Who plays Maxima in ‘Man of Tomorrow’? ‘Superman’ sequel welcomes new addition in mysterious role
Casting for the next chapter in DC’s ‘Superman’ story is finally taking shape, and it looks like director James Gunn has locked in a key piece of the puzzle. After multiple auditions and test shoots, Adria Arjona has landed a mystery role in the upcoming sequel, ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The project, which continues the story from last year’s ‘Superman’, had been testing actresses for a part that the studio had not officially revealed. While there has been chatter that the role in question could be Maxima, a well-known character from DC Comics, the studio has not confirmed this detail yet.
Earlier this month, a shortlist of actresses flew to Atlanta for in-person screen tests. Among those reportedly in the mix were Arjona, Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler, and Grace Van Patten. It was a competitive process, and by all accounts, the role was treated as a major addition rather than a small supporting part. In the end, Arjona came out ahead, securing what could be a very interesting character in the DC universe. The sequel already has a packed lineup. David Corenswet is set to return as Superman, and facing him once again is Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. But this is not just a simple hero-versus-villain story.
Longtime enemies Superman and Luthor will have to join forces as a bigger threat appears in Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. Several familiar faces are also making a return. Rachel Brosnahan will once again appear as Lois Lane, while Skyler Gisondo continues as Jimmy Olsen. The supporting lineup includes Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific. Aaron Pierre will also return and reprise his role as John Stewart, one of the Green Lanterns.
Adria Arjona would actually kill it as Maxima👌🏽 https://t.co/5b03a3VeFH pic.twitter.com/jcwR68fFro
— Giselle//DD: BORN AGAIN S2 ERA💥⏳ 💍💫 (@giselleb1234) April 8, 2026
Now, about that mystery role. If Arjona is indeed playing Maxima, it could change the tone of the film in a big way. The character was first introduced by Roger Stern and George Pérez in Action Comics No. 645. Maxima is an alien queen known for her strength and complicated connection with Superman. She has been portrayed as both an adversary and a romantic interest, which opens the door to plenty of tension on screen. That kind of character could bring a different flavor to the sequel. The first film performed strongly at the global box office, pulling in over $618 million. That success gave DC Studios a solid foundation to build on. The upcoming sequel is scheduled to release on July 9, 2027.
