The latest trailer for James Gunn’s Superman has landed, and it adds a new layer of mystery to the rebooted DC Universe’s inaugural film. Released following its debut at Warner Bros.’ Upfront 2025 presentation, the trailer confirms that David Corenswet’s Clark Kent will have more than one adversary to deal with—and one new character, in particular, is drawing a lot of attention.
The figure in question is a heavily armored combatant referred to as the Hammer of Boravia. First mentioned in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Daily Planet newspaper clipping from the film’s initial teaser, the Hammer is now shown in full action, locked in battle with Superman above the Metropolis skyline. While this character appears to be a new creation for the film, their true identity may be more complex than it seems.
Boravia itself is a fictional nation with minor appearances in Superman lore. In Gunn’s adaptation, it appears to serve as the origin for this armored figure, possibly reimagined as a geopolitically volatile state in the film’s narrative. The Hammer is equipped with a full-body exosuit and seen using heat vision—an ability traditionally limited to Kryptonians or those with similar DNA. That detail alone has raised speculation that the character is more than just a metahuman from a foreign nation.
Some viewers suspect that the Hammer of Boravia may not be an original villain at all, but rather a disguise. One possibility is Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, who is already confirmed for the film. Luthor’s intellect and disdain for Superman could conceivably lead him to engineer a suit capable of rivaling the Man of Steel’s powers. However, Luthor is rarely depicted as one to enter physical combat himself, making this scenario less likely.
Another, more compelling theory is that the Hammer is actually Ultraman, an evil or cloned version of Superman. The character appeared briefly in the film’s first trailer—wearing a black suit and battling Superman in a stadium. The new trailer’s visual of laser vision beneath the Hammer’s visor, combined with their physical parity to Superman, suggests the potential for a clone engineered by Luthor or another entity. In DC Comics, Ultraman has served as an alternate universe counterpart to Superman, and this would align with the darker tone Gunn has teased for the DCU reboot.
If true, this would be a classic comic book misdirection: introduce an original villain to hide the arrival of a fan-familiar character. Gunn, known for subverting genre expectations, may be setting up the Hammer of Boravia as a narrative sleight of hand—only to reveal later that Superman’s greatest threat is a reflection of himself.
Of course, this remains speculation. The trailer, while packed with action and cryptic clues, stops short of revealing the villain’s true identity. Whether the Hammer turns out to be Ultraman, a Luthor-engineered weapon, or something entirely different, the question will linger until Superman flies into theaters on July 11.
