DC Studios
Despite Superman just releasing back in July, DC Studios has fast-tracked its sequel, Man of Tomorrow, with production likely to begin next year.
Scheduled to release on July 9, 2027, Man of Tomorrow will see Superman and Lex Luthor team up to defeat an otherworldly threat in Brainiac.
While Brainiac is one of the most iconic Superman villains ever created, the character has never appeared in a live action project, making this the first time that the pat has been performed beyond a voice role, thus making the casting process of the utmost importance.
Three actors are reportedly on a “shortlist” to play Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow: Claes Bang, Matt Smith and Sam Rockwell
According to recent reports, three actors are now on the “shortlist” to play Brainiac, including an Academy Award winner: Claes Bang, Matt Smith, and Sam Rockwell.
“Sources tell Nexus Point News that Claes Bang, Matt Smith, and Sam Rockwell are among those on the shortlist for the highly anticipated Superman antagonist. However, we should note that some of the names we have mentioned have not been independently verified fully, as casting remains ongoing and no offers have been made. One piece of information told to NPN was budget restrictions at DC Studios may prevent certain desirable names to be cast.”
Claes Bang (BBC) / Matt Smith (HBO) / Sam Rockwell (HBO)
That list of names is eclectic for a wide variety of reasons, perhaps the most notable of which is the fact that the actors are from three different countries and therefore have three different accents: Bang is Danish, Smith is English and Rockwell, the Oscar winner of the bunch, is American.
Bang, the Dane, is best known for starring in The Square, BBC’s Dracula series, and playing the antagonist in Robert Eggers’ The Northman, while Smith you likely recognize from House of the Dragon, Last Night in Soho, Doctor Who, The Crown, Morbius and the recent Caught Stealing.
Superman, directed by James Gunn — who is also the co-head of DC Studios — was the hit that the DCU needed to get the franchise kickstarted, as it grossed over $616 million at the global box office and was widely received by both critics and fans alike, especially as it related to the casting of the key characters: David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, all of whom will be returning for Man of Tomorrow.