Could the next Superman movie feature Brainiac? Gary Buechler, host of Nerdrotic on YouTube, thinks so. In a conversation with Chris Gore of Film Threat, Buechler said he’d heard from a source that an earlier cut of Superman featured two post-credits scenes, one of which wasn’t used. “And one was Brainiac,” Buechler said. “So maybe… they moved that to Supergirl.”
Writer/Director James Gunn has already revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he’s working on the next Superman movie script, what he calls “the next story in… the Superman saga,” notably not Superman 2.
James Gunn reveals he’s already been working on the #Superman saga, and hopes to begin production soon pic.twitter.com/o8QTq9SWnz
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 13, 2025
Every saga needs an epic villain, and a Superman movie where he faces off against Brainiac might fit the bill.
Why The Superman Movie Didn’t Feature Brainiac
As you may recall if you saw Superman, neither mid-credits nor the post-credits scenes teased any future plot details. However, Milly Alcock makes a cameo appearance earlier in the movie as Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, aka: Supergirl. Her movie is confirmed to be next in the DC Universe (DCU), with a release date in June of next year.
Today we celebrate #Supergirl and all her various incarnations. Can’t wait for you to see the latest version, portrayed by the indomitable @millyalcock, in June 2026.
Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh. pic.twitter.com/3sXwAFfxJb
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 31, 2025
According to Variety, the movie has Supergirl traveling “across the galaxy to celebrate her 21st birthday with Krypto the Superdog. Along the way, she meets a young woman named Ruthye and winds up on a murderous quest for revenge.” The galaxy-spanning plot may lend itself more readily to introducing a larger villain like Brainiac.
Superman fighting an unknown enemy in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
Brainiac first appeared in DC Comics in 1958, which fits with Gunn’s Silver Age tone. The official DC website explains: “Originally from the planet most frequently named Colu, Brainiac’s artificial mind and body have morphed several times over the decades, but his unquenchable thirst for absolute knowledge, regardless of the billions of innocent lives which might be destroyed in the process, has made him one of the deadliest villains the universe has ever seen.”
While we don’t know for certain that the character will appear in the DCU, given Hollywood’s recent interest in the threat of artificial intelligence (e.g.: Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One, M3GAN, Companion) and what Buechler has heard, it’s not implausible that the next Superman movie will see him fighting Brainiac, perhaps with Supergirl, or even Lex Luthor, at his side.
Man of Tomorrow. In theatres July 9, 2027. pic.twitter.com/hegJEuRMTk
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 3, 2025
Sitting on a Brainiac post-credits scene, or somehow incorporating it into Supergirl, would be a way to organically lead from Supergirl’s movie into Man of Tomorrow.
All We Really Know
On May 10th James Gunn confirmed that Supergirl had wrapped filming. We know it’s coming out June 26, 2026 and that Man of Tomorrow, the next Superman movie, is set to release on July 9, 2027, with or without Brainiac. Since the DCU is structured as an interconnected Superman saga, it’s safe to assume one story will lead naturally into the next.
James Gunn and David Corenswet sit for an interview about Superman – YouTube, Fandango
James Gunn is on the record saying that for the first Superman movie he considered using Brainiac as the primary villain. Also, an official behind-the-scenes featurette briefly on YouTube, showed a sketch of a character resembling the villain in one of his various incarnations. Clearly Gunn has Brainiac in mind for something, when he feels the time is right.
Conclusion
Given that, according to his brother Sean, James Gunn works from bullet points and not a long term plan, it’s entirely possible that he’ll change his mind again about putting Brainiac in a Superman movie. But now that the rumor is out there, fans are excited, which could make the villain unstoppable.
James Gunn sits for an interview – YouTube, GQ
What do you think? Is James Gunn the writer/director to finally deliver Brainiac to movie screens? Sound off in the comments!
