Meet DC's New Brainiac: Lars Eidinger Joins James Gunn's Superman: Man of Tomorrow

Odd timing for a massive reveal, but here we are: James Gunn just tapped German actor Lars Eidinger to play Brainiac in his next Superman movie, Man of Tomorrow. Per Deadline, Gunn announced the casting on Instagram, saying their worldwide hunt for the character led them to Eidinger and welcoming him into the DCU. So yes, Brainiac is finally, actually happening in a live-action Superman film.

Brainiac finally enters the chat

If you know the comics, you know Brainiac is a hyper-intelligent villain obsessed with collecting knowledge (and sometimes cities) like trophies. Somehow, despite decades of Superman movies, he’s never made it into a live-action feature. Since 1978 we’ve had four Luthors, two Zods, and even a Doomsday, but zero Brainiac. Long overdue.

Man of Tomorrow will reportedly push Superman and Lex Luthor into a temporary, uneasy team-up to deal with a much bigger threat. Bet you can guess who that is. Gunn even teased Brainiac earlier this year when he posted the script’s title page — fans immediately started connecting dots.

Gunn on the story he’s telling

On The Howard Stern Show earlier this year, Gunn laid out the dynamic he’s aiming for — and did not undersell how central Lex is to the movie.

"It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that but. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I just love the script so much."

Also, do not be shocked if other villains show up. Brainiac may be the headline, but this thing could get crowded.

So who is Lars Eidinger?

He’s an acclaimed German actor you may have seen in Clouds of Sils Maria, Personal Shopper, or Persian Lessons. He’s an intense, chameleonic performer — not the obvious studio-safe pick for a giant comic-book villain, which makes the choice more interesting. If Gunn wants a cerebral, unnerving Brainiac, Eidinger can absolutely get weird with it.

What’s next on the DCU calendar?

The next DCU movie to actually hit theaters is Supergirl, landing June 26, 2026. Cast looks stacked, with a very specific vibe:

• Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) as Kara Zor-El
• Eve Ridley (3 Body Problem) as Ruthye
• Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone) as Krem of the Yellow Hill
• David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer) as Zor-El
• Emily Beecham (1899) as Alura
• Jason Momoa as Lobo — a role he’s been chasing for years

Brainiac finally hitting the big screen, Eidinger stepping into the role, and a Superman/Lex team-up at the center? Big swing. Are you into this pick for Brainiac, and which version of the character do you want to see Eidinger play?