The new Superman movie (James Gunn’s upcoming “Superman” in the DCU, releasing 2025) is packed with multiple villains rather than just one main bad guy. Here’s the quick rundown of who’s in play so far.

Main confirmed villains

  • Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) – The classic mastermind, working more in the shadows and trying to turn the world against Superman rather than just punching it out with him.
  • Ultraman (black‑clad evil Superman‑type) – A dark Superman-style powerhouse seen fighting him in a stadium, widely believed to be an “evil counterpart” and likely the big physical threat of the film.
  • The Engineer / Angela Spica (María Gabriela de Faría) – A nanotech, liquid‑metal style superhuman from The Authority, representing more modern, morally gray “heroes” who clash with Superman’s old‑school idealism.
  • The Hammer of Boravia – A brutal enforcer for the fictional nation of Boravia, whose conflict with neighboring Jarhanpur escalates after Superman intervenes in their war.

Other villainous players and antagonists

  • Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) – Traditionally a hero/antihero in the comics, but in the movie he’s shown imprisoned with Superman and involved in the conflict, so he’s part of the “superhuman opposition” around him.
  • Maxwell Lord (played by Sean Gunn, per reports) – A manipulative businessman/power broker confirmed among the seven villains, likely working angles in the background rather than as a front‑line fighter.
  • Simon Stagg / Stagg Industries – Referenced as part of the movie’s villain set‑up, tying into Metamorpho’s origin and the corporate side of Superman’s foes.
  • U.S. political/military antagonists (e.g., Secretary of Defense, ARGUS, Rick Flag Sr.) – Not classic “supervillains,” but they’re shown pressuring and even imprisoning Superman when his global interventions spark political fallout.

How the villain lineup fits the story

The film isn’t just “Superman vs one bad guy”; it’s about him facing a whole world that’s unsure it can trust an all‑powerful alien. Villains like Lex, the Engineer, Ultraman, and the Hammer of Boravia pull him into three overlapping kinds of conflict:

  1. Public image and politics – Lex and government forces trying to frame Superman as a danger.
  1. Super‑powered brawls – Ultraman, the Hammer of Boravia, kaiju‑scale threats, and other enhanced enemies testing his physical limits.
  1. Ideological clashes – The Engineer and more ruthless “modern” operatives challenging Superman’s hopeful, idealistic way of being a hero.

So, if you’re wondering “who are the villains in the new Superman movie,” the headline names are Lex Luthor, Ultraman, the Engineer, and the Hammer of Boravia , with Maxwell Lord, Metamorpho, Simon Stagg, and political/military forces rounding out a crowded rogues’ gallery.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.