Superman 2: meet Lars Eidinger, actor who will play the villain Brainiac

The German actor Lars Eidinger was chosen to play the villain Brainiac em Superman: Man of Tomorrowthe continuation of Superman (2025). The announcement was made by James Gunndirector of the franchise, on social media.

“In our worldwide search for Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow, Lars Eidinger has risen to the top. Welcome to the DCU, Lars,” Gunn wrote.

Lars Eidinger became known after starring in Netflix productions. He acted in All the Light We Cannot See e Jay Kelly. The German is also recognized for his work in theater, cinema and television.

Operating since 2002, his best-rated works – according to the IMDb (Internet Movie Database) platform – are the series Babylon Berlin (2017 – 2025), Sadness Is an Evil Gas Inside of Me (2014) and the film Richard III (2015).

Who is Brainiac?

Brainiac is a villain from the DC universe, often presented as a threat to
Superman. He is portrayed as a cybernetic being, or alien android of superior intelligence.

Furthermore, Brainiac has an obsession with cataloging entire civilizations, which led him to miniaturize cities and preserve them in bottles.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow

The sequence of
Superman movie is scheduled to premiere on July 9, 2027. James Gunn described the film as being “as much a Lex Luthor film as it is a Superman film”.

The plot will focus on the two characters having to work together, to a certain extent, to face a much greater threat. The iconic antagonist Brainiac will be the main villain, played by German actor Lars Eidinger.

David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) reprise their roles.
James Gunn returns as screenwriter and director. Filming is scheduled to begin in April 2026.