James Gunn Confirms Brainiac for Man of Tomorrow | That’s the Real Story

The casting announcement for Man of Tomorrow has been making the rounds, but let’s get something straight right out of the gate… the biggest news here isn’t who was cast it’s who the villain is.

Yes, director and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has officially cast German actor Lars Eidinger as Brainiac in his upcoming Superman follow up. And while the casting itself is interesting, Gunn publicly confirming Brainiac as the film’s main villain is the actual headline, especially coming directly from him.

Don’t get us wrong, we know that detail had been reported by the trades weeks ago, but Gunn’s confirmation removes all remaining doubt. This isn’t speculation anymore. This isn’t fan theory. Brainiac is coming and he’s the villain of Man of Tomorrow.

Gunn made the announcement on social media Saturday, writing

“In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars.”

Straightforward. Deliberate. And very on brand for Gunn.

But let’s address the immediate reaction some fans are already having… “Who?”

Lars Eidinger isn’t a household name in North America, and that’s not an accident I sorta believe that’s the point.

James Gunn has never been interested in stunt casting for the sake of headlines. He consistently gravitates toward character actors, performers who can disappear into a role rather than dominate the marketing cycle. He’s done it across Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Superman. Gunn likes to find actors who fit the role… not ones who trend for a weekend.

Eidinger is exactly that type of actor.

While he may be unfamiliar to some audiences, his résumé is deep.

Babylon Berlin, All the Light We Cannot See, Personal Shopper, Irma Vep, Clouds of Sils Maria, White Noise, and even Tim Burton’s Dumbo.

He can currently be seen in the Clooney/Sandler Netflix film Jay Kelly. He’s also a musician, rapper, and DJ making him quite an artist with range, intensity, and presence.

this is no flashy casting at all.

But here’s where this gets truly exciting.

Despite being one of Superman’s most iconic and dangerous enemies, Brainiac has never appeared in live-action on the big screen. That changes with Man of Tomorrow.

Created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino in Action Comics #242 (1958), Brainiac is one of DC’s most terrifying villains. Not because he punches hardest, but because he thinks further. Originally introduced as a scientist from the planet Colu named Vril Dox, the character has evolved into a hyper intelligent cyborg entity obsessed with collecting knowledge and preserving civilizations… by destroying them.

Man of Tomorrow will reportedly force an uneasy alliance between David Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor as they attempt to stop Brainiac from threatening Earth. That alone tells you Gunn isn’t playing this safe.

This isn’t “villain of the week” storytelling. This is Gunn leaning into mythology, consequence, and long term DCU world building.

And it seems to all be starting with Brainiac.

The casting of Lars Eidinger will spark debate. That’s inevitable. But focusing on his fame or lack thereof completely misses the point.

James Gunn didn’t just cast Brainiac. He confirmed Brainiac.

That confirmation signals intent, scale, and confidence in where the DCU is heading next. Man of Tomorrow isn’t just a follow up to Superman. It’s the moment Gunn begins pulling the deeper threads of DC mythology into the spotlight.

And Brainiac? He’s the perfect villain to do it.

Man of Tomorrow begins filming next year and is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027.