DCU Maxwell Lord and Jor-EL Talk

Isn’t it nice to have family members in high places? Like co-studio head of DC Studios. That would be pretty sweet. It is sweet for Sean Gunn. Hot off being the physical stand-in for Rocket Racoon, and later Kraglin the Reaver, in Guardians Of The Galaxy and via mo-cap work as Weasel in The Suicide Squad, Gunn Jr is joining the new DCU.

He will play shady business tycoon Maxwell Lord in the DC Universe at Warner Bros. Pictures. Deadline broke the news, but cannot confirm if the character is a cameo in Superman: Legacy, or if he will appear later in the DCU. Their article also says many more roles could soon be cast, some of which won’t have big roles until much later in the proceedings. Marvel was very successful at getting long-term, multi-picture contracts in place for their talent. Finally, is Warner Bros. learning something?

Pedro Pascal previously played the Maxwell Lord role in Wonder Woman 1984. The character himself was created for 1987’s Justice League and grew from there, appearing across the world of DC as an enemy.

Meanwhile, also in the world of DC, Kurt Russell says he’d be up for playing Jor-El if offered. His name has been long-rumored to be in the frame for the role. While doing press for Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters on Apple TV+, those cheeky scamps at ComicBook.com asked him directly if he was up for it. He replied:

“Yeah! Yeah, I’ll take on Marlon Brando! I mean there was something awesome about the way he was just looking around – I don’t care that he was looking at his lines – he’s crazy great to watch!

You know what: we don’t know a lot about Jor-El. Maybe there’s a version… I never heard this, so I don’t know. James Gunn was a blast to work with though, so you never know.”

Gunn’s Superman: Legacy has already announced all its key cast members. As it is not an origin story, Jor-El would be likely to be a cameo, if he appears at all. Marlon Brando and Russell Crowe have been the previous incumbents of the House Of El. Russell worked with Gunn on Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.