The mystery monster seen in James Gunn’s Superman trailer might have a more familiar origin than it seems. As Superman‘s first trailer suggests, the DCU is filled with all kinds of heroes, anti-heroes, villains, and creatures of all kinds by the time David Corenswet’s Superman stars in his own solo movie. Going by the confirmed projects in the DCU’s Gods and Monsters chapter, the DCU is already inhabited by Kryptonians, Amazons, Green Lanterns, mythological figures, robots, reanimated corpses, and mutated hybrids, among other characters.

James Gunn’s Superman will hit the ground running, as the first Superman trailer reveals multiple DC characters with wildly different origins and powersets who will likely receive their own DCU projects in the future. For example, Krypto the Superdog will appear in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, The Engineer will probably appear in The Authority, and Mister Terrific’s superhero team might be the starting point for a Justice League International or a The Terrifics spinoff movie or show. There are at least two Superman characters whose identity and origin haven’t been revealed, though. Neither the masked villain nor the giant monster attacking Metropolis in the Superman trailer have been identified yet.

Jimmy Olsen Might Transform Into A Giant Monster In James Gunn’s Superman

Jimmy Olsen Has Transformed Into Several Monsters In The Comics

A giant fire-breathing monster appears in only one brief shot of the first Superman trailer. There are no clues as to where this creature came from or whether someone else is controlling it. The Man of Steel has faced his fair share of monsters and giant creatures in the source material, but one of the most remarkable is none other than Superman’s best friend, Jimmy Olsen. In the Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen series of Silver Age comics, Jimmy repeatedly transformed into a wide variety of creatures, including a reptile, a porcupine, a werewolf, and even a “Bizarro” Jimmy. Jimmy Olsen’s most destructive transformation, however, is a gigantic turtle-man.

James Gunn’s Superman could make Jimmy Olsen the subject of a scientific experiment that transforms him into the fire-breathing kaiju seen in the first trailer

In 1961’s Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen vol 1 #53, Jimmy finds an “enlarging ray” that he uses on a turtle and himself. The device merges both of them, creating a Turtle-Man kaiju that Superman has to stop in order to save the city. While the movie is unlikely to adapt this story, James Gunn’s Superman could make Jimmy Olsen the subject of a scientific experiment that transforms him into the fire-breathing kaiju seen in the first trailer. Considering how many sci-fi and fantast elements Superman already has, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jimmy suffer a similar experience in the DCU’s first live-action installment.

Superman’s Multiple Villains Make Jimmy Olsen Likely To Be Experimented With

Jimmy Olsen Could Be The Target Of Several DCU Villains

James Gunn’s Superman could incorporate Jimmy Olsen’s kaiju transformation into its plot by making him a victim of one of Superman’s many antagonists. Lex Luthor, The Engineer, Maxwell Lord, Rick Flag Sr., and the mysterious masked villain could be behind the monster’s attack on Metropolis. Lex Luthor, The Engineer, and Maxwell Lord may possess the necessary technology to transform Jimmy into a kaiju, while Rick Flag Sr.’s experience with the Creature Commandos might have taught him how to weaponize monster DNA. Superman‘s mystery villain — who could be Ulysses or Ultraman — could receive a brand-new ability to create metahumans and monsters in the DCU.

Jimmy Olsen’s ludicrous adventures in DC Comics’ Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen were often due to his proximity to Superman and his villains. In the DCU, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane and Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen will probably play bigger roles than previous movie versions of Superman’s closest allies, meaning that they’re likely to be targeted by Superman’s enemies more often. In a world where shapeshifting creatures and swamp monsters exist, it wouldn’t be too strange to see genius-level villains like Lex Luthor and the Engineer turn a regular Daily Planet journalist into a 200-ft, fire-breathing kaiju Axolotl just to mess with the Man of Steel.

Why Jimmy Olsen’s Kaiju Transformation Makes Sense In James Gunn’s Superman

Jimmy Olsen’s Giant Monster Tranformation Would Be An Homage To Superman’s Silver Age Comics

While Jimmy’s regular-human nature is his main appeal, his many brushes with death as Superman’s collateral damage are just as important. No live-action, big-screen Superman movie has focused on this part of Jimmy Olsen’s history before, so the DCU could start doing so as soon as James Gunn’s Superman introduces him. Unlike previous cinematic versions of the character, Skyler Gisondo’s DCU Jimmy Olsen could have a multi-installment character arc where he goes through as many extraordinary events as Superman himself.

James Gunn’s Superman is also drawing inspiration from different eras of Superman comics. Superman’s first DCU suit alone displays clear nods to Kingdom Come and The New 52 — two eras that may also influence Superman‘s plot. James Gunn’s Superman is also expected to reflect narrative and stylistic parallels from famous DC Comics storylines such as All-Star Superman and Superman For All Seasons, which James Gunn has previously acknowledged. With Superman’s Golden Age and Modern Age eras clearly covered, an action scene starring a kaiju Jimmy Olsen ripped straight from the Silver Age comics would suit Superman‘s homage to the Man of Steel’s 87-year history.