In the highly anticipated Superman movie directed by James Gunn, several veteran actors known for their past collaborations with the filmmaker make notable appearances. Released in 2025 as the first film in the new DC Universe (DCU), this movie draws on Gunn’s trusted pool of talent, enriching the project with familiar faces in unexpected roles. The inclusion of these seasoned performers highlights the director’s enduring relationships with his cast and reflects the evolving narrative of the DCU.
Sean Gunn Returns as Maxwell Lord, Continuing a Long-Standing Partnership
Sean Gunn, James Gunn’s brother and one of his most frequent collaborators, takes on the role of Maxwell Lord in Superman. This marks Sean’s eleventh role in a James Gunn project, reflecting a diverse career with multiple characters across the DCU and Gunn’s other films. He has appeared as Kraglin in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, voiced characters like Weasel in The Suicide Squad, and lent his voice to GI Robot and Weasel in Creature Commandos (2024).
In Superman, Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord appears briefly near the film’s conclusion during a news broadcast where he bluntly states that “Lex Luthor sucks.” This minor yet memorable role continues Gunn’s habit of utilizing his frequent collaborators in varied parts throughout his cinematic universe.
Alan Tudyk Provides Voices for Multiple Characters Including a Key Superman Robot
Known for his voice work on Rogue One and Andor, Alan Tudyk takes on his sixth role under James Gunn’s direction in Superman and Creature Commandos. Tudyk voices several characters in the animated Creature Commandos series, including Doctor Phosphorus, Tanner, Will Magnus, and Clayface. While the series is animated, it is fully canon in the DCU storyline.
In Superman, Tudyk voices Robot #4, a prominent robot who plays an important role in the film’s early scenes. The robot, later dubbed Gary, has the most lines among the Superman robots and resumes duty after Lex Luthor’s attack on the Fortress of Solitude. Given this character’s significance, Tudyk’s role may expand in future DCU installments.
Michael Rooker’s Distinctive Voices and Roles Extend into the DC Universe
Michael Rooker, one of Gunn’s most frequent actors, marks his ninth collaboration with the director in Superman by contributing voices to several Superman robots. While his prior characters, such as Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy and Savant in The Suicide Squad, often met violent ends, Rooker voices Robot #1 in Superman, who appears to be destroyed when Engineer raids the Fortress of Solitude alongside Lex Luthor.
Rooker’s recurring work with Gunn frequently involves impactful but brief roles, and his participation in Superman’s robotic ensemble suggests Gunn may have additional plans for the actor within the DCU.
Pom Klementieff Voices a Key Robot and Teases Greater Future Involvement
Pom Klementieff, familiar to fans as Mantis from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, returns to James Gunn’s projects with her third role, lending her voice to Robot #4 alongside Alan Tudyk in Superman. Klementieff’s character in Superman is one of the robots assisting the titular hero early in the film.
Following her success in the MCU and involvement in the Mission: Impossible series, Klementieff’s presence in the DCU is noteworthy. Though her role is currently limited to voice work, it opens the possibility for a larger live-action part in future DC projects.
Bradley Cooper Portrays Jor-El in a Crucial Yet Brief Appearance
Bradley Cooper, who has primarily worked with Gunn as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, makes a significant cameo in Superman as Jor-El, Superman’s biological father. This role, though small, carries huge narrative weight, as Cooper’s Jor-El delivers an essential recorded message encouraging Superman to embrace his destiny of protecting Earth.
This casting marks Cooper’s second collaboration with Gunn and introduces a new dynamic for Jor-El in the DCU. Cooper’s star power and the importance of his character suggest that he might return in upcoming DCU films.
Stephen Blackehart Plays Sydney Happersen, Adding Depth to Lex Luthor’s Team
Stephen Blackehart, a long-time Gunn collaborator since his early work on Tromeo and Juliet, takes on the role of Sydney Happersen in Superman. This character, a scientist working under Lex Luthor, is portrayed as anxious and realistic about the destructive consequences of Luthor’s schemes. Happersen’s skepticism and visible panic amid the movie’s central crisis provide a grounded counterpoint to Luthor’s grand ambitions.
Blackehart’s varied roles in Gunn’s body of work include minor but impactful parts in The Suicide Squad and the Guardians of the Galaxy productions. This role as Happersen marks one of his more substantial performances in a superhero project.
Mikaela Hoover Features as the Iconic Daily Planet Reporter Cat Grant
Mikaela Hoover, who began her career under James Gunn on Sparky & Mikaela (2008), makes her eighth appearance in a Gunn-directed project by portraying Cat Grant in Superman. Cat Grant is a familiar DC character, best known as a gadfly gossip columnist for the Daily Planet.
In the film, Hoover’s Cat Grant joins Lois Lane and others aboard Mister Terrific’s flying transport as they flee the catastrophic rift engulfing Metropolis. Hoover’s ongoing collaboration with Gunn includes roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad.
Terence Rosemore Portrays Otis Berg, Revisiting a Classic Lex Luthor Assistant Name
Terence Rosemore, known for playing minor but memorable roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy series and The Suicide Squad, takes on a larger part as Otis Berg in Superman. This character draws reference from the 1978 Superman film, where Luthor’s assistant Otis once attempted to lend his name to a land development called Otisburg.
In the new film, Berg is positioned as a key employee within Lex Luthor’s team, contributing to the unfolding mayhem. Rosemore’s expanding role exemplifies how Gunn integrates subtle nods to classic Superman lore while developing new storylines.
Nathan Fillion Becomes Guy Gardner, Channeling an Arrogant Green Lantern
Nathan Fillion’s role in Superman as Guy Gardner marks one of his most prominent appearances in a superhero movie. Known for his many roles in Gunn’s films, spanning from PG Porn to The Suicide Squad, Fillion’s portrayal of the brash Green Lantern stands out for its swagger and insolence.
Fillion’s character is set for further exploration, as he will reprise Guy Gardner in the upcoming Peacemaker season 2 and the Lanterns series. The actor has described the role in Lanterns as his most foul-mouthed to date, hinting at a more complex and involved portrayal in the DCU’s future.
The Importance of Established Collaborations in James Gunn’s DC Universe
James Gunn’s approach of assembling a recurring ensemble of veteran actors in Superman reinforces his reputation for nurturing lasting creative partnerships. This strategy enriches the film with varied performances and allows for a wide range of characters to be explored, from voice roles to essential on-screen cameos.
The actors’ diverse roles—from Maxwell Lord and Guy Gardner to multiple robots within the Fortress of Solitude—highlight the layering of new and familiar elements in the DCU’s unfolding story. As the universe expands, many of these talents are poised to return, potentially deepening their characters’ arcs in sequels and spin-offs.
With many of these promising actors already embedded within the DCU’s narrative, fans can anticipate that future movies and series will continue to build on these foundations. James Gunn’s carefully curated cast underscores how a creative team’s chemistry both behind and in front of the camera can influence a superhero saga’s ongoing success.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving Marvel?
A. In 2018, James Gunn was dismissed from Marvel because some old, offensive tweets were found. These tweets included inappropriate jokes about serious topics, which upset many people.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. In Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation, the CGI version of Krypto the Superdog was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has stated that prayer is still significant to him. However, he also describes himself as somewhat “anti-religion.”
Q. What religion is James Gunn?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and still finds prayer important. However, he describes himself as somewhat against organized religion.
