German acting powerhouse Lars Eidinger is set to trade the Berlin stage for the heights of Hollywood, joining the cast of the upcoming “Man of Tomorrow” film directed by James Gunn. Despite a storied career in Europe, Eidinger admits this transition feels like “zero routine” and describes the opportunity as “like a new life,” something he secretly hoped for but never truly expected to happen.
The journey to the role began with a simple Zoom call with Gunn, the director and co-CEO of DC Studios. Eidinger initially had no idea which character he was being considered for and was so eager that he would have accepted even a minor walk-on role. After the call, he recorded a self-tape in his living room, a process he found intense, eventually sending a take where he felt a sense of freedom in his performance. The response from his American agents was immediate and hyperbolic: “They are obsessed by your self-tape”.
Landing the role of the iconic villain Brainiac involved a rigorous and highly technical casting process in Atlanta. Eidinger described a surreal “scanning” session where he was surrounded by approximately 1,500 cameras to create a 3D image of his body. The physical transformation into the character was equally demanding, requiring two hours of makeup to apply the “Brainiac mask”. The production’s secrecy is so high that Eidinger was shielded by umbrellas while moving between trailers to prevent anyone from photographing his look.
The weight of the moment hit Eidinger during his final audition on a massive studio lot. Despite his usual confidence, he began to shiver as he realized the stakes: “Behind that is Hollywood and behind that I’m a multimillionaire,” he recalled, feeling that he might not be up to the situation. He left the casting convinced he had “blown it” and flew home in despair. However, five days later, he received a direct text from James Gunn that changed everything: “Hey Lars I’m happy to co-create the character with you”.
Eidinger is scheduled for rehearsals in April, with filming for “Man of Tomorrow” running from May through the end of August. For a performer who prides himself on his lack of self-confidence as a professional driver, the moment he secured the role was overwhelming, leading him to admit, “I really cried… I could hardly believe my luck”.
“Man of Tomorrow” is currently scheduled for release in July 2027.
