The One Batman Star James Gunn Must Cast as Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow
With James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow looming and Brainiac locked in as the villain, fans on X have a runaway favorite to play him: Michael C. Hall, the Dexter star they say nails the character’s icy menace.
So James Gunn is cooking up Man of Tomorrow with Brainiac locked in as the main villain, and the internet already has its dream casting. Honestly, I get it.
Fans are rallying around Michael C. Hall for Brainiac
Once Brainiac was confirmed for Man of Tomorrow, a corner of X made its case loud and clear: give the role to Michael C. Hall, aka Dexter. One post from Unc (@JEST0Z) on November 13, 2025 has been doing the rounds and pretty much sums up the campaign:
"Time to continue pushing the agenda"
It is not a random pick. Hall has the voice, the presence, and a track record that lines up with a cold, hyper-rational cosmic intellect.
Yes, Hall has already been Batman (sort of)
Back in 2015, Hall voiced Batman in the animated film Justice League: Gods and Monsters from Warner Bros. Animation. It is an alternate universe take where Batman is Kirk Langstrom, not Bruce Wayne. He only did the one movie, but that low, steady delivery gave the character real heft, and DC animation fans noticed. It also means Hall has already lived in DC world once, which never hurts when you are stepping into a major villain like Brainiac.
Why this casting actually makes sense
- Dexter Morgan gave Hall years of practice playing someone cool, clinical, and emotionally compartmentalized. That is Brainiac energy.
- His voice can go ice-cold without becoming robotic, which is perfect for a villain who thinks 12 moves ahead while barely raising his pulse.
- As David Fisher in Six Feet Under, Hall locked into intelligence, meticulous routines, and a brain-first worldview.
- He is good at characters who are complex and conflicted, which gives a calculating villain like Brainiac some depth beyond just "alien computer menace."
The pitch, in plain terms
Fans are not just fantasy-casting for fun; they are pointing to a guy who has already nailed the exact vibes Brainiac needs. If Gunn is looking for a calm, surgical kind of threat instead of a shouty CG monster, Hall is a clean fit.
Man of Tomorrow is currently expected to hit U.S. theaters on July 8, 2027.