Sean Gunn has confirmed that Maxwell Lord will return in two future DCU projects, and he won’t say which ones. The actor made the reveal while promoting his new horror film Appofeniacs during a press tour, telling Polygon that DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had approved him to confirm Lord’s appearances.
When asked whether Lord appears in the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow, Gunn responded with “I can’t say, of course,”.
The Brother’s Green Light
Lord’s return in two projects. That means the DCU’s calculating businessman is headed for at least two more properties beyond his current role, Gunn has confirmed. Gunn says James Gunn has given him the green light to share that news, though he declined to specify which films or shows those projects are.
Lord’s role is being built up early on, and Gunn’s confirmation that he will be a central figure in the developing universe shows that commitment. The studio is locked into keeping the character around because his brother has signed off on it.
Why Lord Isn’t in Lanterns
Gunn was slightly more candid about why Lord hasn’t appeared in HBO’s Lanterns. He said Lord simply doesn’t know about the characters in that series, suggesting they are “small fry” compared to the grander, high-stakes power plays Maxwell is chasing.
Lord’s iteration marks a pivot back to the character’s began their career in the Justice League International comics of the late 1980s. Within the DCU, he is a shrewd businessman who understands the media, not a villain. He runs LordTech and uses his fortune to sponsor hero outfits like the Justice Gang, all while moving through the tangled politics of a world full of metahumans.
A Busy Year for Gunn
As part of his promotion for Appofeniacs, Gunn has offered an update. The horror feature centers on deepfakes and AI-driven chaos, with Gunn taking on both a starring role and executive producer duties. The film is set to hit theaters on Oct. 2.
He also voices G.I. Robot and Weasel in Creature Commandos. Between that, Lord in live-action, and his work on Appofeniacs, Gunn is becoming one of the busiest actors across DC Studios’ Chapter 1 roadmap.
What Fans Should Watch For
DC Studios is building a connected universe, and Lord’s return in multiple projects fits that strategy. The studio is putting LordTech’s influence across:
- Live-action series
- Animated crossovers
- Major feature films
The confirmation keeps fans guessing. Lord’s financial and political influence is set to loom large over the nascent universe, but nobody knows exactly where he’ll show up next. The only certainty is that LordTech’s expansion is already underway, and James Gunn is giving his brother the green light to drop just enough breadcrumbs to keep the internet guessing.
Source material: “Sean Gunn Officially Confirms Maxwell Lord’s Return in 2 Future DCU Projects,” Polygon.
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