Sean Gunn To Play 'Maxwell Lord' In The Gunn & Safran's DCU

According to Deadline, Sean Gunn, known for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy, has been cast as the villainous businessman Maxwell Lord in the new DC Universe overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Previously, Pedro Pascal portrayed the character in the 2020 film Wonder Woman 1984.

It remains uncertain whether Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord will make a cameo appearance in his brother's upcoming film, Superman: Legacy, which is scheduled to begin production next year. While the character will be referenced in the background of Legacy, he will make appearances in future DC projects. This approach will also be applied to other characters in the new DC Universe, specifically in the first phase titled Gods and Monsters: Chapter One.

Maxwell Lord first appeared in Justice League #1 in 1987, created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire. Initially portrayed as an ally to the Justice League and instrumental in the formation of the Justice League International, he eventually becomes an adversary to both the organization and Wonder Woman. During the Invasion crossover event, Lord gains superpowers when exposed to a Gene Bomb detonated by alien invaders. This explosion activates Lord's latent metagene, granting him the ability to manipulate the minds of others, albeit with significant challenges.

In addition to his role as Kraglin in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, which was directed and written by James Gunn, Sean Gunn also collaborated with his brother in the film Suicide Squad, where he portrayed the character Weasel.