Lars Eidinger Cast as Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow

James Gunn announced on Saturday that German actor Lars Eidinger has been cast as the villain Brainiac in "Man of Tomorrow," the upcoming sequel to this year's "Superman" film. The movie, set for theatrical release on July 11, 2027, marks Brainiac's first appearance in a live-action theatrical production within the DC Universe.

Gunn shared the news on social media, writing, "In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars." The director, who wrote and is directing the project, co-produces it with Peter Safran under DC Studios. Production is slated to begin in April.

"Man of Tomorrow" brings back David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane from the 2025 "Superman" film, which grossed more than $616 million worldwide. Early details suggest the story will feature an alliance between Superman and Luthor to confront the extraterrestrial threat of Brainiac, though specifics remain under wraps. The title draws from one of Superman's longstanding nicknames and echoes elements from DC Comics runs and a 2020 animated film, but connections to those sources have not been confirmed.