Superman 2 Casting Heats Up With Grace Van Patten, Sydney Chandler, Adria Arjona Testing for Maxima Role

The 'Man of Tomorrow' sequel is looking to fill the key role of Warrior Queen Maxima from the DC comics.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:34pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of shimmering, high-contrast red sequins, capturing the luxurious texture and lighting of a high-fashion editorial shoot and conceptually representing the glamour and visual splendor of a major superhero film.The casting of a powerful, warrior-like female character like Maxima promises to bring a new level of cinematic glamour and spectacle to the Superman franchise.Atlanta Today

The upcoming Superman sequel 'Man of Tomorrow' is testing several high-profile actresses, including Grace Van Patten, Sydney Chandler, and Adria Arjona, for the role of Maxima, the powerful warrior queen from the planet Almerac who has a history with the Man of Steel in DC comics. The character has appeared in live-action before on shows like 'Smallville' and 'Supergirl', but never in a major DC film.

Why it matters

Maxima is a significant character from Superman lore, known for her on-again, off-again antagonistic and romantic relationship with the hero. Casting the right actress in this role will be crucial for the sequel, which is aiming to expand the DC cinematic universe in new directions under the leadership of James Gunn.

The details

According to multiple sources, actresses Grace Van Patten, Sydney Chandler, and Adria Arjona have all begun testing for the role of Maxima in 'Man of Tomorrow'. Van Patten is coming off a lead role in the Hulu series 'Tell Me Lies', Chandler stars in the FX series 'Alien: Earth', and Arjona is known for roles in 'Andor' and the film 'Morbius'. Whichever actress lands the part will join a cast led by returning stars David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, as well as newcomers like Lars Eidinger as the villain Brainiac.

  • Casting tests for the Maxima role began last week.
  • Production on 'Man of Tomorrow' is set to kick off in April in Atlanta and continue through the summer.
  • The film is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027.

The players

Grace Van Patten

An actress known for her lead role in the Hulu series 'Tell Me Lies' and the limited series 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox'.

Sydney Chandler

An actress starring in the FX series 'Alien: Earth' and who has also appeared in films like 'Don't Worry Darling' and 'Anima'.

Adria Arjona

An actress known for roles in 'Andor', 'Morbius', and upcoming projects like 'Criminal', 'Onslaught', and a reimagining of 'The Thomas Crown Affair'.

James Gunn

The director of the upcoming Superman film 'Man of Tomorrow' and the architect of the new DC cinematic universe.

David Corenswet

The actor returning to play Clark Kent/Superman in the 'Man of Tomorrow' sequel.

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What they’re saying

“she'd be a great Wonder Woman”

— James Gunn, Director

What’s next

Production on 'Man of Tomorrow' is set to begin in April in Atlanta, with the film scheduled for release on July 9, 2027.

The takeaway

The casting of Maxima, a key character from Superman lore, will be a crucial decision for the 'Man of Tomorrow' sequel as it aims to expand the DC cinematic universe in new directions under James Gunn's leadership.