Written By Kieran Bugg • U.K. Editor
Man of Steel 2‘s rumored foe could find new life in DC Studios‘ reboot. However, what would seem like an exciting idea will again face the chainsaws of a polarized DC fandom. On October 26, 2022, we exclusively broke the story that Brainiac would face Henry Cavill‘s Superman in Man of Steel 2.
In December 2022, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Brainiac was Man of Steel 2‘s Big Bad.
Scoop confirmed.
Unfortunately, the key word is was.
After all, new DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn cancelled Man of Steel 2. Then replaced him with the younger David Corenswet.
Man Of Steel 2 Foe Could Find New Life In DC Reboot
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
Thus, it took Brainiac with it. Or so we thought. Brainiac may now be the main villain of James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy.
Since making his feature film debut back in 1978, Superman has so far appeared in nine live-action DC movies. Not including his infamous cameos in Shazam! and The Flash or the 2017 theatrical cut of Justice League which we’re all still trying to forget even happened.
Throughout his 45 years in the cinema, the Man of Steel has faced off with several of his classic comic-book foes. Lex Luthor is unsurprisingly being the most prominent. No surprise as he’s universally regarded as Superman’s arch enemy.
In addition, Superman has also gone toe-to-toe with the likes General Zod, Doomsday and other lesser-known rivals like Nuclear Man.
However, there’s one other villain from the hero’s rogues gallery who fans feel deserves to appear as the main antagonist in a future Superman movie.
Of course, I’m talking about Brainiac.
Originally, Brainiac, along with the reality-warping Mr. Mxyzptlk, were planned to be the villains of Christopher Reeve’s Superman III.
Moreover, actor Richard Pryor was considered to portray an extra-terrestrial kleptomaniac before it was decided that he would instead play bumbling computer genius Gus Gorman. Director Zack Snyder revealed that he had intentions to introduce Brainiac into the DCEU in a potential sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel.
Unfortunately, these plans fell through when Gunn announced his own Superman reboot after taking charge of DC. Nonetheless, Brainiac has made two live-action appearances over the years on the DC TV shows Smallville and Krypton.
Albeit fans are still hoping to see him and Superman come to blows on the big screen given the personal history between the two. If Gunn decides to utilize Brainiac in Superman: Legacy, it’s almost like twisting the knife in a broken heart.
Not only did he pound the last nail in the SnyderVerse coffin and rejected Cavill, it’s like he’s doing his own version of Man of Steel 2. Although the plot (we assume) is different, the optics define cringe.
Man Of Steel 2 Foe Could Find New Life In DC Reboot
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
Corenswet already resembles a young Cavill. Now Brainiac is in it, too? What was the purpose of the reboot then?
The official Twitter page for Superman recently posted an assortment of various comic books that have been recommended to fans before the release of Superman: Legacy.
They include Brainiac.
Furthermore, Gunn previously stated that the film will be heavily influenced by the All-Star Superman comic book series.
This story is one of the comics that the social media page also recommended and seemingly points to Brainiac being the first major threat to Corenswet’s Superman.
Sutton appeared on the YouTube program KnightShift with Skiiwalker Tha Jedi on July 31 to discuss Brainiac’s potential DCU debut. The concern is that Gunn will portray the character as a goofball. His track record at DC thus far doesn’t provide much comfort. The Suicide Squad and its Peacemaker spinoff transformed serious DC characters such as the Vigilante and Judomaster into high-school jokes.
Given his executive freedom, what could he do to Brainiac now?