- Sean Gunn has been cast as Maxwell Lord in the DCU franchise.
- James Gunn often collaborates with actors he trusts, such as Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion.
- Previous actors who have worked with Gunn on multiple projects include Sylvester Stallone and Daniela Melchior.
James Gunn addressed online criticism regarding his decision to cast his brother, Sean Gunn, as Maxwell Lord in the DCU. Sean has been involved in numerous projects led by James, such as providing the voice for Weasel in Creature Commandos. James recently defended his casting choices on Threads, clarifying that he never stated actors could not play multiple roles within the DCU.
Sean initially played Weasel in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, wearing a motion-capture suit and providing the character’s voice. In addition to his voice acting in Creature Commandos, Sean also portrayed Calendar Man in The Suicide Squad. According to Deadline, Sean will now tackle the role of Maxwell Lord, the evil businessman previously played by Pedro Pascal in Wonder Woman 1984.
Introduced in Justice League #1 in 1987, Maxwell Lord first served as an associate of the DC superhero group, later becoming a villain with mind control powers. James has a history of working repeatedly with actors he trusts, such as Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion. Other actors who have appeared in multiple Gunn projects include Sylvester Stallone, Steve Agee, Mikaela Hoover, Daniela Melchior, and Jennifer Holland. Gunn has previously addressed complaints about his casting “favoritism,” emphasizing that he works with individuals he trusts to deliver exceptional performances.
Superman: Legacy is set to be released on July 11, 2025.