The balance of power in the DC Universe is shifting. James Gunn’s new DC Universe (DCU) will feature Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger, as the main villain in Man of Tomorrow. This marks a move away from the classic, well-known supervillains and towards a more formidable and dangerous enemy.
Deadline reported that Michael Eidinger’s Brainiac will be the main villain in the upcoming Superman sequel, battling David Corenswet’s Superman. However, Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult) won’t be completely sidelined. Lex has always been powerful due to his wealth, intelligence, and connections, but Brainiac is different – he possesses immense cosmic power that doesn’t rely on manipulation or strategy. Brainiac’s power is likely to be far beyond anything Lex Luthor is used to dealing with.
As a huge fan of what James Gunn is building with the DCU, it was clear from the start he wanted things to get bigger and bolder, both in terms of the stories and the action. Now, with Man of Tomorrow, it feels like we’re reaching a point of no return – a major turning point where everything is about to change in a huge way. It’s exciting and a little scary, honestly!
How Will Brainiac Change the Entire DCU Power Scale in Superman 2?
Brainiac is a truly unique villain in the Superman universe. He’s not simply a bad guy, but a threat to the entire planet, driven by a chillingly logical mind. Usually depicted as an incredibly intelligent alien artificial intelligence, Brainiac collects entire cities – shrinking them down and keeping them as prizes. What sets him apart from other villains is his motivation: he doesn’t want to cause destruction or get revenge, he strives for perfect efficiency.
Lex Luthor is known for his brilliant mind, but Brainiac is far more dangerous. He combines incredible intelligence with immense strength, futuristic technology, and a complete lack of empathy. Unlike Luthor, who tries to outsmart his opponents, Brainiac simply destroys everything in his path. And while Luthor often debates Superman’s ideals, Brainiac threatens Superman’s very reason for existing.
This doesn’t change the fact that Lex Luthor is a formidable opponent. For years, he’s been Superman’s greatest enemy, not through physical strength, but by being smarter and more manipulative than anyone else.
Lex Luthor doesn’t rely on superpowers; he’s powerful because he controls companies, governments, and what people think. He’s a threat because he’s a master of systems and knows how to use them to his advantage. However, when Brainiac launches a world-ending attack, Lex’s usual methods aren’t enough. This is what will probably push Lex and Superman to work together and face a danger bigger than either of them.
Lex Luthor and Brainiac aren’t the only powerful villains James Gunn has planned for the DC Universe. Here are four other incredibly strong foes we’ve already seen hints of.
Other Extremely Powerful DCU Villains Introduced So Far
Ultraman
Ultraman, a sinister duplicate of Superman created by Lex Luthor and portrayed by David Corenswet, embodies unrestrained power without any ethical boundaries. Unlike Superman, who is known for his self-control and empathy, Ultraman lacks both. Though he possesses strength comparable to the Man of Steel, he’s less seasoned and completely controlled by another. Combined with his Kryptonian abilities, this makes him an incredibly dangerous force within the DC Universe, especially because he has no sense of right or wrong.
The Engineer
Angela Spica, also known as the Engineer (played by María Gabriela de Faría), possesses incredible powers thanks to nanotechnology. Her body is essentially made of liquid machines, allowing her to quickly change and adapt to any danger. She doesn’t just fight her enemies – she evolves faster than they can, constantly becoming more dangerous. She can form weapons from the tiny machines within her and even used them to almost overpower Superman. The more she fights and learns, the more powerful she becomes.
Circe
Circe, a powerful and seemingly immortal sorceress recently appearing in the Creature Commandos animated series (played by Anya Chalotra), isn’t a threat because of physical strength, but because she can alter reality itself. She’s similar to Wanda Maximoff in the DC Universe – her spells, curses, and transformations can’t be overcome with just brute force, even from someone as strong as Superman. Magic is proving to be one of the most unpredictable and dangerous elements in the DCU, and currently, the heroes don’t have the tools to effectively combat it.
Eric Frankenstein
Eric Frankenstein, played by David Harbour, is a terrifying creature built from body parts taken from graveyards and slaughterhouses. He’s dangerous and lacks a sense of right and wrong. Though possessing a strange mix of childlike qualities, intelligence, and incredible strength, he’s the creation of a scientist who went too far. This combination of power and instability makes him a deadly force, particularly when teamed with a villain like Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo).
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2026-01-28 16:05