James Gunn has officially confirmed that Brainiac will serve as the primary villain in Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming sequel to his 2025 Superman film. The announcement was shared directly by Gunn on his official X account on December 20, where he revealed that German actor Lars Eidinger has been cast in the role. The confirmation ends months of speculation surrounding the antagonist of the next major DC Universe installment and marks a significant milestone for the franchise.
“In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars,” Gunn wrote. The statement confirms both the character’s inclusion and the actor selected to portray the iconic villain, signaling a major expansion of the DCU’s scope moving forward.
Man of Tomorrow is positioned as a direct sequel to Superman, which released in 2025 and went on to earn a reported $600 million at the global box office. The follow-up was announced in September 2025 and is described as a core entry in the DC Universe’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on July 9, 2027, with production expected to begin in April 2026.
Narratively, the sequel is said to revolve around an uneasy alliance between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, the latter now equipped with a Lexosuit. Together, they must defend Metropolis from a threat operating on a planetary scale. The confirmation of Brainiac as the central antagonist aligns with that premise, given the character’s reputation for operating far beyond localized conflicts. It is also notable that this marks Brainiac’s first live-action appearance in a theatrical film, underscoring the scale of Gunn’s plans for the sequel.
The confirmed cast includes David Corenswet returning as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Frank Grillo is also set to appear as Rick Flag Sr., further tying the film into the broader DC Universe. In addition to Eidinger’s casting, Gunn has teased returns from Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, though their involvement has not yet been formally detailed.
