James Gunn Addresses Casting Rumors for Superman Sequel
By Published Apr 8, 2026, 11:47 AM EDT Andy Behbakht has worked as an entertainment journalist since 2010, covering all the latest in Hollywood on both the big and small screens, from staying on top of the biggest breaking news, analyzing movies and television shows in Hollywood, to in-depth interviews with actors and storytellers.
Andy's career includes having worked for publications such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It's Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more. Outside of his career as an established reporter, Andy is the host and producer of The Showrunner Whisperer, The Flash Podcast, the editor-in-chief of Multiverse of Color, and the network director of DC TV Podcasts. follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
UPDATE: 2026/04/08 12:14 EST BY ANDY BEHBAKHT
James Gunn Addresses Maxima Casting Reports
Following Deadline's original report, has responded on Threads, stating the following:
"This is not against Nexus - they're sharing what Deadline reported - but Deadline's reporting is shoddy & incorrect. I've always thought Deadline was pretty thorough in their journalism but that's not the case here so I'm frankly disappointed. If someone would have run these names by us we would have said it's bullshit. I've been friends with Adria a long time since I cast her in the Belko Experiment. I'm a fan of both Marisa and Ella but I've never met either of them. Crazy."
is closing in on casting the next major player in the .
Deadline reports that Marisa Abela, Adria Arjona, and Ella Purnell have tested for a major female role in James Gunn's Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow, as the role is reportedly for DC's Maxima. Arjona has, for the longest time, been a star many have wanted to see join the DCU, especially for the role of Wonder Woman. However, Diana Prince will not be in the 2027 installment, nor will Batman, as Gunn has previously debunked multiple rumors about them.
Nexus Point News was the first to reveal in January 2026 that Maxima was being eyed to join as a secondary antagonist. The film will focus on David Corenswet's Superman and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor joining forces as they take on a new threat together in the form of DC's Brainiac. Per Deadline, Purnell, Arjona, and Abela tested last week.
With Maxima's DCU arrival seemingly confirmed, this will mark the character's first time being used in a live-action movie, as past DC projects on the big screen have never explored her. However, she has had a handful of appearances in the world of television, through Smallville, and Supergirl, played by Charlotte Sullivan and Eve Torres Gracie, respectively.
Man of Tomorrow is set to start principal photography this spring, as several DCU players are confirmed to return, including those from . Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo's Jimmy Olsen, and Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. are set for the 2027 entry, along with Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl.
Aaron Pierre, who will bring , was confirmed to make his DCU film debut with Man of Tomorrow in March 2026, showing that DC Studios is already tapping into crossovers between the big and small screens. Filming will be taking place in Atlanta and will run throughout the summer, with the new Supergirl movie coming out in June.
Previously, Gunn confirmed that they were casting for a new female character when were floating around. On January 18, 2026, he responded to a user on Threads, "No. We are currently casting a female character in MoT. My only guess is scoopers are taking a stab at guessing that's WW." Since filming is set to begin this month, more updates are bound to come sooner rather than later on who else may or may not be joining the Man of Tomorrow cast.
Man of Tomorrow opens in theaters on July 9, 2027.
Cast
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Superman -
Nicholas Hoult Lex Luthor -
Rachel Brosnahan Lois Lane -
Lars Eidinger Brainiac
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