Superman 2: How Lars Eidinger’s Shakespearean Take Could Make Brainiac the DCU’s Most Unforgettable Villain

When James Gunn announced a celebrated German stage actor as Superman’s next big threat, plenty of fans did a double take. Months later, the choice looks smarter than ever. Lars Eidinger isn’t treating Man of Tomorrow as a paycheck. He’s treating it like theater.

Why Brainiac, and Why Now?

Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to 2025’s Superman, is confirmed for July 9, 2027. It will be the first time Brainiac appears in a live-action film. The alien android from Colu is dangerous enough to push Superman into an uneasy alliance with his sworn enemy, Lex Luthor.

Superman 2: Overview

The Actor Who Sees Art in Capes

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lars Eidinger said superhero films carry serious philosophical ambition and real allegorical weight. He pointed out that “super” simply means “above,” linking Superman to the idea of the Übermensch and even the psychological “Super Ego.”

Then came the line fans are quoting: watching an actor in the Superman suit hang from wires in front of a bluescreen struck him as an image as iconic as Hamlet holding the skull. That is not how most actors talk about a cape movie, and it signals how deeply he’s thinking about the role.

From Hamlet to Brainiac

Eidinger earned international acclaim as Hamlet in Thomas Ostermeier’s Schaubühne production, and he says that theatrical background helps him a lot here. Brainiac, described as the incarnation of Satan, strikes him as “almost Shakespearean.” He also notes that the genre’s heightened style allows a more expressive performance than strict realism.

An Audition Worth Talking About

His dedication began before he even had the job. Eidinger reportedly recorded his self-tape 15 times before submitting it. Gunn and DC Studios then flew him to Atlanta for an in-person callback, and he watched Superman on the flight to get in the right headspace. Once there, he went through a full-body 3D scan and two hours in the makeup chair. The Brainiac mask was kept so secret that he was reportedly escorted across the lot under an umbrella so nobody could photograph it.

Hoult vs. Eidinger: Two Very Different Approaches

Nicholas Hoult also took his Lex Luthor seriously, reading comics and books to understand the character physically and emotionally, and studying earlier performances, including praising Michael Rosenbaum’s Smallville take. Where Hoult built Lex from comics, Eidinger approaches Brainiac from the stage. That contrast makes their on-screen clash all the more exciting.

What to Watch For?

Expect more set photos, teaser footage and details on how Superman, Lex and Brainiac collide. Man of Tomorrow has reportedly completed production, so marketing should ramp up soon.

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