A new wave of speculation has emerged around Man of Tomorrow, as casting developments for its reported central villain take the spotlight. A recent rumor hints at major movement behind the scenes, focusing on the search for the actor who is expected to portray a key character in the Superman sequel.
Brainiac could be played by up-and-coming actor in Superman sequel
James Gunn will release his Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow on July 9, 2027. The film will reportedly feature Brainiac as its primary antagonist.
Industry scooper @MyTimeToShineHello reported, “There are mostly unknown names and 3 big names testing for Brainiac (so far),” but no official casting has been confirmed. David Corenswet will return as Superman, and Nicholas Hoult reprises his role as Lex Luthor.
Brainiac first made an appearance in 1958’s Action Comics #242, with writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino introducing the character. In modern continuity, Brainiac begins as a Coluan scientist named Vril Dox, who transforms into a cybernetic entity after attempting to overthrow his planet. He seeks to collect all knowledge in the universe, shrinking and bottling cities like Kandor before destroying their worlds.
Animated series such as Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited featured Corey Burton as the voice of Brainiac. In live-action television, James Marsters portrayed him in Smallville, and Blake Ritson played him in Krypton. No live-action theatrical film has included Brainiac to date.
The upcoming film will reportedly show Superman and Lex Luthor forming an uneasy alliance to confront Brainiac. This storyline mirrors Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor, where Brainiac infects Luthor with a fatal virus. The illness pushes Luthor to seek Superman’s help. The movie may also draw from Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, which redefined the villain and introduced his full humanoid form.
Several adaptations have reimagined Brainiac as a Kryptonian artificial intelligence. This version could align with the sequel’s portrayal of Krypton’s colonial legacy. Supergirl seemingly appears as a refugee from Kandor, and Earth’s metahuman history spans 300 years. Brainiac may target Earth to study and collect its superhuman population.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
