What the ‘Superman: Legacy’ Cast Says About James Gunn’s DC Universe

James Gunn is putting together quite the team for Superman: Legacy. With David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan set as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, the co-head of DC Studios is now focused on filling out the film’s supporting roster, especially ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike that started today, which would greatly restrict any forward casting movement. This week, Gunn quickly locked in four actors—Anthony Carrigan, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, and Nathan Fillion—to play legacy DC comic book characters. But beyond just casting intrigue, these specific heroes that Gunn just cast in turn implies a little bit of the direction his new DC Universe is headed in.

Carrigan, most notable for his role as quirky criminal NoHo Hank on Barry, will play Rex Mason, aka Metamorpho the Element Man. Formerly an archeologist, Mason comes across a cursed artifact during an expedition that allows him to shapeshift and change into any combination of elements. Metamorpho appeared in the Justice League Unlimited animated series voiced by the late great Tom Sizemore (!) as an old Marine buddy of Green Lantern John Stewart who was mutated by the US government’s “Metamorpho” project, meant to increase resistance to hostile environments. Carrigan told the Hollywood Reporter that the character held a special significance for him even before getting the role. “I like comic books, but I’m not a diehard, but I did when all my hair fell out (Carrigan has alopecia), go through the pantheon of all of these bald superheroes and supervillains and made note of all of them,” Carrigan said. “This character didn’t like the way he looked, and I can really relate to that. When he got his powers he thought it was a curse. That’s something that I really felt as well. In my case, I turned it around and saw it as a blessing. So I’m excited to bring that to the table with this character.”

Speaking of Green Lantern, Gunn stalwart Nathan Fillion will play Guy Gardner. Often depicted as an obnoxious blowhard—Batman once got so sick of his shit that he famously knocked Guy out with a single punch—Guy is one of four Green Lanterns assigned to protect Earth in the comic books. The other two notable Lanterns include Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds in the disastrous 2011 film) and John Stewart. Both Hal and John will feature in the True Detective-like Green Lantern TV series Gunn is planning for Max.

Edi Gathegi (coming off a great role in the underrated Apple TV+ series For All Mankind) will play Michael Holt aka Mister Terrific. As the other notable Mr. T in pop culture, Holt is Tony Stark-esque in his creativity and inventiveness and a master tactician whose skillset matches Batman’s, he’s flanked by his weaponized “T-Spheres” and a jacket with the phrase “Fair Play” on it. Holt is the second Terrific; “Fair Play” originates from the first version of the character, Terry Sloane. (Sloane was a white man who used it as his mantra to balance things out amidst his own white privilege.)

Finally, Merced will play Hawkgirl. The character is notable for those who grew up watching the Justice League cartoon, as she was one of the core characters in the league. Audiences who showed up for Black Adam will know she’s related to Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman—but he most likely will not survive Gunn’s DCU transition.