Sean Gunn Says His ‘Superman’ Maxwell Lord Isn’t Based on Past Versions

Director James Gunn’s highly anticipated “Superman” film, previously known as “Superman: Legacy,” promises to dive deep into the DC Comics lore, with characters like Maxwell Lord taking the spotlight. Maxwell Lord, a villain known to fans of Superman and Supergirl, will be portrayed by Sean Gunn.

Though not a household name among villains, Maxwell Lord has had a notable presence in various adaptations in recent times. Pedro Pascal portrayed him in “Wonder Woman 1984,” and Peter Facinelli played him in the early seasons of The CW’s “Supergirl.”

During FanExpo Chicago on Friday, TheWrap had an exclusive chat with Sean Gunn about his approach to the character. Unlike previous versions, Sean Gunn is not drawing inspiration from past portrayals of Maxwell Lord.

Sean revealed, “I can’t talk too much about it. I can say that my brother James and I did discuss what reference materials from the canon were relevant to my process,” adding that he enjoys crafting his unique interpretation.

He elaborated, “We talked about relevant materials and discussed the character in detail before I started. Our references came from the written materials rather than any live performances. We focused on things we thought were crucial.”

Maxwell Lord made his debut in Justice League #1 in May 1987, created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire.

Most depictions of Lord show him as a ruthless business tycoon who runs a powerful multinational corporation. Initially an ethical entrepreneur hoping to advance humanity with technology, he gradually becomes paranoid, power-hungry, and fixated on controlling super-powered beings from behind the scenes.

James Gunn and Peter Safran are using “Superman” as the cornerstone for rebooting the DC Universe, starting with the animated series “Creature Commandos.” The new “Superman” film is slated to hit theaters in 2025.

Source: TheWrap