Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts, who stars in James Gunn’s upcoming Supergirl as the villain, has been convicted in Belgium for driving without a valid license.
The ruling adds yet another legal problem to the actor’s record, raising questions about how this could impact Gunn’s DCU rollout.
Six Months in Prison, One-Year Driving Ban
According to VRT, Schoenaerts was sentenced in absentia (not showing up) by the police court in Beringen to:
- 6 months’ imprisonment
- €4,000 fine
- A one-year driving ban
- Mandatory retaking of all driving exams and recovery tests
Despite the sentence, he won’t be jailed immediately. Schoenaerts still has the option to appeal.
Repeated Offenses
The conviction stems from two separate incidents — April 5 and April 21, 2024 — when police stopped him riding a motorbike without a valid licence.
Schoenaerts had already been banned from driving in 2021 after a drug-related offense and failed to complete the required retesting.
This isn’t an isolated problem. VRT reports Schoenaerts has 11 prior convictions in police court.
Not Related to Last Week’s Arrest
The ruling also does not cover his arrest last week, when he was again stopped in Pelt, allegedly refused a breathalyzer test, and still wasn’t carrying a valid licence.
Officers described him as “uncooperative.”
That incident is expected to result in a separate case.
Possible Impact on the DCU
Schoenaerts plays the villain in Supergirl, which Gunn is actively promoting. With the movie already dealing with tone concerns and fan skepticism, this kind of headline isn’t the attention Warner Bros. wants.
Supergirl also gets released June 26, 2026, which could land in that 6-month timeframe, meaning the film’s major villain wouldn’t be available to promote the movie or for the press tour.
This also comes ahead of this weekend’s CCXP where the first Supergirl is expected to drop.
Release info
Supergirl stars Mily Alock. The film is directed by Craig Gillespie. Jason Momoa also stars as Lobo. Schoenaert stars as Krem of the Yellow Hills.
