The Man of Steel is back in the Peach State. Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the highly anticipated sequel to last summer’s Superman, officially began filming on April 17, 2026, in Atlanta — operating under the code name “Exodus.” And in true superhero fashion, the production has already made headlines for reasons nobody quite expected.
A Fitting Code Name
If the code name sounds familiar, it should. The first film in the series, Superman, was filmed under the working title “Genesis” — another book from the Bible. Man of Tomorrow continues that pattern with “Exodus.” It’s a nice bit of continuity for those who track productions by their code names, and it’s the kind of detail that makes you appreciate the thought that goes into keeping these things under wraps. Getty Images
The Story
Man of Tomorrow is as much a Lex Luthor movie as it is a Superman movie. Superman and Luthor are forced into an uneasy partnership — working together against a much bigger threat that neither could handle alone. That threat is Brainiac, one of Superman’s most iconic adversaries in DC Comics history. Director James Gunn shared a behind-the-scenes image from set captioned “Shooting now” — revealing a chessboard, a Lex Luthor inmate ID, and what appears to be a box bearing the Brainiac logo, hinting at an early scene in which Superman visits his imprisoned nemesis to recruit him against a greater threat. EssenceUnsplash
The Cast
This is one of the biggest ensembles Georgia has hosted in years. David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult return as Superman and Lex Luthor respectively, with Rachel Brosnahan back as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific. Vecteezy
Joining the returning cast are some notable new additions. Lars Eidinger plays Brainiac — cast after a worldwide search — and will be filming his scenes from May through the end of August. Aaron Pierre reprises his role as Green Lantern John Stewart, debuting the character in the upcoming HBO series Lanterns before crossing over to the big screen. Adria Arjona has also joined the cast, reportedly as Maxima — though Gunn has not officially confirmed the role, and some speculation remains about whether she may be playing a different character entirely. Unsplash + 2
Andre Royo — best known as Bubbles from The Wire — has also been cast in an undisclosed role, which has prompted considerable fan speculation online. Gunn also revealed that Stephen Blackehart is reprising his DCU role as Sydney Happersen in the film. Freepik
Where It's Filming in Georgia — and the Prison Twist
Principal photography is taking place primarily at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. Macon locations are also scheduled, with filming expected there between May 3 and 15. FreepikExplore Georgia
But the most unexpected Georgia filming location so far? A federal prison. According to TMZ, filming has been taking place at FCI Atlanta — the federal correctional institution in Atlanta — and inmates reportedly complained that the production was affecting their normal routines, including being kept in their cells more than usual and losing access to the commissary while filming was underway. The Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on internal security practices, and the production was said to be using only a small section of the facility. Given what we know about the film’s plot — with Lex Luthor behind bars at the start of the story — it’s not hard to figure out why they needed a real prison. AtlantaFi
Background Casting
Central Casting Georgia is handling background casting for Man of Tomorrow, and has put out calls for photo doubles — including a 6’2″ Hispanic or African American male and a 6’6″, approximately 350 lb bald male. Keep an eye on Central Casting Georgia’s website and social media pages for updated extras calls as production continues through the summer. City Lifestyle
When Can We See It?
Superman: Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027, by Warner Bros. Pictures, and is expected to be released in IMAX. The first Superman grossed over $600 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing superhero film of 2025 — so the pressure is on, and Georgia is once again at the center of it all. VecteezyProject Casting
