Superman & Lois’ season 3 villains appear to be old enemies of Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel. In the season 2 finale, a surprise cameo from David Ramsey’s John Diggle sent a clear signal that Bruno Mannheim and Intergang will be the main villains of Superman & Lois season 3. And now, it’s known that Walking Dead actor Chad Coleman will play the aforementioned Intergang leader when the CW series returns.
Curiously, history between Superman and Intergang was established as early as the show’s fourth episode. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Intergang was the group behind Thaddeus Killgrave, the escaped criminal who used high-tech weapons against Superman in “Haywire”. Apparently, Superman beat Intergang and Killgrave sometime before the beginning of the series. In the episode, some of Intergang’s members were sent to help secure Killgrave’s escape in the episode, but Superman’s interference resulted in all those present - Killgrave included - being apprehended by the military. The show’s decision to introduce Intergang in season 1 quietly laid the groundwork for them to emerge as a greater threat at a later point.
What Intergang’s Season 1 Role Reveals About Their Season 3 Story
How Intergang was used in “Haywire” helps set some expectations for how they’ll be utilized in Superman & Lois season 3. Like the comic characters, Bruno Mannheim’s criminal organization has an invested interest in high-powered weapons. And as evidenced by the fight with Thaddeus Killgrave, some of them are actually powerful enough to challenge Superman. Killgrave’s sonic device, for example, successfully held him off for more than a few seconds. If Intergang has more operatives like Killgrave wreaking havoc in Smallville in season 3, that would make sense of why Superman would be needed to beat them.
Bruno Mannheim May Already Know Superman
Considering that Superman has already fought Intergang, it’s not hard to imagine that both he and Lois Lane are well-acquainted with Bruno Mannheim. They may not have met him personally, but it makes sense that both are fully aware of him and his reputation in Superman & Lois. Lois’ activities as an investigative reporter make it very likely that she’s gotten in Intergang’s way, and Superman in particular has already proven to be a thorn in Intergang’s side. In light of these past experiences, and the setbacks Superman has undoubtedly caused for the organization, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Bruno Mannheim joins the series as a villain with a vendetta against the Last Son of Krypton.
Bruno Mannheim sharing a connection with Superman could help give the show’s main characters a common foe from the onset. Looking at the Superman & Lois season 2 finale’s ending tease, Mannheim is in a position to be Steel’s enemy first, with Superman and Lois presumably entering the picture later. Instead, Mannheim could quickly wind up on the radar of all three characters. In Superman & Lois season 3, Chad Coleman’s Bruno Mannheim could find himself making a new enemy in Steel while also renewing an old rivalry with Superman at the same time.