Superman Sequel Rumour: Maxima Tipped as New Villain
Fresh whispers suggest a powerful alien warlord could join Brainiac as a key antagonist in James Gunn’s next Superman film, with fans speculating on the mysterious female role after Wonder Woman was ruled out.
With James Gunn putting a stop to talk of Wonder Woman appearing in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, attention has quickly shifted to the identity of the female character reportedly being cast for the much-anticipated Superman sequel. The film is set to hit cinemas on 9 July 2027, with cameras expected to start rolling in spring 2026. Eager fans are already picking apart every rumour, especially after word got out about a “warrior-like” woman with a specific height requirement joining the cast. Many initially guessed Wonder Woman, but Gunn’s comments suggest a different DC character is in the mix—one who’s just as formidable, but with a twist.
According to Nexus Point News, the character in question is Maxima, an alien warlord from DC’s deep bench of heroes and villains. The report claims Maxima will serve as a secondary antagonist alongside Brainiac, before eventually switching sides and teaming up with the good guys. As of now, there’s been no official word from DC Studios, so punters should take it all with a grain of salt.
Who Is Maxima? A Look at the DC Character
Maxima first appeared in Action Comics #645 back in September 1989, created by Roger Stern and George Pérez. She’s the eldest in the royal family of Almerac, a planet far from Earth, and originally set her sights on Superman as a potential mate. While she started out as a thorn in Superman’s side, Maxima eventually became one of his allies and even had a stint with the Justice League.
In DC’s New 52 reboot, a younger version of Maxima was introduced in Supergirl #36 (January 2015). This take on the character became a mate of Supergirl and was openly lesbian, which led to her being shunned on her home planet. Maxima’s history is full of shifting allegiances—she once reluctantly joined forces with Brainiac in the 1992 “Panic in the Sky” storyline, only to turn against him and later join the Justice League.
How Maxima Could Fit Into Man of Tomorrow
If both Maxima and Brainiac are set to appear in Man of Tomorrow, there’s a fair chance the film could draw inspiration from the “Panic in the Sky” arc. In that comic, Superman and the Justice League banded together to take on Brainiac. The new film could see Superman teaming up with a fresh line-up—maybe the Justice Gang, Supergirl, Lobo, or even Peacemaker.
It’s worth noting that the rumour about Maxima only surfaced after Gunn directly denied Wonder Woman’s involvement. Gunn commented,
“Scoopers are taking a stab at guessing [Wonder Woman],”
when news broke about a female character joining the cast. Now, Maxima’s name is being thrown into the ring, possibly because her connection to Brainiac fits the known story beats better than Wonder Woman would. Still, with no confirmation from the studio, it’s all just speculation for now.