn will try to modernize Superman, given audiences' struggle with the character in his last two solo outings. Gunn could be going for something meta in Superman with the Justice League International posing as a group controlled by corporations, similar to The Seven in The Boys. That way, the 2025 film can demonstrate how Superman sets himself apart from the other heroes already part of the DCU by displaying a higher level of heroism. This could then lead to Corenswet's Superman establishing a proper Justice League team down the line to correct the potential mistakes of those on the Justice League International team.

Superman was the first superhero ever created, but his presence has been lost with so many other heroes entering film and TV over the years due to the explosion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other shared universes. When the project was first announced, the DCU's version was said to represent "truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.” Gunn has a chance to reinvent Superman in the modern context, and having him comparable to other superheroes living in the moral gray area will only catapult him toward the top as the focal point of the DCU.

The DCU will first begin with Creature Commandos and eventually feature a film centered on The Authority. The DCU is wasting no time establishing other superhero teams, and based on set photos, Justice League International appears to be another with a debut in Superman. This could all lead to a slow build-up and formation of the Justice League, which was spearheaded by Superman. The first live-action attempt at the Justice League was a controversial and major failure for Warner Bros. DCU will inevitably introduce the Justice League, and DC Studios' approach could be far different from the fast lead-up the DCEU produced and what Marvel Studios did with The Avengers in today's crowded superhero landscape.