James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Features Some Great Heroes but This One Completely Steals the Show

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for ‘Superman’

The biggest element that makes Superman stand out from other Superman movies is that it features other superheroes in a supporting role. In addition to David Corenswet‘s Man of Steel, the “Justice Gang” of Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) serve as a major presence, with Terrific even playing a major part in saving the day. However, there’s one character who manages to outshine them all: Metamorpho, the Element Man (Anthony Carrigan). While Metamorpho only has a handful of scenes in Superman, he steals each and every one of them, thanks to Carrigan’s performance and the way that writer/director James Gunn folds Metamorpho into the story.

Anthony Carrigan's Metamorpho on a character poster for Superman. — Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Metamorpho appears roughly halfway through Superman when Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) has imprisoned Superman in a pocket universe after manipulating the world into hating him. To keep the Man of Steel subdued, Luthor locks him in a cell with Metamorpho, who uses his elemental abilities to craft Kryptonite. It’s not like Metamorpho is doing this of his own free will, as Luthor’s keeping his son Joey hostage. But things change once Luthor brings a man Superman met to the prison and coldly executes him in cold blood; shaken by this, Metamorpho ends up forming a miniature sun to help recharge Superman’s powers, then escapes with him once Lois and Mr. Terrific break into the pocket universe. Metamorpho’s choice underlines a key theme of Superman: doing the right thing, no matter the cost. It’s a message that David Corenswet shared at the Superman premiere, and one that feels true to who Superman is as a character: “Be kind to each other, step up to the plate. See what responsibilities you can shoulder, who you can take care of, who you can look out for.”

The other element that makes Metamorpho a standout — other than his craggy exterior — is his unique set of superpowers. Unlike Superman’s super strength and flight or Mr. Terrific’s cutting-edge technology, there’s a wide variety of what Metamorpho can do. He can transform his body into acid. He can turn his legs into a massive rocket thruster. And, of course, there’s the whole “creating a miniature sun” deal. What’s even more impressive than these powers is how it leaves Metamorpho’s body; sometimes he’s a head, and sometimes he’s a mass of elemental compounds. It’s the type of weird, unique visuals that powered James Gunn’s previous superhero work, particularly Creature Commandos and The Suicide Squad. Gunn loves the idea of misfits finding redemption, and it’s not surprising that he managed to work this theme into a story about the greatest superhero of all.

I’m So Glad The Recent Sneak Peek At 2025’s Superman Movie Highlights A Core Part Of What Makes The Character Work-1

Mr. Terrific Isn’t Playing Around in New ‘Superman’ Set Image

James Gunn’s superhero film hits theaters this summer.

Superman‘s third act sees Metamorpho joining forces with Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner to stop the nation of Boravia from invading Jarhanpur, after which he’s invited to join the Justice Gang. But DC Comics fans might remember that Metamorpho and Mr. Terrific formed their own superhero team. The Terrifics by Jeff Lemire and Ivan Reis features one of the most unique superhero team origins in history, as Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man, and the Legion of Superheroes’ Phantom Girl are bound together by energy from the Dark Multiverse. At first glimpse, it seems like a homage to the Fantastic Four, but where Marvel’s First Family is literally bound by blood, it takes the Terrifics years to work together. A movie or television miniseries focusing on the Terrifics could bring something new to the superhero team dynamic, and let Anthony Carrigan and Edi Gathegi continue to shine. Metamorpho is also shown with Joey and the love of his life, Sapphire Stagg. Sapphire’s father, Simon, is the man responsible for turning Rex Mason into Metamorpho, and his presence can be felt when Superman takes refuge in a Stagg Industries building.

Metamorpho is a character full of promise. Not only does he have wider connections to the DC Universe, but in his brief appearance in Superman, he’s proven to be just as much of a hero as the Man of Steel. While James Gunn and Peter Safran have a solid slate for DC Studios mapped out, it couldn’t hurt to make room for such a great character.

Superman premieres in theaters on July 11, 2025.