Adria Arjona Joins James Gunn’s Superman Sequel Man of Tomorrow as Maxima

Adria Arjona has been cast as Maxima in the upcoming DC Studios film Man of Tomorrow, a sequel to James Gunn’s Superman. The production, written and directed by Gunn, will feature Arjona as the alien warrior queen from the planet Almerac.

According to reports from Variety and Deadline on April 14, 2026, Arjona secured the role following a round of auditions that took place during the first week of April 2026. She was among a group of finalists for the part, which also included Grace Van Patten, Sydney Chandler, and Eva De Dominici.

The Role of Maxima

In the DC Comics source material, Maxima is an alien conqueror who travels to Earth to find a mate capable of matching her own power and intelligence, eventually setting her sights on Superman. First introduced in Action Comics #645 in 1990 by artist George Pérez and writer Roger Stern, the character has fluctuated between being a love interest, an ally, and an antagonist.

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While Maxima has appeared in previous live-action projects, including the series Smallville and Supergirl, she has never been featured in a live-action DC cinematic film. The character has also appeared in various animated formats, such as Superman: The Animated Series.

Plot and Ensemble Cast

In Superman: Man of Tomorrow, David Corenswet returns as the Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult returns as Lex Luthor. The narrative will see these two legendary adversaries forced into an alliance to combat a larger threat: the super-intelligent antagonist Brainiac, played by German actor Lars Eidinger.

Arjona joins a wide ensemble cast for the sequel, which includes:

• Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
• Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
• Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher
• Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
• Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
• Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific
• Aaron Pierre in an undisclosed role

Production for the film is currently underway in Atlanta. DC Studios has scheduled the movie for theatrical release on July 9, 2027.

Casting Context and Career Background

The casting of Arjona follows a period of speculation regarding her role in the new DC Universe. Prior to the Maxima announcement, there were industry reports and fan suggestions that Arjona would be a strong fit for the role of Wonder Woman. James Gunn previously stated that Arjona would be great in that role, though the studio ultimately cast her as Maxima instead.

Gunn and Arjona have a professional history dating back to 2016, when they worked together on The Belko Experiment.

Arjona is well-known for her role as Bix Caleen in the Star Wars series Andor and previously appeared in the Sony Pictures film Morbius. In addition to her entry into the DCU, Arjona is set to appear in the 2027 film The Thomas Crown Affair as a co-lead opposite Michael B. Jordan.