Bradley Cooper joins Superman 2025 cast with Guardians of the Galaxy stars, as director James Gunn confirms that Cooper, Pom Klementieff, and Michael Rooker have secret roles in the upcoming DC Studios film, set for a July 11 release. The involvement of these Marvel veterans in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude marks a notable crossover as Gunn leads the launch of DC’s new cinematic universe.
Marvel Alumni Appear in Superman’s Iconic Fortress
As anticipation grows for the first full-length feature from DC Studios’ new universe, James Gunn continues his tradition of enlisting frequent collaborators from his Marvel projects. Recently, Gunn revealed that Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, and Michael Rooker will participate in Superman, signaling a blending of superhero worlds that has caught fans’ attention. Their appearances are centered in a pivotal scene within Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, an iconic location in the character’s lore.
“I will give you something that nobody knows. Pom Klementieff is one of the robots. In that same scene, it’s Bradley [Cooper], it’s also Pom, and Michael Rooker is another one of the robots. We’ve got two Guardians right there.”
—James Gunn, Director
Klementieff, who had previously discussed joining the DCU with Gunn, is confirmed as voicing one of the robots in the fortress. Michael Rooker, already known for roles as Sam Fitzgibbon in Creature Commandos and as Red St. Wild in the upcoming season of Peacemaker, voices yet another robotic character—making this his third role within Gunn’s DC universe. Cooper, best known to Marvel fans as Rocket Raccoon, had been rumored to play Jor-El, Superman’s Kryptonian father, but Gunn’s latest comments suggest he may also lend his voice to one of the robots, though his precise character remains unclarified.
New Connections Between DCU and MCU Actors
The crossover does not stop with Cooper, Klementieff, and Rooker. Sean Gunn, brother to the director, has also been previously confirmed in the film as Maxwell Lord. Other main cast members for Superman, such as David Corenswet (playing Kal-El), Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion, and Edi Gathegi, further establish the film as a significant milestone for DC Studios, which is now reshaping its cinematic strategy under James Gunn’s leadership.
A sneak peek released in April offered visuals of the Fortress of Solitude scene, showing robots maintaining the wounded Kal-El with yellow sun energy—a moment that features the Guardians actors’ voice talents, alongside Alan Tudyk, reported as the main speaking robot known as Robot #4. This segment highlights the blended presence of prominent names from Marvel’s film universe within the pivotal setting of Superman’s story.
Prospects for More MCU Actors in the DCU
DC Studios’ move to enlist former Marvel stars reflects Gunn’s ongoing preference for working with trusted collaborators. When asked by Buzzfeed whether more familiar faces—such as Dave Bautista or Zoe Saldaña—might also cross over, Gunn responded:
“We’re keeping them in the wing.”
—James Gunn, Director
This statement leaves open the possibility for additional Marvel Cinematic Universe performers to appear in future DC projects. Although no other Guardians of the Galaxy cast members are confirmed for the new Superman film, their potential involvement in upcoming chapters remains a topic of interest for both fans and industry observers.
Future for Guardians of the Galaxy Actors
Despite speculation, Marvel Studios has not announced further appearances for the Guardians of the Galaxy team in the MCU. In particular, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldaña, and Chris Pratt were not listed in the official roster for Avengers: Doomsday. However, the close of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 teased that The Legendary Star-Lord, portrayed by Pratt, will return, indicating that while some characters may persist in the Marvel universe, others could transition to new franchises under creatives like Gunn. As a result, actors such as Cooper and Rooker may continue to play roles in both cinematic worlds or establish new chapters within the developing DCU.
With Superman, James Gunn and DC Studios are making an ambitious play by bridging audiences from one superhero universe to another, showing flexibility and excitement for storytelling possibilities. As the film’s release approaches, fans are eager to see how these surprise appearances and crossovers will shape the future of both the DC and Marvel cinematic spaces.
