The DC Universe is heating up again, and this time it’s all about who will step into one of Superman’s most intriguing and unpredictable dynamics.
As James Gunn continues shaping the future of DC Studios, three rising stars are now in contention for a major role in the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow.
According to Deadline, Marisa Abela, Adria Arjona, and Ella Purnell have begun testing for the role of Maxima, a powerful and complicated character who will bring a whole new kind of energy to the franchise. But, not so fast!
Gunn shared his response to the news, taking to Threads to lash out at the report as “shoddy [and] incorrect,” the DC Studios co-CEO also described the story as “bullshit.”
He said: “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.”
Regardless, let’s talk about Maxima as she isn’t your typical comic book addition. Introduced in Action Comics #645 back in 1990 by Roger Stern and George Pérez, she’s the warrior queen of Almerac.
Her whole deal revolves around finding a worthy mate, and when she lands on Earth, she sets her sights directly on Superman. Depending on the story, she’s been everything from a villain to an ally to a romantic complication, which makes her a great wildcard for a film already juggling Brainiac and Lex Luthor.
Live-action fans have seen versions of Maxima before in shows like Smallville and Supergirl, played by Charlotte Sullivan and Eve Torres Gracie. But she’s never made the jump to the big screen, which gives Man of Tomorrow a chance to redefine her in a major way.
Whoever lands the role will join a returning lineup led by David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, with the two forced into an uneasy alliance against Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger.
Rachel Brosnahan, Skyler Gisondo, and Sara Sampaio are also expected to return, while Aaron Pierre joins the mix, likely continuing his role as John Stewart from Lanterns.
Gunn’s first Superman film laid the groundwork for the new DC Universe, pulling in over $618 million worldwide and setting the tone for what’s next. Man of Tomorrow is heading into production in Atlanta this April and locked for a July 9, 2027 release.
And if Maxima really is entering the picture, Superman’s life is about to get a lot more complicated in ways that go beyond just saving the world.
