Lars Eidinger has been cast as the formidable antagonist Brainiac in James Gunn’s upcoming sequel, “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” per variety.com.
James Gunn confirmed the news via Instagram on Saturday morning, stating: “In our worldwide search for Brainiac, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars.”
The German actor, recently seen in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly and the award-winning drama Dying, joins a returning cast that includes David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
First appearing in DC Comics in 1958, Brainiac is a hyper-intelligent alien android known for shrinking and “collecting” cities from across the galaxy. Despite the character’s long history, Man of Tomorrow will mark his debut in a major live-action motion picture.
A promotional image shared by Gunn earlier this year, featuring Superman and Lex Luthor in an uncharacteristically friendly pose, has sparked speculation that the two arch-enemies may be forced to form an uneasy alliance against this new intergalactic threat.
The announcement follows the massive success of Gunn’s first Superman film, which debuted in July 2025. Grossing over $616 million globally, it currently holds the title of the year’s highest-grossing superhero film.
“Superman: Man of Tomorrow” is scheduled for theatrical release on July 9, 2027.
•Featured image: Lars Eidinger/Getty Images
