Adria Arjona Joins Superman Sequel Man of Tomorrow — Who Will She Play?

Well, things are getting interesting over in DC land. Just when you thought Superman's next outing was mapped out, we're apparently getting a warrior queen dropped into the mix—Maxima, all the way from the planet Almerac. If that name doesn't ring a bell, don't worry; her story is a little wild, and, let's be honest, the whole casting process over the past week has looked like a game of musical chairs.

Who's Playing Who? The Casting Shuffle

Here's where it gets a little messy: over the past week, a handful of actresses were reportedly up for a new role in Man of Tomorrow. Grace Van Patten (Tell Me Lies), Eva De Dominici (The Cleaning Lady), Sydney Chandler (FX's upcoming Alien: Earth), and Adria Arjona (Hit Man) were all vying for the part. A few other names floated out there—Marisa Abela and Ella Purnell—but director James Gunn shot those rumors down fast, saying they weren't in the mix at all.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter says Adria Arjona has officially snagged a role after last week's round of screen tests.

If she is Maxima (and all signs point that way), it's a bit of a letdown for fans who were hoping Arjona would put on the tiara as DC's next Wonder Woman. That's a whole other conversation, but that's what some corners of the internet were rooting for.

Maxima 101: Who Is She Anyway?

For those not up on their 90s DC deep cuts: Maxima first popped up in Action Comics #645 back in 1990, storming onto Earth looking for a 'worthy mate.' She lands on Superman as her prime candidate, because, you know, comics. Roger Stern and George Pérez whipped her up, and over the years, she's bounced between being a villain, sometimes a helpful ally, and more often than not, someone trying to hit on Superman and shake things up.

Maxima's crossed over into live-action TV before. She made an appearance on Smallville (played by Charlotte Sullivan) and in Supergirl (this time Eve Torres Gracie). She's also been animated in the old Superman: The Animated Series and other cartoon spin-offs—but, this would be her first time showing up in a live-action DC movie. Assuming that's actually her, like I said. DC likes to keep a little mystery going.

What's Going On In Man of Tomorrow?

Back to the sequel itself—here's the rundown:

• James Gunn's back as director and writer, so expect his usual blend of big, weird, and occasionally meta superhero energy.
• The story will see Superman teaming up (and squaring off) with old frenemy Lex Luthor, plus tackling the classic DC villain Brainiac—who'll be played by Lars Eidinger (he's big in German film, if you were wondering).
• Shooting is supposed to start this summer in Atlanta.
• Returning cast: David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher. Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl) and Maria Gabriella de Faria (The Engineer) are also back.
• And in a nice little universe-connecting twist, Aaron Pierre—he's John Stewart/Green Lantern in the upcoming Lanterns HBO show—will reprise that same role here.

So, does Adria Arjona as (maybe) Maxima move the needle for you? Or are you still holding out for her to tackle Wonder Woman next? Either way, it looks like Superman's world just got a little weirder—and with Gunn at the helm, that's probably exactly what we're in for.