The DC Universe could be a bold new space of superhero tales. However, according to its new Brainiac actor, the heart of Superman’s world has always been deeply human.
Lars Eidinger Says Joining The DCU Felt “Almost Fated”
Recently, Lars Eidinger revealed that he was working on ‘Man of Tomorrow’ as Brainiac. His words show a surprisingly considerate take on one of DC’s coldest villains. Eidinger doesn’t envision the role as a comic book blockbuster act, but rather a much more dramatic and psychological one.
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“Take just the word ‘super’, it’s used as a superlative, for something excellent, wonderful. But “super” really only means “over” or “above.” So Superman is the Übermensch. You have the Super Ego. There’s already a deep psychological dimension built in,” he told THR.
But the truth is, it might be the DCU’s perspective that they need. The actor, who is mainly known for his theatre and intense dramatic performances, said that he never thought he would be cast as a superhero in a movie. However, as soon as he was involved in the project, he found that the Superman stories were not that different from Shakespearean dramas.
“I saw an actor in the Superman costume, suspended on wires in front of a bluescreen. I looked at that image and thought: This is the essence of fiction. It’s as significant an image as Hamlet holding the skull.” That’s not the comparison fans usually expect to hear when discussing Brainiac.
Brainiac May Be More Than Just Another CGI Villain
Themes of morality, corruption, identity, and power are common in classic theatre and Superman stories, as Eidinger says. As a villain who is obsessed with control and superiority, Brainiac is fitting for those themes, he says, “sort of.” It’s a really interesting point of view for the character.
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Brainiac is frequently depicted as a cold-blooded maniac in the comics. He shrinks entire cities and keeps them as collectibles before destroying planets. He’s scary because he’s so cold. However, Eidinger’s remarks indicate that the DCU version might be more psychological than simply another effects-laden world-ending threat.
That might make Brainiac feel like a real threat, which many comic book villains can’t pull off. In the world of comic books and superhero films, James Gunn’s DCU is certainly not the same as the other comic universes. The most interesting thing about Eidinger’s interview is how he feels like he belongs in James Gunn’s DCU vision.
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