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Reign of the Supermen (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Reign of the Supermen (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 87 min · English
Echo score 58
Directed by
Sam Liu
Starring
Nathan Fillion, Rosario Dawson, Rainn Wilson, Cameron Monaghan, Patrick Fabian, Jerry O'Connell

Following Superman’s death, four distinct individuals emerge in Metropolis, each claiming to embody his legacy. They are the resolute Eradicator, the overconfident Superboy, the powerful Steel wielding a hammer, and the empathetic Cyborg Superman. Their presence sparks conflict as they vie for acceptance and must confront a looming threat to the city.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like Reign of the Supermen
  9. 9 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Reign of the Supermen (2019)

Where can you watch Reign of the Supermen? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Reign of the Supermen Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Reign of the Supermen (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Lois Lane

    played by Rebecca Romijn

    Lois Lane is a determined and resourceful journalist grappling with the loss of Superman. Her commitment to uncovering the truth drives the plot forward, as she seeks to expose the impostors claiming to be Superman. Lois's strength and resilience shine through as she navigates the challenges posed by both her grief and the new Supermen in Metropolis.

    • 📰 Journalist
    • 💔 Grief
    • 🔍 Investigator
  • Lex Luthor

    played by Rainn Wilson

    Lex Luthor is portrayed as a cunning and manipulative character, orchestrating schemes to capitalize on Superman's absence. His intelligence and ambition lead him to create Superboy, reflecting his obsession with legacy and power. However, his frustration with Superboy and his personal vendetta against Superman reveal a complex character driven by both ego and resentment.

    • 🧠 Genius
    • 💼 Businessman
    • 🦸‍♂️ Antagonist
  • Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw)

    played by Patrick Fabian

    Cyborg Superman, originally Hank Henshaw, is a tragic figure consumed by loss and vengeance. His transformation into a powerful yet volatile antagonist drives the narrative's conflict. His internal struggle highlights the themes of revenge and the corrupting influence of despair, ultimately leading to a dramatic confrontation with Superman.

    • 💀 Anti-hero
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Vengeance
    • ⚡ Technology

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:45

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Setting

Where and When Does Reign of the Supermen Take Place?

The setting of Reign of the Supermen (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Six months after Doomsday's attack

The events of the movie unfold six months after the devastating clash with Doomsday, following Superman's noble sacrifice. During this time, the city of Metropolis grapples with chaos and a power vacuum, leading to the emergence of various Supermen. The atmosphere is charged with tension as the characters navigate a world that has changed drastically in the aftermath of Superman's absence.

Location

Metropolis, Fortress of Solitude, Watchtower, Apokolips

Metropolis is the bustling city known for its vibrant streets and iconic skyline, which has become plagued by crime in the absence of Superman. The Fortress of Solitude serves as Superman's refuge, equipped with advanced technology and a place where he recuperates. The Watchtower is a crucial space station for the Justice League and a strategic location for monitoring threats to Earth. Apokolips is a harsh and tyrannical planet ruled by Darkseid, posing a significant danger to the universe.

  • 🌆 City
  • 🏰 Fortress
  • 🛰 Space Station
  • 🌌 Planet

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:45

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3 major themes

Reign of the Supermen Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Reign of the Supermen (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Legacy

    The theme of legacy resonates throughout the film as different characters attempt to uphold or redefine Superman's legacy. The arrival of the self-proclaimed Supermen raises questions about what it means to be a hero. Lois Lane's struggle to understand the newcomers symbolizes the deeper question of authenticity in heroism.

  • Vengeance

    Vengeance drives many characters, particularly Hank Henshaw, who is consumed by rage against Superman for personal losses. This theme reflects on how grief can morph into a thirst for revenge, leading to destructive choices. The destructive power of vengeance is prominently showcased through the chaos instigated by Cyborg Superman.

  • Investigation

    Lois Lane's investigative resolve highlights the importance of uncovering the truth amid deception. Her journey to discern the real from the artificial in a city filled with false Supermen underscores the significance of truth in times of uncertainty. This theme emphasizes the role of journalistic integrity in unraveling complex narratives.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:45

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Character & theme questions

Reign of the Supermen Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Reign of the Supermen (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does Reign of the Supermen take place?

The movie is primarily set in Metropolis, a bustling city grappling with crime and chaos following Superman's death. Additional key locations include the Fortress of Solitude (Superman's Arctic refuge), the Watchtower (the Justice League's space station), and Apokolips (the hostile planet ruled by Darkseid).

  • metropolis
  • fortress of solitude
  • watchtower
  • apokolips
  • locations
  • setting
Q2

When does Reign of the Supermen take place in the DC timeline?

The story unfolds six months after Superman's death in his battle with Doomsday. This period sees Metropolis in chaos as a power vacuum emerges, giving rise to four individuals claiming to be Superman's successor.

  • timeline
  • six months after doomsday
  • dc universe
  • era
  • time period
Q3

What is the legacy theme in Reign of the Supermen?

Legacy explores how different characters attempt to uphold or redefine Superman's legacy. The four self-proclaimed Supermen, Eradicator, Superboy, Steel, and Cyborg Superman, each embody different interpretations of heroism, raising questions about what it truly means to be a hero and who deserves the Superman mantle.

