Lars Eidinger cast as Brainiac in James Gunn’s 'Man Of Tomorrow'

German actor Lars Eidinger has been cast as Brainiac in James Gunn’s upcoming DC film Man Of Tomorrow, according to sources familiar with the production. The film is set within the new DC Universe overseen by Gunn and DC Studios co-head Peter Safran.

The role marks the first big-screen appearance of Brainiac, one of Superman’s most prominent adversaries from the comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino and first appeared in Action Comics #242.

Brainiac is typically portrayed as an advanced android from the planet Colu, driven by an obsession with collecting knowledge across the universe.

Man Of Tomorrow stars David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Details of the plot remain limited, but the story is expected to centre on a new galactic-level threat that forces Superman and Luthor into an uneasy alliance.

In the comics, Brainiac is known for shrinking entire cities and has been linked in various storylines to the destruction of Krypton, Superman’s home planet.

Gunn confirmed Eidinger’s casting in a post on Instagram, writing, “In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger rose to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars.” The director has previously stated that the film will introduce new elements to the DC Universe while drawing on established mythology.

Eidinger is an internationally recognised actor who has appeared in films including Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper, both directed by Olivier Assayas. He has also featured in Noah Baumbach’s Netflix productions Jay Kelly and White Noise.

In 2024, he received a European Film Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in Matthias Glasner’s Dying.

Production on Man Of Tomorrow is expected to begin in April, with a theatrical release scheduled for July 9 2027.

The film follows Gunn’s Superman, the first major release from the relaunched DC Studios, which grossed more than $616 million worldwide.