‘Man of Tomorrow’ Star Matthew Lillard Says His Mystery DCU Character Isn’t From the Comics

Every James Gunn project comes with a guessing game, and ‘Man of Tomorrow’ has been no exception. Ever since cameras started rolling on the follow-up to ‘Superman’, fans have been trying to decode which familiar DC faces might show up in the film and who is playing whom.

One of the biggest question marks has been Matthew Lillard. News of his casting broke in early May, but his role has been kept strictly under wraps, leaving comic readers to speculate about which corner of the DC universe he might be pulled from.

Now the actor has offered a tantalizing hint, and it may upend those theories. Lillard has teased that his character in ‘Man of Tomorrow’ isn’t from the comics at all, describing the casting as “a very James Gunn moment” in an exclusive interview with The Direct.

The conversation took place while Lillard was promoting Prime Video’s ‘Carrie’. Asked whether his mystery character is someone comics fans will recognize or an original creation built for the sequel, he pointed to Gunn’s signature style.

He added that fans shouldn’t worry too much about trying to find the character in the comics. It’s a coy answer that implies Gunn and Lillard have cooked up something new for the film.

There’s still room for debate. The Direct noted that the character could still be a reimagined version of a comic figure, such as the STAR Labs scientist Emil Hamilton, so the tease doesn’t settle every theory.

The casting is also a reunion. Lillard and Gunn have been friends for decades, dating back to the first live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ film that Gunn wrote, which marks a quarter century since they first worked together.

Lillard has also joked in the past that he was waiting for an invitation into the DC world. The latest news suggests that call finally came, with Gunn confirming the casting by sharing a set photo of the pair on Instagram.

The actor arrives in the DCU fresh from other franchise work. He recently played Mr. Charles in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, and he also appeared in ‘Scream 7’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’.

Gunn writes, directs and produces, with David Corenswet back as Clark Kent/Superman. Nicholas Hoult returns as Lex Luthor, and Rachel Brosnahan is back as Lois Lane.

The story picks up after ‘Superman’ as the Man of Steel is forced to team up with his nemesis Lex to defeat an even bigger threat, the super-intelligent Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. It will be the villain’s live-action feature debut.

Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion and Edi Gathegi are part of the ensemble, and Aaron Pierre will reprise his ‘Lanterns’ role as John Stewart. Adria Arjona has also joined in an undisclosed role.

Filming began in April in Atlanta, and Gunn has said the shoot is going beautifully and unstintingly. Sam McCurdy has taken over as cinematographer, a notable change behind the camera.

The film is scheduled to hit theaters on July 9, 2027. Before that, DC fans have other projects to look forward to, with ‘Superman’ already streaming on HBO Max.

Gunn has a track record of creating new characters or reshaping obscure ones, and an original role gives him room to surprise audiences. It also keeps the story free of the baggage that comes with a known comic figure.

An original character could also serve a purpose in a story built around an uneasy alliance. Gunn has described the film as being as much about Lex as it is about Superman, so a fresh face could help orbit that dynamic.

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