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On Threads, Gunn quoted a post relaying reports purporting that Gunn’s old Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista is the frontrunner to play Brainiac in the DC Universe. “Oh boy. Let’s forget a moment I’ve never said Brainiac was in the movie,” Gunn began his response. “I freaking love [Dave Bautista] & I have many ideas for who he could play in the DCU. But he & I have never discussed a role in Man of Tomorrow, nor have we discussed it amongst ourselves at DC. In addition, truly, NONE of the names, from the six or seven I’ve seen rumored for a role, have auditioned or been discussed at all.”
Gunn continued in a separate post, “In general I’m just letting the silly rumors go – and this is certainly not the silliest I’ve heard recently – but Dave is a friend and that makes it more irritating.”
Dave Bautista Could Be a Great Brainiac in Man of Tomorrow (but Will It Happen?)
There’s a lot to unpack in Gunn’s comments, starting with his carefully worded response to the initial reports claiming Brainiac will be in Man of Tomorrow in the first place. While that was something fans were anticipating, it’s true that Gunn himself has not officially confirmed (nor denied) Brainiac’s role in the film. A month ago, industry trades reported Brainiac would be Man of Tomorrow‘s villain, so the information was coming from a reliable source. Gunn seemingly didn’t comment on the original Brainiac reports, which probably led many to believe there was truth to them. Gunn frequently addresses rumors and speculation about upcoming projects on social media, debunking any misinformation so fans can adjust their expectations accordingly.
It still stands reason to believe Brainiac is the Man of Tomorrow villain. He’s a powerful enough threat that his presence would require Superman and Lex Luthor to join forces and find a way to defeat him. The DCU could also be laying some groundwork for Brainiac in next summer’s Supergirl, which will feature sequences depicting the destruction of Krypton. In some comics, Brainiac himself is responsible for the planet’s end, as the removal of the city of Kandor causes the core to destabilize. If Supergirl pulls from that source material, the film could establish Brainiac and tease a larger role down the line. Gunn may not have publicly commented on Brainiac because he’s waiting to cast the role to make the announcement, or he’s waiting until production begins in the spring to peel back the curtain. Fans shouldn’t necessarily read Gunn’s post as confirmation Brainiac is not in the movie.
