Matthew Lillard Teases His Mysterious MAN OF TOMORROW Role as "A Very James Gunn Moment"
Matthew Lillard is joining the DCU in James Gunn's upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, but fans trying to figure out who he's playing might be looking in the wrong place. The actor recently dropped an interesting clue about his mystery character, suggesting he might not be someone pulled from DC Comics at all.
Lillard, who previously worked with Gunn on the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, has been the subject of plenty of fan theories since his casting was announced.
One early rumor had him playing an older version of Barry Allen, though that was eventually debunked. More recently, speculation has pointed to King Faraday, a DC Comics character with some interesting connections to a potential future storyline.
Faraday has a significant role in Darwyn Cooke's acclaimed DC: The New Frontier, where he investigates a mysterious entity known as The Centre and crosses paths with Martian Manhunter. Although initially distrustful of superheroes, Faraday eventually helps the Justice League take on the dangerous threat.
With some fans theorizing that The Centre could become a major villain in Gunn's DCU, the Faraday casting theory seemed like a reasonable possibility.
However, Lillard's latest comments suggest fans may be getting a little too carried away with their comic book detective work.
During an interview with The Direct, Lillard offered this amusing tease about his character: "It's a very James Gunn moment. So, I wouldn't worry too much about finding him in the comics."
That's an interesting way to describe the role, especially considering Gunn's habit of introducing strange, funny, and unexpected characters into his superhero projects.
It sounds like Lillard could be playing an original character created specifically for the film rather than an established DC Comics figure. Knowing Gunn's sense of humor, it wouldn't be surprising if the actor's appearance turns out to be a memorable comedic scene.
There are a few additional clues about his involvement. Previous reports have suggested that Lillard's character will have a biracial family and share scenes with Jimmy Olsen, Cat Grant, and Perry White. Those connections point toward The Daily Planet, though exactly how his character fits into the story remains a mystery.
Of course, there's also the possibility that Lillard is intentionally throwing fans off. Gunn knows people love picking apart every casting announcement for clues, and keeping certain surprises under wraps is part of the fun.
As for the actual story, Man of Tomorrow will see Superman forced into an unlikely alliance with his longtime enemy Lex Luthor. The two will have to work together to stop Brainiac, an incredibly dangerous threat that puts Metropolis and the rest of the world at risk.
David Corenswet returns as Clark Kent/Superman alongside Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, with Lars Eidinger joining the DCU as Brainiac.
The cast also includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Milly Alcock as Supergirl.
Andre Royo, Sinqua Walls, and Adria Arjona are also joining the film in undisclosed roles. Arjona has been rumored to be playing Wonder Woman, while Eva De Dominici has also been mentioned in speculation surrounding Maxima. Nothing has been confirmed on that front.
With Gunn writing and directing, Man of Tomorrow is bringing together an impressive collection of DC characters, and Lillard's involvement adds another fun mystery to the mix.
Personally, I'd love to see Gunn give Lillard something completely unexpected. The two have a history together, and Lillard has the kind of comedic personality that I’d love to see a lot of in the DCU.
Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9, 2027.