Frontrunner For The DCU’s Brainiac Casting Addresses Man of Tomorrow Rumors

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While it hasn’t been officially announced, many fans think Brainiac will be the villain in James Gunn’s upcoming *Superman* sequel, *Man of Tomorrow*. The idea is that only a truly powerful enemy could make Superman and Lex Luthor team up, and Brainiac would certainly be a strong enough threat. Gunn fueled the speculation recently by sharing the script’s cover page, which featured a diagram of a split human brain. Fans are now discussing who could play Brainiac, and Chukwudi Iwuji is a popular choice – he’s even responded to the rumors about potentially taking on the role.

During an interview with Daniel Merrifield of *The Movie Dweeb*, Iwuji addressed the possibility of playing Brainiac in *Man of Tomorrow*. He initially said “no,” but then explained with a laugh that he’d absolutely take the role if director James Gunn asked him. He admitted that he’d seen the online buzz about him potentially playing the character – “I’m like the 12th person that’s mentioned it!” – and thought Brainiac seemed really cool. Iwuji clarified his initial response wasn’t a lie, but rather a way to avoid revealing he was previously under contract, which prevented him from discussing the possibility. He emphasized there’s currently no connection between him and the role, and he wasn’t being dishonest.

Could Chukwudi Iwuji Portray the DCU’s Brainiac?

Chukwudi Iwuji starred as Clemson Murn in Season 1 of *Peacemaker*. You might think this would stop him from playing another DC character, but that’s not necessarily true. While Murn is officially part of the DC Universe (DCU), James Gunn explained on *Peacemaker: The Official Podcast* that Murn’s appearance isn’t fixed. This is important because Season 1 of *Peacemaker* takes place within the DC Extended Universe. It could allow Iwuji to play a different character in the DCU in the future. This has happened before: Michael Rooker played Savant in *The Suicide Squad* and then a different character, Red St. Wild, in Season 2 of *Peacemaker*. Because *The Suicide Squad* is also DCU canon, there was likely another version of Savant in that universe, possibly with a different look than Rooker’s portrayal.

James Gunn often likes to work with actors he’s collaborated with before. We saw this with several stars from *Guardians of the Galaxy* appearing in *Superman*, showing he values those existing working relationships. Chukwudi Iwuji definitely fits that pattern, having played the villain High Evolutionary in *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*. That performance was highly acclaimed, and his character is considered one of the best villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Iwuji has already demonstrated he can convincingly play a smart, menacing villain, making him a great choice for a role like Brainiac.

While fans are excited about John Boyega potentially playing Brainiac, it’s important to remember a couple of things. First, Brainiac might not even appear in the upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* movie. James Gunn is keeping plot details under wraps, likely until *Peacemaker* Season 2 is released. Also, Gunn will probably consider many actors for the villainous role. Just like David Corenswet wasn’t initially considered for Superman but turned out to be perfect, someone unexpected could end up playing Brainiac. While Iwuji’s previous work with Gunn is a plus, it doesn’t guarantee he’ll get the part.

Brainiac hasn’t appeared in a live-action Superman movie yet, making him a potentially exciting choice as the villain in *Man of Tomorrow*. Featuring Brainiac would set this film apart from previous Superman stories and give a deserving classic enemy the attention he deserves. While some fans expect General Zod to return – following the Kryptonian invasion storyline from the earlier *Superman* film – Zod has already been a villain in several Superman movies. Though James Gunn could certainly bring Zod into the new DC Universe (like the many versions of Lex Luthor we’ve seen), introducing Brainiac with *Man of Tomorrow* would feel truly new and original for movie audiences.

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2025-09-28 19:11