Superman and Lex Luthor will be facing off against Brainiac in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow as the DC Universe officially casts the iconic enemy. The DCU’s Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” is just getting started with the Man of Steel and his archnemesis, as the two rivals are soon going to have to tackle a common threat.
Gunn has revealed that Lars Eidinger has been cast as DC Comics’ Brainiac in DC Studios’ Man of Tomorrow, as they will be the first star to ever depict the famous villain on the big screen. Principal photography is slated to begin in April 2026.
Brainiac first appeared in live-action in Tom Welling’s Smallville TV show during season 5, played by James Marsters, where he would recur for several seasons. In season 10, Marsters returned as Brainiac 5, traditionally a separate character from the villainous version.
SYFY’s Superman prequel drama, Krypton, had Brainiac as one of the central antagonists, with Blake Ritson portraying him in both seasons. This incarnation was depicted more closely to the comics, including the character’s visual design.
The Man of Tomorrow movie was formally announced on September 3, 2025, with Gunn sharing new comic artwork of Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor and David Corenswet's Superman, with the former donning his Lexosuit from the comics. The hints of Brainiac being the big bad emerged on September 22, with the following Instagram post from the director:
Brainiac has also been a DC enemy that many have been wanting to see on the big screen for years, as he is traditionally one of Superman's most dangerous and powerful opponents in the comic lore. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show earlier this fall, Gunn shared these details about the overall plot:
James Gunn: It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that, but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I loved working with Nicholas Hoult. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I just love the script so much.
Man of Tomorrow arrives in theaters on July 9, 2027.
