I’ve simply realized what Superman film I believe has the closest factor to a live-action Brainiac movie look, and I can not recover from which film it’s, and the way it occurs. Superman’s live-action motion pictures have offered some strikingly good villain depictions, and a few far, much more divisive villain depictions, leading to a different roster for DC’s franchise-defining Man of Metal. A part of the explanation these outcomes are so different is arguably that many installments use the very same antagonists, giving us extra of a direct comparability level between these releases that may make individuals extra opposed to some iterations.
That is fascinating to notice, given Superman – as considered one of DC’s hottest, most long-lived, and most prolific heroes – has an enormous assortment of villains he is confronted within the panels and pages of the comics, however who have not had their full dues on the large display screen. Brainiac is maybe essentially the most well-known and most notable of those, making the film story that got here closest to his live-action film debut within the 67 years because the character was made all of the extra particular, and all of the extra bizarre to notice.
Brainiac Has Been Criminally Underused In Superman’s Dwell-Motion Film Historical past
Regardless of being considered one of Superman’s essential comedian antagonists – and having a spread of fascinating variations throughout his virtually 70-year-long historical past – Brainiac has but to get his second within the solar because the villain in a live-action characteristic movie, a lot to many DC followers’ discontent. Whereas there have been numerous plans and makes an attempt to make this a actuality, this story avenue has not but come to fruition, with movies tending to as a substitute give attention to Lex Luthor and or Common Zod because the central antagonist that Superman has to face in his film endeavors.
Brainiac’s potential within the movie world has been demonstrated by a spread of animated DC motion pictures as a substitute, with an assortment of animated movie roles from 2006 to 2023 displaying that it is not inconceivable to suit Brainiac right into a film’s story, and that there might be some distinctive enchantment in bringing him to life in a movie versus solely by means of the world of tv. Krypton additionally offered a have a look at a live-action Brainiac that equally teased his live-action film potential, albeit by means of the present offering an instance of how putting Brainiac might look on this format, and the way fascinating his story may very well be.
That mentioned, even when merely trying on the comics alone, it is evident that Brainiac may very well be a legitimately incredible opponent for the DC hero. The premise of Brainiac being an immensely highly effective synthetic intelligence created from the stays of the scientist who bonded along with his alien know-how is one that’s each fascinating by itself and all of the extra fascinating in the way it mirrors Kal-El’s personal Kryptonian heritage – and the villain’s immense mind makes him a very next-level enemy for the Man of Metal to face. Funnily sufficient, there may be one Superman film villain who’s additionally delved into some comparable territory, albeit with out the galactic edge.
I Genuinely Assume The Closest We have Gotten To Brainiac Is Superman III’s Villain
Superman III is considered one of Superman’s extra divisive installments – each due to its story selections, and due to the lingeringly controversial choice to interchange Richard Donner as director, regardless of his hopes to direct two different Superman motion pictures after the 1978 Superman, which paradoxically had been set to incorporate Brainiac within the third installment based on the director himself (through CBR). Whereas Donner wasn’t in a position to make his plans for Brainiac’s live-action film debut a actuality – and Richard Lester as a substitute directed Superman III – the movie, oddly sufficient, nonetheless managed to convey us the villain that is arguably the closest we have gotten to Brainiac on this regard.
Superman III first debuted in July 1983.
Superman III facilities round Ross Webster’s villainous plans to regulate a number of key assets on Earth, beginning with espresso after which occurring to give attention to oil. Webster’s efforts are primarily carried out by Gus Gorman, considered one of Webster’s latest workers, who he discovers has an affinity for computer systems. In the direction of the top of the film, Gus requests that Ross construct a cutting-edge pc that he feels he can use to hold out each his and Ross’ goals, which results in the event of the “Final Laptop” – an idea that feels equal components sillier and but additionally just a little extra harrowing trying again now within the modern-day.
Nevertheless, it is not Gus or Ross that find yourself being the closest to Brainiac right here, however reasonably the pc itself – or reasonably, the pc itself after it bonds itself to Ross’ sister Vera Webster in its efforts to not be destroyed, having gained a form of sentience within the remaining act of the movie. This unsettling amalgamation of flesh and pc finally is not that far off from Brainiac’s personal story or premise – and the very fact the “Final Laptop” virtually defeats Superman at a number of factors of their battle as a result of its synthetic intelligence can detect anybody’s weak point additionally has parallels with Brainiac himself.
Superman III’s Story Highlights Why The DC Universe Wants To Use Brainiac
Whereas the collective of the Final Laptop and Vera Webster aren’t precisely equivalent to Brainiac – partially as a result of Vera turns into this techno-organic being unwillingly, and partially as a result of she finally ends up being separated from it as soon as extra after Superman is ready to defeat the machine – this solely highlights all of the extra that DC is sorely lacking out on the prospect to make the character right into a live-action film star. Although the Final Laptop is an fascinating idea, a model of this story that would tie into the broader scope of DC’s universe would logistically be much more thrilling for audiences to get to see.
With the DC Universe timeline already seeking to delve into less-adapted corners of the comedian lore, utilizing Brainiac to flesh out the broader galaxy whereas additionally letting him be an fascinating problem for Superman in his personal proper would have twofold advantages, and show instantly fascinating to followers, particularly given what number of occasions we have simply missed out on getting Brainiac in full pressure in a live-action film. This could additionally imply Superman III is not the closest we have gotten to a live-action Brainiac as a film villain, because the movie, regardless of its personal strengths, remains to be a way from truly adapting the villain.
Now that 2025’s Superman film is just weeks away, there’s much more motive to hope that the DC Universe’s future can convey a flux of underappreciated characters into the franchise and onto the large display screen – and loads of motive to hope Brainiac might be within the first rounds of those new appearances, and even probably seem in some capability within the Superman film itself. Nevertheless, issues will solely actually grow to be clear when the primary DC Universe film debuts, and provides us a greater understanding of whether or not the franchise would possibly truly tackle the long-lasting DC villain.