Every Marvel Actor Who Appears in James Gunn’s Superman
Warner Bros. Pictures / Disney
James Gunn’s Superman is packed with familiar faces from the Marvel universe—here’s a full breakdown.
Spoiler alert: This breakdown covers every Marvel-affiliated actor in Superman — so tread carefully if you haven’t seen it yet.
The cinematic rivalry between Marvel and DC has long dominated pop culture discourse, turning superhero fandom into something of a sporting event. But behind the scenes, the industry's biggest talents often leap between both universes with ease. No filmmaker exemplifies this fluidity better than James Gunn. After establishing himself with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn was temporarily ousted—only to be courted by DC for a revamp of The Suicide Squad, which led to his ultimate crowning: co-head of DC Studios and director of the new Superman.
In classic Gunn fashion, the director has assembled a cast filled with his longtime collaborators—many of whom are familiar faces to Marvel fans. Whether it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it voice cameo or a full-fledged supporting role, Superman is rich with cross-franchise appearances. Some of these actors date back to Marvel’s early years; others made their superhero debuts in Gunn’s own Guardians series. And some, like Isabela Merced and Frank Grillo, took a few hard knocks in Sony’s Marvel offshoots before finding a better home in Metropolis.
Here’s a complete rundown of every Marvel-connected actor you’ll find in Superman—including surprising pre-MCU roles. Full spoilers ahead!
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Hoult steps into the shoes of Lex Luthor, a younger, tech-billionaire–style menace reminiscent of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. His chilling performance sets him up as a major recurring threat—especially after being carted off to Belle Reve at the end. Hoult’s comic-book chops date back to playing Beast in X-Men: First Class and several follow‑ups, including a cameo in Deadpool 2. That Beast mantle might return in a multiverse twist soon.
Bradley Cooper as Jor-El
Marvel Studios
In a surprise casting, Cooper appears as a holographic Jor‑El, Clark’s Kryptonian father. He and Angela Sarafyan’s Lara deliver a final, emotionally resonant message recorded before Krypton’s destruction—revealing Jor‑El hoped his son would “rule” Earth. Gunn described the process as casual: “Hey, will you do me a favor…?” Cooper’s not just Kryptonian royalty though—he’s also the voice of Rocket Raccoon in the MCU. With Guardians Vol. 3 wrapped, watch for Rocket to pop up in Avengers: Doomsday.
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner (Green Lantern)
Warner Bros. Pictures
At long last, Green Lantern appears live-action: Nathan Fillion plays the blow-hard but bang‑on earnest Guy Gardner, complete with attitude and swagger that aligns perfectly with Gunn’s tone. Gardner will show up again in PeacemakerSeason 2 and the upcoming Lanterns HBO series. Fillion’s Gunn résumé dates back to Slither, and he’s popped in Super, Suicide Squad, and subtly in all three Guardians films—whether on screen or in voice cameos.
Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific
Warner Bros. Pictures
Gathegi transforms himself into the disciplined, tech-savvy Mr. Terrific—a Justice Gang member whose stoicism unravels thanks to Clark’s compassion. For fans, it’s a rewarding return; he originated Darwin in X-Men: First Class and later appeared in series like The Blacklist. Gathegi has hinted at more appearances with the DCU, making this one of his richest genre roles yet.
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Merced brings fierce intensity to this incarnation of Hawkgirl, whose battle cry feels literal as she joins the fight—her presence sharp and memorable. Previously, she played Spider-Girl in Sony’s Madame Web, a role that underperformed. Offscreen, she outwitted the creative team by downplaying her superhero background during auditions. Now she soars into Peacemaker Season 2.
Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord (and Rocket stand-in)
Warner Bros. Pictures
James Gunn’s brother Sean is everywhere behind the scenes—he physically embodied Rocket on set alongside playing Kraglin in Guardians. And in Superman, he shows up as Maxwell Lord, the shadowy financier pulling Justice Gang strings. Sean’s DCU credit list already includes Suicide Squad (Calendar Man, Weasel) and Creature Commandos(Weasel, G.I. Robot), making him a constant in Gunn’s galaxy.
Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
Warner Bros. Pictures
Gisondo—best known from Booksmart, Licorice Pizza, and The Righteous Gemstones—makes a strong impression as Jimmy Olsen, partner to Clark and Lois at The Daily Planet. Though his Marvel background is brief (as Gwen Stacy’s brother in Amazing Spider-Man), Olsen is poised for a larger arc across the DCU.
Frank Grillo as Secretary of Defense Rick Flag Sr.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Grillo brings no-nonsense swagger to the role of Defense Secretary Rick Flag Sr., following his voice work in Creature Commandos. He’ll feature more in Peacemaker Season 2. Fans of Grillo will recall his MCU stint as Crossbones—a role cut too short despite a seven-picture contract.
Alan Tudyk as Robot #4 (“Gary”)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Known for unforgettable voice and motion-capture roles — Sonny (I, Robot), K-2SO (Star Wars) — Tudyk delivers a delightfully droidish performance as Robot #4, later naming himself “Gary.” He brought the character to life physically for Fortress-of-Solitude scenes. His MCU credits include Big Hero 6, a cameo in Deadpool 2, and videogame roles—Gary shows he can still surprise you in support roles.
Pom Klementieff as Robot #5
Warner Bros. Pictures
Mantis herself appears subtly, voicing Robot #5. Blink and you’ll miss her line, but once you recognize her soft, quirky tones, it’s a delightful treat. After Vol. 3, Klementieff continues to charm us on screen—and maybe the DCU will call her again.
Michael Rooker as Robot #?
Warner Bros. Pictures
Rooker provides another Fortress voice cameo, likely as Robot #?. Known to fans as Yondu from Guardians, his voice adds gravitas even to a cameo. But Rooker’s not done in the DCU—he’s set to play Red St. Wild in Peacemaker Season 2.
Wendell Pierce as Perry White
Warner Bros. Pictures
Pierce’s commanding presence makes Perry White believable as the Daily Planet’s editor-in-chief—especially during the film’s thematic climax. Before this, he appeared in the MCU Thunderbolts as Congressman Gary. With Tony and Lex Luthor roles under his belt, Pierce brings authority across universes.
Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
Warner Bros. Pictures
Hoover is James Gunn’s loyal supporting actor, dating back to Sparky & Mikaela. She’s popped up in Guardians, Suicide Squad, and Guardians Vol. 3—now she plays the stylistic Cat Grant in Superman. Though her role is small, her presence helps flesh out Daily Planet environments. Look for her next in One Piece Season 2.
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James Gunn’s Superman doesn’t just reboot a beloved hero—it redefines what cinematic universes can share. By populating the DCU’s flagship film with a roster of actors already steeped in Marvel lore, Gunn invites a more fluid, playful, and auteur-driven approach to casting. These aren’t just cameos—they’re creative Easter eggs, heartfelt reunions, and in some cases, second chances. As the multiverse trend peaks and legacy franchises merge talent pools, it’s becoming clear: allegiance to one cape or company is a thing of the past. The real superpower? Storytelling that transcends studio walls.
![Ana de Armas photographed by @matthewsprout for @wwd [2025]
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