Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for My Adventures With Superman Season 2
Summary
Okay, I’m totally convinced that we’ve already seen the perfect casting for Brainiac in theDCU. The classicSupermanvillain from the comics, Brainiac is traditionally an intergalactic alien Coluan seeking to collect and catalog worlds, typically by shrinking and bottling cities such as the Kryptonian city of Kandor. However, there have been several different (and quite recent) iterations of the highly intelligence Superman foe, yet none have made their way to the big screen. However, that may soon change thanks to the upcoming DCU.
Coming from new heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, the rebootedDCU’s first live-action movie will beSupermanin 2025, starring David Corenswet as a new version of the titular Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and more. However, the movie’s primary villains have yet to be fully revealed. To that end,Brainiac has been heavily rumored to make his theatrical on-screen debut, and I’ve decided that actor Michael Emerson needs to keep his portrayal of the iconic villain going in the DCU, having absolutely nailed it inMy Adventures With Supermanseason 2.
Superman: Release Date, Trailer, Plot Details & Everything We Know
Superman is the first entry in James Gunn’s much anticipated new DCU, and here is everything we know from cast to story and release date.
I’m Absolutely Loving Michael Emerson As My Adventures With Superman’s Brainiac
A Fresh Take On The DC Villain (With A Perfectly Sinister Voice)
Making his debut in Adult Swim’sMy Adventures With Supermanseason 2,Michael Emerson (Lost, Person of Interest) voices the animated series' fresh and new take on Brainiac. Rather than being the typical green-skinned alien covered in cybernetics seeking to collect worlds,My Adventures With Superman’sBrainiac is revealed as a Kryptonian android created during wartime who secretly triggered the planet’s demise when peace talks began. Recovering Kara Zor-El and brainwashing her as his daughter, Brainiac and Kara began conquering and later destroying entire worlds that refused to comply.
This eventually leads to Kara finding her cousin Kal-El on Earth, resulting in her eventual break from Brainiac’s control as she and Superman defend Earth from Brainiac and his invasion forces. However, despite playing a very unique version of Brainiac’s character compared to those seen in the past,Emerson still provides a captivating vocal performance, one that carries the sinister calm and vast intelligence one would expect. That said, I also love how Emerson’s Brainiac becomes increasingly unhinged and more emotional as his desires for perfection and full compliance are repeatedly disrupted by the Kryptonian cousins, something Emerson conveys quite well.
Michael Emerson Would Be Perfect As The Rumored Live-Action Brainiac in The DCU
Brainiac May Have A Role In James Gunn’s Superman
Ultimately, Brainiac meets his demise at the hands of Supergirl in the finale episode ofMy Adventures of Supermanseason 2.However, I really want to see Emerson continue as the classic Superman villain. Furthermore, it would be very exciting if Michael Emerson were to provide more than just his voice alone with a potential live-action Brainiac role, perhaps one that’s more in line with the original comics version in the upcoming DCU.
While yet to be officially confirmed,Brainiac has been rumored as an antagonist for 2025’sSuperman. After all, the first look image of David Corenswet in costume as the Man of Steel features what looks to be a massive orbital station above the Metropolis skyline firing a massive energy beam. Operating from a warship above is certainly the classic Brainiac’s MO, as is the purple color scheme.
To that end, why not cast Michael Emerson as the next live-action Brainiac and the first to grace the big screen?Beyond his already proven ability to voice the DC villain, Emerson has an accomplished track record playing incredibly smart villains in live-action. Case in point,Lost’sBen Linusis frequently ranked as one of the best TV villains of all time.
Why Multiple Brainiac Roles For Michael Emerson Wouldn’t Be An Issue
A More Classic Version Compared To MAWS
It’s probably safe to assume that the DCU’s rumored version of Brainiac would likely be more in line with the traditional villain seen on the page. To that end,there would likely be enough distinction between the classic depiction andMy Adventures With Superman’sthat Emerson playing both shouldn’t pose much of an issue. It’s also worth noting that they’d also be existing in separate universes/continuities.
Likewise, it’s been proven by other franchises likeStar Warsthat actors continuing to play characters between animation and live-action can work incredibly well. Prime examples include Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze and/orLars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn(a villain who coincidentally shares some traits with Brainiac himself). At any rate,it’s now my dream to see Michael Emerson in green makeup and covered in prosthetics to take on the next version of the Man of Steel in the DCU, and it’s all thanks toMy Adventures With Supermanseason 2.
My Adventures With Superman
Cast
My Adventures with Superman is an animated action-adventure superhero series that follows the Man of Steel in an all-new origin story. Focusing on the light-hearted side of DC’s hero, the series follows Clark Kent’s journey of self-discovery of what it means to be a hero while trying to blend in with society. With his best friend and his crush, Lois Lane, the trio will strike out to cover the most significant stories - all while trying to keep the city of Metropolis safe from giant robots and super-powered villains.
