James Gunn’s plan to add more star power to his “Superman” sequel continues: the DC Studios co-chief is currently casting the role of Maxima, an alien queen who has been both antagonist and potential love interest for the Kryptonian superhero.
Sources confirmed to Variety that the finalists are Adria Arjona (“Andor”), Eva De Dominici (“The Cleaning Lady”), Sydney Chandler (“Alien: Earth”) and Grace Van Patten (“Tell Me Lies”), all of whom have tested for the part, with a deal described as imminent ahead of the Atlanta shoot.
Writer Roger Stern and artist George Pérez introduced Maxima in the pages of “Action Comics” no. 645 in 1989. She is an alien queen who has been both an antagonist and potential love interest for Superman. The character has appeared in animated form and in live-action television on “Smallville” and “Supergirl,” but has never been depicted in a live-action DC film.
The day carried its share of drama off the set as well. An earlier Deadline report named Ella Purnell, Marisa Abela and Arjona as those testing for the role, a list Gunn disputed sharply on Threads, calling the reporting inaccurate and noting he had never met Purnell or Abela. Deadline subsequently revised its reporting, and Variety and The Hollywood Reporter later confirmed the four-actress shortlist.
Gunn confirmed there is one role left to cast in the film.
“Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” written and directed by Gunn, is slated for release on July 9, 2027. David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult return as Superman and Lex Luthor, who are forced to work together against a new threat, the super-intelligent Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. Rachel Brosnahan, Skyler Gisondo and Sara Sampaio are also expected to reprise their roles as Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Eve Teschmacher.
The original “Superman,” which launched Gunn and partner Peter Safran’s new DC Universe last summer, grossed $618 million worldwide.
