The Wire actor Andre Royo has officially joined the cast of Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow in a mystery role, but fans think they’ve already figured out who he’ll be playing.
Director, writer, and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn shared the announcement himself in a post on Threads. He didn’t share who exactly Royo will appear as, leaving fans only to speculate while they wait for the superhero follow-up movie to premiere next summer.
“After fifteen years it’s great to be working with Andre again!” Gunn shared in his post.
Royo has had a career in Hollywood that has seen him appear in TV and movies since the ’90s. He’s popped in for the occasional Law & Order episode and also played a role in Empire, but most TV watchers will probably recognize him for his part as Reginald ‘Bubbles’ Cousins in The Wire. Royo’s resume also includes appearances in To Leslie, Beautiful Boy, and Gunn’s 2010 superhero comedy, Super.
The Man of Tomorrow Director refrained from revealing who Royo will play in the Superman sequel, but that isn’t stopping fans from sharing who they’d like to see him portray in the comic book movie universe. Some believe Gunn picked Royo to play J’onn J’onzz a.k.a. Martian Manhunter. The character is a superpowered alien with shapeshifting abilities, and while shows like Justice League Unlimited have helped him remain an important character for DC, he’s not gotten much time to shine in the movie world.
Movie watchers online have already started sharing their hopes to see Royo play Martian Manhunter, mostly, it seems, because they just think he’d do the role justice. Adding fuel to the rumor fire is the fact that Gunn has teased an appearance from the character in the past, including one reference to Chocos, an Oreo-like treat that J’onn J’onzz loves.
Fans believe Man of Tomorrow could give Martian Manhunter time to shine next to David Corenswet’s Clark Kent, though nothing about Royo’s role in the film has been confirmed quite yet. Other casting additions that have been confirmed include Adria Arjona as Maxima, Aaron Pierre as Green Lantern John Stewart, and Lars Eidinger as Brainiac.
The Man of Tomorrow Superman sequel is set to premiere July 9, 2027. For more while we wait, you can learn more about Supergirl, which stars Milly Alcock and swoops into theaters June 26, 2026. You can also read about why Pierce Brosnan is teasing a potential return for his portrayal of Doctor Fate.
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
