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With James Gunn’s upcoming DC Universe reboot, fans have gone berserk with suggestions about who Brainiac should be. It all started when a popular film account put forth the question to its followers, in turn receiving hundreds of creative, sometimes downright bizarre answers.
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The discussion divided opinions on how Gunn should handle the character: some argued for practical effects and a voice actor, others pressed for full CGI; some even wanted a physical actor to bring this brainy evil to life.
One very popular option was CGI with Keith David voicing: “CGI with Keith David doing the voice.” This suggestion gained traction because the actor’s voice carries such legendary gravitas that it would bring dramatic weight to an AI character; many thought back to David’s voice work in animated shows and video games as testimony to his ability.
The next intriguing suggestion proposes Giancarlo Esposito because of his “intense, intellectual villain roles in Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian,” which would be perfect for Brainiac’s cold and calculating presence. That suggestion took hold with those who wanted Brainiac to be presented more as methodical and chilling presence than outright physical threat.
During the debates, the name Mads Mikkelsen kept popping up. One fan flatly declared him a “Top pick: Mads Mikkelsen, William Dafoe, or Jack O’Connell,” whereas another “Well, since he won’t be playing Dr. Doom, how about Mads Mikkelsen?” referring to the common fan casting of the actor in comic book-related roles.
Michael C. Hall likewise grew into that other frontrunner: a picture of him was posted with the caption reading, “This absolute beast of an actor,” with another agreeing, saying, “I saw somebody say Michael C Hall and yeah I really like that one.” His work with Dexter embodied the template for cold, analytical presence Brainiac has often been associated with.
Some humorous suggestions were even put forth: one user jokingly said, “The only correct answer is #myfriendMalamar,” in reference to the Pokémon character, while the other jokingly nominated himself (“Me, trust me, or don’t trust me”).
Concerns about character portrayal cropped up as well: “I want this Brainiac to be completely blown evil not the one we got in Supergirl TV show,” said one fan, indicating a desire for one that was far more menacing than previous adaptations.
There seemed to be another fan tired of seeing the same faces show up: “Someone new instead of recycled Marvel actors,” suggested one, soliciting Gunn to look past fellow actors already tied to competing superhero franchises.
They weren’t just discussing casting, however: questions of interpretation gave rise to some strong views about how Brainiac ought to be realized in the project. This one was clear on the matter: “The green alien version kinda sucks compared to the AI version from the animated series,” favoring the latter over the former.
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As James Gunn carries on with his plans for the DC Universe, these discussions shed some light on how enthusiastically the audience is invested in the different interpretations of their characters. Although casting will come down to Gunn, the intensity at which this is all being discussed suggests how many awaiting the treatment of one of Superman’s mightiest foes. The huge cast of nominees from character actors of the megastar sort to voice specialists indicates the multiple paths this iconic villain can take in the new DCU.