James Gunn has cast his brother Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord in the new DC Cinematic Universe that’s being built. The last live-action version of this character was played by Pedro Pascal in Wonder Woman 1984.
Lord will first be “referenced” in Superman: Legacy, which is the film that will kick off the new DCU. The character is then set to appear in other DC projects that are made, we just don’t know which one. With the character being cast now, I assume the “reference” will be a brief cameo appearance in Superman: Legacy.
Maxwell Lord first debuted in 1987’s Justice League #1 created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire. The character is known for his complex and often morally ambiguous role in the DC Universe. Initially portrayed as a charismatic and wealthy businessman, Lord later reveals a darker side as he becomes a manipulative and cunning adversary.
One of Lord’s notable storylines involves his control over the superhero community through the creation of the OMACs (Observational Metahuman Activity Constructs). Maxwell Lord is also associated with the Justice League and has been both an ally and a foe to its members, with his telepathic abilities and strategic mind making him a formidable adversary.
Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica, aka The Engineer.
It was also recently announced that Sara Sampaio, the Portuguese Victoria’s Secret model, has been cast as Eve Teschmacher, the assistant and sometimes mistress to the scheming villain Lex Luthor. Teschmacher is a character who made her debut in Richard Donner’s Superman and was played by Valerie Perrine.
Superman: Legacy will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
Superman: Legacy will launch the movie part of DC Studios’ Gods and Monsters: Part 1. It’s scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11, 2025.
Source: Deadline
