The DC Universe’s Superman prequel has already given the first villain we’ve seen the Man of Steel face a fate worse than death that may well remain that way. The story of 2025’s Superman movie is set to kick off the DCU in a major way, as the first film of the franchise and the first proper look at DC’s newest live-action Superman.

However, the DC Universe timeline does have some releases that precede the story of Superman, including the likes of Creature Commandos, and the Superman prequel. As it stands, the Superman prequel introduces some fascinating story moments for the hero, including giving the first villain we see Superman fight a truly nightmare-inducing ending.

DCU’s Superman Prequel Has The Hero Fight A Notable Villain

While the Superman movie has teed up the Man of Steel to face an ᴀssortment of interesting foes, he’s already gone toe-to-toe with one notable DC villain in the film’s prequel, Superman: Welcome To Metropolis. This is none other than Metallo, a cyborg villain who first appeared in the comics in 1959.

In the prequel’s story, Superman fights Metallo, who Lex Luthor creates and then enhances to specifically try and take down the Kryptonian hero. Given Metallo is here made out of the brain of an ᴀssᴀssin Luthor essentially stole to put into a robot body, the villain certainly manages to be a suitably dramatic one for Superman to first face.

Indeed, Superman facing Metallo more than once is the main focus of the prequel’s story to some degree. These fights are used to add an extra dose of action to a narrative that focuses on Clark moving to Metropolis and getting a job at the Daily Planet, as well as showing the city’s first reactions to Superman’s arrival.

This is both what sets up Superman meeting Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen for the first time – and Clark’s complicated efforts to ensure they don’t realize he and Superman are one and the same – as well as the hero meeting the DCU’s “Justice Gang” when they help fight Metallo. However, the story has some decidedly darker angles, too.

Metallo’s Fate In The Superman Prequel Is Pretty Dark

While Metallo gets closer to defeating Superman in their rematch in the prequel – thanks to him having been enhanced with some Luthor “upgrades” that appear to have imbued him with Kryptonite – Superman and the “Justice Gang” still manage to defeat him at the end of the book. However, Lex Luthor is able to steal Metallo’s head back to his base.

Though Metallo doesn’t die at the end of the story, it does close out with him stuck in this state. Given Lex Luthor already tried to upgrade him and didn’t see success with that, it seems entirely likely that this is how the villain will remain for at least the foreseeable future.

This makes sense in terms of ensuring Superman can be without Metallo entirely without it seeming odd to those who read Superman: Welcome To Metropolis’ story. That said, the fact it seems very possible that Metallo will simply have to exist as a sentient but disembodied head for who knows how long does feel pretty dark.

Part of what makes this so dark is the fact Metallo is still sentient, and that John Corben – the person whose brain pilots the robot suit – is still aware he was a person, and is horrified at what has happened to him. Though this sets up the potential for Metallo’s Superman movie debut, the previews we’ve seen so far make a worse scenario for the character seem far more likely.

Superman’s Trailers Don’t Bode Well For Metallo

Though it would’ve made a lot of sense for Metallo to play a similar role in Superman to the one he does in the Superman prequel as one of Luthor’s lackeys, this doesn’t appear to be the case. Currently, none of the Superman trailers or teasers thus far have suggested Metallo will appear in the first DCU film.

In fact, the Superman trailers we’ve gotten have essentially suggested the opposite. With so many characters – and so many different villains – being set up for Superman to face, it really doesn’t seem there would be time for Metallo to be added to the roster right now with so many other plates to spin.

As such, it appears Metallo will remain in this state for the time being unless Lex can see a use for him. With Luthor working alongside The Engineer in his villainous schemes – and potentially even being able to set Ultraman against Superman by the looks of things – it doesn’t look like that will be anytime soon.

Indeed, there is always the chance that we won’t see Metallo again ever rather than just missing him in Superman, which would horrifically suggest Luthor ripped someone’s brain out of their body, put them in a robot body, and then left them lying around unable to even move. Even if Metallo returns, it seems the chances are his fate will have been to exist in that state for some time beforehand.