In a groundbreaking announcement, it has been revealed that German actor Lars Eidinger will step into the role of Brainiac in James Gunn's upcoming film, "Man of Tomorrow," which centers around Superman and Lex Luthor. This marks an exciting milestone, as Brainiac, one of Superman's most notorious foes alongside Lex, will be making his first appearance on the big screen. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, Brainiac first appeared in Action Comics #242, establishing himself as a classic villain in the Superman lore.
Brainiac is depicted as an exceptionally intelligent android hailing from the planet Colu, driven by an insatiable desire to gather all knowledge throughout the universe. In "Man of Tomorrow," the storyline hints at a collaboration between David Corenswet's Superman and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor as they confront a formidable new threat in the galaxy. Given Brainiac's notorious abilities, including the power to shrink cities and obliterate planets, it would not be surprising if he turns out to be the central antagonist. In various comic narratives, he even managed to shrink and devastate Superman’s home planet, Krypton.
Lars Eidinger, who is represented by UTA, has garnered recognition for his performances in notable films such as Olivier Assayas’ "Clouds of Sils Maria" and "Personal Shopper," as well as in Netflix productions directed by Noah Baumbach, including "Jay Kelly" and "White Noise." Notably, Eidinger received a nomination for European Actor at the European Film Awards last year for his role in Matthias Glasner's "Dying."
James Gunn took to Instagram to express his excitement about casting Eidinger, stating, "In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars."
As for the film's timeline, production is slated to commence in April, with an ambitious theatrical release set for July 9, 2027. This project represents Gunn's first significant undertaking under the newly established DC Studios, which he co-leads with Peter Safran. The previous installment featuring Superman was a commercial success, grossing over $616 million globally, setting high expectations for this new venture.
