Director James Gunn has officially announced the villain for the highly anticipated DC film Man of Tomorrow, the next chapter in the Superman saga. The upcoming movie will see Superman face off against his archenemy, Lex Luthor, with a new threat emerging: Brainiac.
Taking to Instagram, Gunn revealed both the character and the actor behind him. “In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars,” he wrote, officially welcoming the German actor to the DC Universe.
Brainiac, known for his multiple iterations in comics and on screen, intrigued fans about which version would appear in the new film. Gunn shared his admiration for the character’s legacy: “I love aspects of many versions of the characters, from the 1950s [Otto] Binder stuff to the surprisingly scary [Marv] Wolfman stuff to the animated versions and up through the truly creepy and wonderful, current Absolute Brainiac.”
Meanwhile, James Gunn’s portrayal of Superman in the previous film earned widespread acclaim. Guillermo del Toro praised Gunn’s vision, saying, “When I saw Superman, you feel the healing power of goodness from someone who believes in it.”
Superman concluded its run last July, grossing over $600 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing superhero film of 2025. With Brainiac joining the DC Universe, expectations are high for Man of Tomorrow, promising more action, intrigue, and the iconic showdown fans have been waiting for.