By introducing a completely original character in SUPERMAN (2025), James Gunn is changing the game. Fans can't rely on the comics or source material for answers—the way we used to with comic-book movies. Such is the dilemma with the Hammer of Boravia.
What’s particularly intriguing is that the apparent villain can stand on equal footing with Superman. The Hammer can fly, throw punches that can flatten his antithesis, and he possesses some form of optic blasts—possibly heat vision. This has sparked rampant speculation about the character's true identity. Some guesses even suggest the label and outward appearance are a red herring.
A popular theory circulating online is that the Hammer of Boravia is actually a codename for Lex Luthor in a mech suit. The character's armor resembles the exoskeleton suit he has worn in animated movies and video games, which is potentially enough evidence to go off. While some might question its appearance in the trailers, a repaint would effectively conceal Lex's identity until the appropriate time. The reason is that a green and purple suit would have immediately tied back to Luthor, so this approach allows for a level of secrecy until the film hits theaters.
More importantly, by keeping Luthor's role hidden, fans are left in suspense about what to expect—and comic book fans have been craving that feeling. Although the presence of comics/source material has provided valuable insights into niche characters and storylines in the past, sometimes it’s refreshing to be surprised. We need an original character every now and then, or even just someone who isn't identical to their comic counterpart, to enter the fold.
The Hammer of Boravia fulfills this role because there’s no way to research the character. Even promotional ads are keeping the Hammer’s true identity a secret, which is surprising considering that major events have been spoiled by tie-in merchandise, particularly the toys.
For instance, a leak led to Marvel's big reveal of Giant-Man in Captain America: Civil War being disclosed prematurely. A similar situation occurred with Iron Man 3, wherein details about Tony Stark and Pepper Potts' mansion escape were spoiled. The scene was in the teaser trailers early on, but how the pair survived was a secret until the Lego set popped up online.
Another possibility is Ultraman is the man behind the Hammer's mask; a tweet from DCU Brief suggests that Ultraman may be inside the silver armor. One could question the need for a suit of armor, given that the villain wears a different costume for the rest of the movie. Of course, the answer is a practical one: an upgrade. Ultraman is meant to be Superman's equal, so an armor that enhances his abilities would provide a formidable challenge for the Boy Scout during hand-to-hand combat.
The Hammer of Boravia
— DCU Brief (@DCUBrief) June 6, 2025
Actor unknown. This villain has some connection to the political turmoil in Boravia, the nation where Superman supposedly stopped a war.
Official toys have hinted that under the suit, The Hammer is actually Ultraman. pic.twitter.com/3fVr0gILLD
Lastly, the Hammer of Boravia could be concealing the identity of another character within the expansive DC Cinematic Universe. James Gunn is setting the foundation for a new cinematic realm, so it wouldn't be a shocker to learn that he has a major player under the Hammer of Boravia's mask. The movie is incorporating outliers like The Engineer and Krypto the Superdog, so why wouldn't Gunn throw in further surprises?
SUPERMAN (2025) opens in theaters on July 11, 2025.