As I put it forth back in 2023, now a new rumor claims Dave Bautista is being eyed to play Brainiac in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow.
The report comes from Jeff Sneider, adding another major name to the growing list of actors connected to the Superman sequel, which is said to include Matt Smith, Claes Bang, and Sam Rockwell.
Though yet to be officially confirmed, Brainiac was recently revealed as the film’s villain, and casting chatter has ramped up as the project moves toward production.
Bautista now joins a conversation that has already included the other rumored contenders.
Jeff Sneider fuels the casting talk
According to Sneider, Bautista’s name has come up in discussions surrounding Brainiac, and the actor is the frontrunner. Nothing is confirmed, and there’s no word on a deal.
But the fact that his name is now being floated suggests DC Studios is still weighing multiple directions for the character.
Bautista’s DC interest isn’t new
Bautista has talked in the past about wanting to play Bane. More recently, he said he felt he had aged out of the role and didn’t think he was the right fit anymore.
Even with Bane off the table, Bautista has also said he still wants to play a different DC character and has expressed interest in working with James Gunn again. That’s why this rumor stands out, especially with Gunn now steering the DCU.
Of course, Bautista played Drax in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy MCU movies.
Why Bautista as Brainiac could work
Brainiac doesn’t have to be a pure brawler.
The character is defined by intelligence, control, and menace. Bautista has leaned into more restrained, character-driven work in recent years, which could fit a colder, more imposing take on Brainiac.
As with the other rumored names, this is still in rumor territory.
Man of Tomorrow release info
Man of Tomorrow gets released in theaters on July 9, 2027, written and directed by James Gunn.
Starring includes David Corenswet as Superman, with Nicholas Hoult returning as Lex Luthor. The two team up to take on a much bigger threat.
