German actor Lars Eidinger has been officially cast as the super-intelligent antagonist Brainiac in James Gunn’s upcoming “Superman” installment, titled “Man of Tomorrow.” James Gunn himself confirmed this significant casting news in an Instagram post on Saturday morning, extending a welcome to Lars Eidinger to the DCU after a worldwide search for the formidable villain.

Brainiac is characterized as a hyperintelligent alien android with a tyrannical thirst for absolute knowledge of the universe. He is notoriously known for shrinking entire planets to add to his collection in glass jars or, if they do not meet his preferences, exterminating them outright. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino in 1958, “Man of Tomorrow” will mark the character’s first appearance in a major DC motion picture.

The film “Man of Tomorrow” is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. It will feature the return of stars David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult, who is expected to reprise his role. Gunn had previously revealed the release date back in September, sharing an intriguing photo of Lex Luthor and Superman appearing unusually chummy, which has led to speculation that the arch-enemies might team up to confront the new intergalactic threat posed by Brainiac.

Eidinger, known for his diverse acting career, most recently appeared in Noah Baumbach’s awards hopeful film “Jay Kelly.” His other recent film credits include “Dead Language,” “The Light,” and “Dying,” the latter of which received a nomination for best film at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. Eidinger is represented by UTA.

This upcoming project follows James Gunn’s successful directorial debut as DC Studios co-head with the initial “Superman” film. That film, released on July 11, grossed over $616 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing superhero film of 2025 and setting a high standard for the franchise’s future installments.