Livewire’s ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ involvement is still up in the air

Superman ’s next big-screen threat is a classic: Brainiac . The alien super-intellect is set as the main villain in Man of Tomorrow, with Lars Eidinger playing the role, and the plot brings an unlikely alliance — Superman and Lex Luthor working the same side of the chessboard to stop him.

The sequel also brings back the Engineer — María Gabriela de Faría returns after making waves in the 2025 film — though it ’s not yet clear whether she’ll be an opponent or an uneasy ally this time. Brainiac’s “collector of worlds” ambitions raise the stakes far beyond Metropolis, which helps explain why sworn enemies might share a mission.

So, where’s Livewire?

Fans who argued after the 2025 movie that Livewire would be a sharper foil than the Engineer are still waiting. There’s been no announcement or credible report placing the electricity-powered villain in the sequel, so any Livewire talk remains wishful thinking for now.

For anyone new to her: in Superman: The Animated Series, Livewire started as Leslie Willis, a Metropolis shock jock whose brand was roasting Superman. During a Centennial Park concert, she ignored storm warnings; when lightning struck, Superman yanked her out of the way, took the hit himself and the charge arced into her — turning Willis into living electricity. She blamed Superman and claimed the name Livewire, making their rivalry painfully personal.

Production status and DCU tie-ins

James Gunn said principal photography wrapped on August 26; the film is now deep in post. Following the finale of Green Lantern, John Stewart is set to appear in Man of Tomorrow, adding another DCU connection on the path to release.

• Main villain — Brainiac (Lars Eidinger)
• Team-up — Superman and Lex Luthor unite against a common enemy
• Returning — Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría)
• Status — Filming wrapped August 26; in post-production
• DCU link — John Stewart to appear

Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to open in theaters on July 9, 2027 .