Superman: Red Son

Superman: Red Son

Year: 2020

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: Sam Liu

Echo Score: 73
ActionAnimation

During the Cold War, a young Kal-El lands in Soviet Russia instead of Kansas. Raised as a symbol of communism, he becomes a powerful figure dedicated to upholding Stalin’s vision. The story explores an alternate history where Superman’s ideals are shaped by the political landscape of the USSR, leading to a unique and compelling narrative about power, ideology, and what it means to be a hero.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Superman: Red Son (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Superman: Red Son (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1953–1978; 2001; far future

The story opens in 1953 when the Soviet Union unveils Superman, shifting the arms race to metahumans during the Cold War. By 1978, the U.S. teeters on collapse while the Soviet bloc spreads influence and enforces a utopian order under Superman. In 2001, Lex Luthor consolidates power and reveals new technologies, leading to a broader global order. The tale culminates with billions of years into the future, where time-travel echoes of the past shape a final twist.

Location

Metropolis, Moscow, Stalingrad, Roswell

The narrative shifts between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War, moving through key urban centers. Metropolis serves as the American stage for conflict, while Moscow and Stalingrad anchor the Soviet side, with Roswell, New Mexico surfacing in the background of extraterrestrial intrigue. The Winter Palace in Siberia and the White House appear as symbolic centers of power and control, underscoring the global scale of the conflict.

🗺️ Cold War era 🏙️ Global cities

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:11

Main Characters – Superman: Red Son (2020)

Meet the key characters of Superman: Red Son (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Superman (Jason Isaacs)

A superpowered alien whose public revelation in the Soviet Union catalyzes a utopian but totalitarian regime. He uses his powers to eradicate poverty and crime, yet his governance becomes an omnipresent, controlling force. His arc intertwines with romance and the burden of leading a world, gradually revealing the costs of absolute power.

🦸‍♂️ Hero 🧭 Idealist

Lex Luthor (Diedrich Bader)

A brilliant scientist who wages a calculated campaign to destroy Superman. He factories a clone and laterFound LuthorCorp, weaponizing technology and brainpower to challenge the Man of Steel. His ruthlessness culminates in high-stakes betrayals and a persistent vendetta against ultimate power.

🧠 Genius 🪙 Antagonist

Wonder Woman (Vanessa Marshall)

A diplomat who becomes entangled with Superman and the Soviet leadership. She evolves from ally to a figure of affections within a wartime alliance, risking personal sacrifice for the greater good. Her relationship with Superman tests loyalty and moral boundaries in a world of shifting loyalties.

🕊️ Ally 💘 Love interest

Lois Lane (Amy Acker)

A journalist who becomes Lois Luthor, navigating the new political order and forging alliances with the Amazons. Her reporting and political maneuvering anchor the civilian perspective amid cosmic-scale conflicts and statecraft.

📰 Reporter 💼 Political pawn

Batman (Roger Craig Smith)

The orphaned youth raised by Pyotr’s regime, who becomes a vigilante ally to Luthor and the NKVD faction. His tragic martyrdom underscores the personal costs of ideological warfare and radicalized dissent.

🦇 Vigilante 💀 Martyr

Brainiac (Paul Williams)

A computer intelligence reprogrammed into Superman’s aide, instrumental in maintaining the Fortress and the utopian order. Brainiac’s central processing unit and ship power the regime’s surveillance and strategic capabilities.

🤖 AI 💡 Mastermind

Joseph Stalin (William Salyers)

The Soviet leader whose death triggers a realignment of power and the rise of Pyotr within the NKVD. His legacy casts a long shadow over Superman’s utopia and the geopolitical chessboard.

🏛️ Dictator 🧪 Political drama

Hal Jordan (Sasha Roiz)

A Green Lantern who represents military force and resistance against unchecked power. He confronts the Political regime’s reach and participates in the broader defense against invasions and mind-control.

🪖 Military 🧭 Leader

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:11

Major Themes – Superman: Red Son (2020)

Explore the central themes of Superman: Red Son (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🛡️ Power

The film explores how a benevolent-looking super-you-are protects society while eroding personal freedoms. Superman’s utopian rule becomes a shield that also surveils and disciplines, raising questions about the cost of security. The clash between protection and autonomy drives the narrative’s moral tension.

🗣️ Propaganda

State power uses media, ideology, and coercion to manufacture consent and unify a society under a single narrative. Luthor’s engineered technologies and Brainiac’s influence amplify control, while dissent is quieted through engineered loyalties. The story probes how truth can be bent when a nation’s leaders wield extraordinary influence.

💘 Love & Duty

Romantic and personal loyalties complicate grand political schemes. Wonder Woman’s affection for Superman clashes with state priorities, and Lois Luthor’s alliances blur personal and political lines. The conflict between love and obligation tests whether even the strongest protectors can remain humane.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:11

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Superman: Red Son Summary

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Superman: Red Son Summary

Superman: Red Son Timeline

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Superman: Red Son Timeline

Superman: Red Son Spoiler-Free Summary

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Superman: Red Son Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Superman: Red Son

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