James Gunn Teases Which Version of Brainiac We’ll See in the DCU

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After much anticipation, Brainiac is officially joining the DC Universe in the upcoming film, Man of Tomorrow. Director James Gunn revealed this weekend that Lars Eidinger will play the famous villain, a choice that’s already exciting fans. Now that the casting is known, discussions are turning to how this version of Brainiac will compare to the character’s long history in comics – he’s been around since the late 1950s, and Gunn seems committed to exploring all facets of the character.

Someone on Threads asked James Gunn which version of Brainiac inspired his take in Man of Tomorrow. Gunn replied that he drew inspiration from many different versions of the character, including those from the 1950s by Otto Binder, the frightening versions by Marv Wolfman, various animated series, and the more recent, impressively unsettling ‘Absolute Brainiac’ interpretation.

Man of Tomorrow‘s Brainiac Should Be a Well-Rounded, Intimidating Villain

James Gunn has indicated that the Brainiac we’ll see in the movie won’t be based on just one version of the character, but rather a blend of different interpretations from over the years. This is a great approach, as Brainiac has changed a lot since his first appearance, and there’s plenty of source material to work with. The challenge will be combining these different elements into a Brainiac that feels fresh and unique for the DC Universe, but Gunn has a strong track record of successfully bringing comic book characters to life on screen.

When it was announced that Superman and Lex Luthor would team up in Man of Tomorrow, fans expected a truly powerful and dangerous villain to be the reason. Brainiac seems perfect for that role. He’s always been incredibly intelligent, with a habit of collecting cities from different planets, but he’s become even more frightening in recent versions. Some comic book readers find the character genuinely horrifying, like a villain from a scary movie, and a reimagining from the 1980s made him a truly monstrous threat. This means Brainiac will not only be a clever and challenging enemy, able to match our heroes intellectually, but also a genuinely terrifying presence.

The comic series Absolute Universe, released late last year, features Brainiac and Ra’s al Ghul working together while disguised as an AI company. While Ra’s al Ghul probably won’t appear in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow film, some of the story’s themes about the potential dangers of AI – a growing part of modern life and business – could be included. James Gunn may also be drawing inspiration from other Superman stories, like the “House of Brainiac” arc, which pits Superman and Lex Luthor against Brainiac and the Brainiac Queen.

A compelling villain can make or break a story, and that’s especially true for the upcoming film, Man of Tomorrow. Brainiac is a classic Superman foe, and fans are excited to finally see him as the central villain in a live-action movie. Director James Gunn clearly understands the character’s power and plans to show audiences why Brainiac has been such a formidable enemy for so long. While Nicholas Hoult set a high bar with his portrayal of Lex Luthor, Peter Eidinger’s Brainiac is expected to be a strong and worthy adversary.

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2025-12-21 17:47