German actor Lars Eidinger will play the super-intelligent antagonist Brainiac in James Gunn‘s next “Superman” installment, “Man of Tomorrow.”
Gunn confirmed the casting in an Instagram post Saturday morning. He wrote in the caption, “In our worldwide search for Brainiac in ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars.”
Brainiac is a hyperintelligent alien android with a tyrannical thirst for absolute knowledge of the universe. He’s known for shrinking entire planets and collecting them in glass jars or exterminating them outright if they aren’t to his preference. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino in 1958, “Man of Tomorrow” marks the first appearance of the character in a major DC motion picture.
“Superman” stars David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult will both return for “Man of Tomorrow,” which is set for release on July 9, 2027. Gunn unveiled the release date back in September and shared a photo of Lex Luthor and Superman looking unusually chummy, which could mean the arch enemies are teaming up to take on the new intergalactic foe.
Eidinger most recently appeared in Noah Baumbach’s awards hopeful “Jay Kelly.” His other recent film credits include “Dead Language,” “The Light” and “Dying,” which was nominated for best film at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. Eidinger is repped by UTA.
“Superman” marked Gunn’s directorial debut as DC Studios co-head with Peter Safran. The film was released on July 11 and grossed more than $616 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing superhero film of 2025.