James Gunn’s DC Universe has been promising something different from the very beginning: stories that feel intentional, character-driven, and unafraid to slow down long enough to let mythology breathe.
That promise is beginning to take shape with ‘Man of Tomorrow’, and the very fact that Brainiac has been cast is a good indication of how ambitious this new era of Superman storytelling is going to be.
Why Brainiac’s Arrival Signals A Turning Point For The DC Universe
Gunn has also verified that Lars Eidinger will play Brainiac in ‘Man of Tomorrow’, which will also mark the first big-screen appearance of the iconic Superman villain. It is a decision that is both surprising and intentional. Brainiac will not be just another CGI-laden challenge that Superman will punch through. He will redefine the moral and intellectual stakes of the narrative. More to the point, the appearance of Brainiac makes the film more than just a hero-villain story.
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This isn’t just about Superman proving himself. It is about what happens when ideology, intellect, and power come into conflict with each other and when enemies are compelled to uncomfortable conformity. For years, Brainiac has been the “almost” villain of live-action Superman. Viewers have caught glimpses of him on TV, James Marsters in his cunning, manipulative version in ‘Smallville’, Blake Ritson in his chillingly comic-true version in ‘Krypton’, but never the definitive screen version. Until now.
Brainiac is not a mere threat; he is one of the most philosophically dangerous enemies of Superman. Where Lex Luthor is a symbol of what jealousy can do, Brainiac is a symbol of something colder, he represents the idea that knowledge justifies annihilation. He does not despise Superman because he is strong. He despises him because he is uncontrollable. That is why Brainiac is an ideal villain for ‘Man of Tomorrow’, particularly in DC’s Chapter 1.
This phase of the DCU is clearly interested in interrogating power, who wields it, who fears it, and who believes they have the right to catalog, control, or erase it. Lars Eidinger’s casting suggests a Brainiac who leans into menace. And that inevitability is what drives ‘Man of Tomorrow’ into new territory. Brainiac is not a villain that Superman can easily defeat. He’s a test of values. A challenge to Superman’s belief that life, in all its chaos, is worth preserving, even when it defies logic.
Brainiac Pushes Superman And Lex Luthor Into An Almost Unbelievable Alliance
The most interesting aspect of ‘Man of Tomorrow’ is not Brainiac, but what his presence compels Superman and Lex Luthor to be. Gunn has not been shy about the structure of the film, calling it a story in which the two legendary competitors are forced to collaborate, at least to some extent, to deal with a threat that is much bigger than either of them.
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The presence of that dynamic is an indication of a major tonal shift. Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, is not being set up as a villain here. Gunn has publicly stated that the movie is as much a Lex film as it is a Superman film. “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,” he stated.
Lex fears what Superman represents. Brainiac validates that fear, but takes it to its logical extreme. Where Lex wants to demonstrate humanity’s superiority, Brainiac wants to substitute humanity completely. That places Superman in an interesting situation. In order to prevent Brainiac, he might need to trust a person who essentially does not trust him at all. Whereas Lex might need to temporarily believe that Superman is not the villain he has always thought him to be.
