During the latest episode of my new show Total Rewind, Chukwudi Iwuji was his usual charming, candid self, and, as always, a little mischievous. When I asked him whether he could see himself taking on the role of Brainiac in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, Chuk paused, grinned, and gave an answer that would send DC fans into meltdown.
“No, as in could I see – I answered that wrong,” he laughed. “Could I see myself doing it? If James picked up the phone and called me, absolutely. Is it a cool role? You’re like the twelfth person that’s mentioned it, so I obviously went online and looked at it and went, ‘Oh wow, this guy is cool.’”
Then, in classic Chuk fashion, he doubled back to clarify. “There’s absolutely no links whatsoever to Brainiac. And I’m not lying.” He admitted he’d had to fib to me before about his role as the High Evolutionary (“I was under contract! They’d have arrested me!”), but he swore this time he wasn’t playing coy. Still… the way he smiled said everything.
He even joked that if something as “cool as that” did happen, he’d take me and my wife out for as many dinners as we wanted. “Name your price,” he laughed. “A nice dinner on me.” So no, Chukwudi hasn’t been cast as Brainiac yet… But he’s absolutely manifesting it. And I, for one, am already picking out the lobster place.
What We Know About Superman: Man of Tomorrow
James Gunn’s highly anticipated follow-up to Superman has been officially titled Superman: Man of Tomorrow, and it hits theatres on July 9, 2027. The announcement, dropped casually by Gunn on social media (as he loves to do), came with teaser art from DC legends Jim Lee, Jorge Jiménez, and Mitch Gerads showing Superman and Lex Luthor in a very different light.
Plot details are under wraps, but the art suggests a major shift: Superman and Lex Luthor aren’t just rivals, they might actually be working together. The images show the pair back-to-back, Luthor in his green-and-purple power suit, and Supes looking oddly comfortable with a screwdriver in hand, as though he’s helping Lex build his own gear.
Fans are speculating wildly about the villain who could force such an alliance. General Zod? Doomsday? Or, the one we’re all hoping for, Brainiac, the cybernetic collector of worlds and one of Superman’s most formidable foes. Gunn hasn’t confirmed it outright, but his tweet teasing the Man of Tomorrow script featured an anatomical drawing of a brain. Subtle, James. Very subtle.
What’s clear is that Gunn isn’t making a straightforward sequel. Much like The Dark Knight took Batman beyond his origin, Man of Tomorrow looks set to reframe Superman’s story, turning the focus onto how the Man of Steel and Lex Luthor define humanity’s future, together or apart.
Chukwudi Iwuji and James Gunn: From Butterflies to Brains
If Chukwudi did get the call to play Brainiac, it would mark his third collaboration with James Gunn, and his track record speaks for itself. The pair first teamed up on Peacemaker, where Chukwudi played Clemson Murn, the enigmatic ARGUS leader hiding a shocking secret: he was possessed by an alien butterfly, trying to redeem himself through one last mission. It was a layered, empathetic performance that grounded the show’s absurdity.
Then came the big one: The High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Chukwudi’s performance as the brilliant, deranged villain was hailed as one of the MCU’s best; operatic, terrifying, and heartbreakingly human. It cemented him as one of James Gunn’s go-to actors for characters who straddle the line between genius and madness.
Whether or not it happens, Chukwudi’s history with Gunn makes him one of the most credible (and exciting) candidates to bring the long-awaited villain to life on the big screen.
Total Rewind: Where Actors Spill the Truth (and Theories)
All of this went down on Total Rewind, my new long-form series where guests walk through the movies that shaped them, from guilty pleasures to career-defining moments. It’s a relaxed, playful format designed to get actors out of junket mode and into a real conversation.
The show has already featured stars like Chukwudi Iwuji, with more episodes on the way. Each one blends nostalgia with a peek behind the curtain of their current projects. It’s the kind of space where big casting “what ifs” can happen, like manifesting Chukwudi Iwuji as Brainiac over coffee and VHS tapes.
And if Gunn does make the call? You can bet the first round of nachos (or lobster) will be on Chukwudi. I’ve got it on tape.
For more superhero fan-casting chaos and behind-the-scenes stories, subscribe to The Movie Dweeb on YouTube, TikTok, and wherever cosmic dinners are negotiated.
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