  • legacy
  • heroism
  • superhero
  • identity
  • meaning
Q4

How does vengeance factor into Reign of the Supermen?

Vengeance is a central theme embodied by Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw), who is consumed by rage against Superman due to personal losses. This destructive thirst for revenge drives much of the conflict, showcasing how grief can morph into a corrupting force that leads to devastating choices.

  • vengeance
  • cyborg superman
  • hank henshaw
  • revenge
  • grief
Q5

Who is Lois Lane in Reign of the Supermen?

Lois Lane is a determined journalist portrayed by Rebecca Romijn who is grappling with Superman's death. Her investigative journey to uncover the truth about the imposters claiming to be Superman drives the narrative forward, symbolizing the theme of seeking authenticity amid deception.

  • lois lane
  • journalist
  • rebecca romijn
  • protagonist
  • investigation
Q6

Who is Cyborg Superman in the movie?

Cyborg Superman is Hank Henshaw, a tragic figure transformed into a powerful but volatile antagonist. Consumed by vengeance against Superman for his personal losses, he becomes the movie's primary villain, with his internal struggle highlighting the corrupting influence of despair and revenge.

  • cyborg superman
  • hank henshaw
  • villain
  • antagonist
  • patrick fabian
Q7

What is Lex Luthor's role in Reign of the Supermen?

Lex Luthor is a cunning manipulator portrayed by Rainn Wilson who seeks to capitalize on Superman's absence. He creates Superboy in an attempt to control a Superman-like figure, revealing his obsession with legacy and power. His frustration with Superboy and personal vendetta against Superman expose his complex motivations driven by ego and resentment.

  • lex luthor
  • rainn Wilson
  • villain
  • superboy
  • creator
Q8

What is Apokolips in the movie?

Apokolips is a harsh, tyrannical planet ruled by the powerful Darkseid. It poses a significant danger to the universe and serves as the source of the Parademon invasion that threatens Earth during the film.

  • apokolips
  • darkseid
  • planet
  • parademons
  • threat
Q9

Who are the four Supermen in Reign of the Supermen?

The four individuals claiming to be Superman's successor are: the resolute Eradicator, the overconfident Superboy (created by Lex Luthor), the powerful Steel who wields a hammer, and the vengeful Cyborg Superman. Each brings a different interpretation of what it means to carry Superman's legacy.

  • eradicator
  • superboy
  • steel
  • four supermen
  • successors
Q10

What are the main themes explored in Reign of the Supermen?

The movie primarily explores three themes: Legacy (what it means to be a hero and carry Superman's mantle), Vengeance (how grief transforms into destructive revenge, particularly through Cyborg Superman), and Investigation (Lois Lane's journey to uncover truth amid deception and imposters).

  • themes
  • legacy
  • vengeance
  • investigation
  • meaning

Movie threads

More Movies Like Reign of the Supermen, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Reign of the Supermen tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about heroic successions like Reign of the Supermen

Stories where multiple figures emerge to claim a fallen hero's iconic mantle. If you liked the conflict of multiple Supermen in Reign of the Supermen, explore these movies about heroic legacies. This list features similar sci-fi and action stories where new figures battle to fill the void left by a fallen icon, perfect for fans of identity crises and legacy-themed superhero team-ups.

  • legacy
  • imposter syndrome
  • tense
  • heroic
  • unsettled
  • determined
  • Tone: tense, questioning, heroic
  • Pacing: fast, driven by conflict
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically begin with a profound loss, creating a power vacuum that attracts a diverse cast of claimants. The story explores themes of authenticity, grief, and the burden of legacy through internal conflict and external threats, often culminating in a crisis that forces the true successor to emerge or the original to return.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on a 'succession crisis' narrative. They blend high-stakes action with thematic depth, exploring what it means to be a hero through the lens of multiple, competing inheritors of a iconic role, creating a tense and often action-packed experience.

Fast-paced action movies driven by grief like Reign of the Supermen

High-octane stories where characters channel profound loss into heroic action. For viewers who enjoyed the high-speed, grief-motivated action of Reign of the Supermen, this list features similar movies. Discover other tense, action-packed stories where characters use heroic battles as a way to cope with loss, offering a blend of emotional weight and relentless pacing for fans of impactful superhero violence.

  • grieving
  • action-packed
  • tense
  • determined
  • redemptive
  • heroic
  • Tone: tense, determined, redemptive
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The emotional journey in these stories is direct: a devastating loss ignites the plot, and the characters' primary method of coping is through physical engagement and combat. The pacing is fast, leaving little room for melancholy, as the action itself becomes an expression of the characters' unresolved grief and determination.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a specific emotional and pacing recipe: they use a foundation of grief and loss to justify and intensify a consistently fast-paced, high-intensity action narrative. The focus is on externalizing emotion through conflict, resulting in a tense, gripping, and ultimately cathartic experience.

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Movies Like Reign of the Supermen

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Every angle

Reign of the Supermen (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Reign of the Supermen in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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