Lars Eidinger cast as Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow
James Gunn casts German actor Lars Eidinger as Brainiac, the villain of Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, after a worldwide search.
In late December 2025, Man of Tomorrow found its villain. James Gunn announced that German actor Lars Eidinger would play Brainiac, the alien collector of worlds and one of Superman’s greatest foes.
What we know
Gunn shared the news on Instagram, saying Eidinger had come out on top of a worldwide search. Eidinger is best known for his stage work in Berlin and for screen roles including Personal Shopper and HBO’s Irma Vep.
The announcement confirmed what Gunn had hinted at since September: Superman and Lex Luthor would be forced into an alliance, and Brainiac was the threat big enough to make that happen.
Why it matters
Brainiac has long been a fan favourite who never quite got his due on the big screen. In the comics (who is Brainiac?), he shrank and bottled the Kryptonian city of Kandor, which links him to Superman’s lost home. See our Superman villains guide for his history, Krypton explained for Kandor, and our Man of Tomorrow guide for the latest.
From the archive: written in November 2026 from the original reporting linked below.
Questions
Who plays Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow?
Lars Eidinger, a German actor cast by James Gunn in December 2025.
Who is Brainiac?
A Superman villain from the comics: an alien intelligence that collects and shrinks cities, including Kandor from Krypton.
Original reporting
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