As soon as Superman became a hit in the summer of 2025, the expectations for the sequel were huge. As many speculated, Man of Tomorrow will feature Superman and Lex Luthor as they are forced to team up to face the threat of the alien conqueror Brainac. That, naturally, led to a lot of speculation about who would play this iconic foe in the DC Universe.
While big names like Matt Smith had been thrown about, James Gunn has now officially confirmed the choice of German actor Lars Eidinger in the role. That, of course, has many curious about the star. However, that may be the key reason behind the casting and why it can work so well.
First, Gunn has already shown he prefers casting who he thinks is right for a role rather than a huge A-lister. See David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane or Milly Alcock as Supergirl. Gunn isn't looking at box office potential so much as the actors capable of handling the emotional drama along with the big fights.
Too often, a famous name in a big role can do more harm than good, with their current roles often judged by their past ones. Gunn didn’t want audiences distracted by a big name in the complex makeup, he wanted someone who could convincingly bring Braniac’s evil to life. And in Eidinger, he appears to have found it.
Why Eidinger is a great choice for Brainac
Rising up in German theater, Eidinger started earning praise for his performances in Hamlet and Richard III. He got his first big break starring in the drama Clouds of Sils Maria opposite Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche. He then gained more recognition for starring in the hit neo-noir thriller Babylon Berlin, which became a Netflix sensation.
Eidinger showed how well he could play a villain with his turn as a Nazi officer in the Netflix drama All the Light We Cannot See. He’s also known for his work as a musician and DJ with some wild music videos and interviews where he acknowledges his confident demeanor but takes his acting seriously. At the age of 50, he also has the gravitas for the role of an alien monster who shrinks cities into bottles.
Put it all together and Eidinger has proven he can handle complex roles that often require plenty of talking. He also knows about taking on dark roles with complexity. His Nazi character in All the Light rose above a cliché, adding some nuance to the character. Anyone who’s seen Eidinger perform knows his voice can shift from deep to high-pitched, capturing Brainac’s tendency to change up his emotions.
There is no doubt about it that Eidinger should be able to handle the makeup/CGI for the alien monster and hold his own against Superman and Luthor. It’s an out-of-left-field choice yet Gunn clearly sees something in this actor to play Brainiac. We have to wait to see it unfold but this indicates the next big bad for the DCU is going to be an epic one.
Superman is streaming on HBO Max. Man of Tomorrow arrives in movie theaters on July 9, 2027.