Gunn hints Brainiac as villain for Man of Tomorrow

James Gunn on Monday offered what many fans took as a major hint about the villain of Man of Tomorrow, the next film in his rebooted DC Universe, posting a photo of the script’s cover that features an anatomical image of an exposed brain. The photo, shared on social media, has fueled widespread speculation that Brainiac, the longtime cosmic and Kryptonian-linked adversary of Superman, will be the central antagonist when Man of Tomorrow opens on July 9, 2027.

Gunn has not formally announced Brainiac as the film’s villain, but outlets and observers immediately pointed to the brain image as an obvious tease. Industry reporting and reactions online noted that the character has never previously appeared on the big screen in this continuity, making his potential arrival a major escalation for the franchise. The film is described as bringing Superman and Lex Luthor into an uneasy alliance to confront a threat that may be larger than either of them can handle alone.

David Corenswet is set to reprise the role of Superman and Nicholas Hoult will return as Lex Luthor. Gunn has indicated that Luthor will wear his iconic green and purple warsuit in the film. Production is expected to begin...