Sean Gunn Promises a Fresh Take on Maxwell Lord in DC Studios’ DCU
As James Gunn reshapes the DC Universe, one familiar face is stepping into a key role… Sean Gunn, who will play Maxwell Lord in the upcoming DC Studios DCU.
While Pedro Pascal brought the character to life in Wonder Woman 1984 as a flamboyant, morally ambiguous villain, Sean Gunn’s version will diverge significantly and be more in line with the comic book portrayal.
Sean, known for his performances in The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy, is no stranger to James Gunn’s projects.
Fans have already seen him as Weasel and G.I. Robot in Creature Commandos, and now, he’s preparing to tackle Maxwell Lord in a new way.
Unlike Pascal’s interpretation, which leaned heavily into 1980s excess and charisma, Gunn aims for a fresh take on the iconic antagonist.
Speaking in a recent interview, Sean Gunn emphasized the differences between his portrayal and Pascal’s. Gunn explained:
"I can tell you that the one obvious thing is it's me playing the role. It doesn't just mean I'm going to give a different interpretation.
“Your own body is the vessel for what you're doing, so obviously...no one is gonna confuse me and Pedro Pascal's performance. So we're obviously going to do something different."
He elaborated on how his approach is rooted in James Gunn’s vision for the character, which pulls from the comics rather than previous films:
"I think that James is good about directing me towards the relevant source material. So, I think, the whole concept of the character takes a different type of tack.
“I saw the movie and Pedro is obviously a great actor, but what he does in that movie is not really relevant to anything that I'm doing."
In the comics, Maxwell Lord starts as a savvy entrepreneur and ally to superheroes before becoming a manipulative villain. His mastery of mind control and moral descent have made him an interesting villain.
Hints from Superman: set photos suggest Lord’s “LordTech” enterprise may employ key heroes like Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific.
Whether he’ll lean into his villainous tendencies immediately or evolve into a darker force later remains a mystery.
The DC Universe kicks off with Superman: and will reintroduce the character as a hero driven by compassion and hope. The movie is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.
SEAN GUNN talks about his take on MAXWELL LORD
— DCU Updates (@DCU_Updates) December 30, 2024
From @KristianHarloff pic.twitter.com/n58i2EAB9s