Don’t believe everything you hear on the gossip circuit—unless James Gunn gives it the thumbs up. After the DC Studios co-CEO took to social media to debunk earlier reports involving Ella Purnell and Adria Arjona, The Hollywood Reporter has swooped in with a new shortlist for the Empress of Almerac.
According to the report, the search for Maxima in the seque, Man of Tomorrow, has narrowed down to three powerhouse finalists.
According to THR’s Aaron Couch, Adria Arjona, Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler and Grace Van Patten tested for the role of Maxima this week in Atlanta. And according to Gunn’s own comments, the studio only has one role left to cast for the film, so things should come to a conclusion relatively quickly.
A member of the Royal Family of the planet Almerac, Maxima’s primary motivation is the survival and evolution of her bloodline. Considered the ultimate genetic prize of her species because of the unique structure of her DNA, she spent years traveling the cosmos in search of a “suitable” mate—someone whose power could match her own and produce an heir capable of ruling Almerac. And that quest led her to Earth where Kal-El’s Kryptonian heritage caught her attention.
A composite powerhouse with a wide array of super powers, Maxima first appeared in an antagonistic role before transitioning into an ally of Superman and, eventually, a member of the Justice League. Her appearance in the film might indicate Gunn has adapted the 1992 Superman crossover event, “Panic in the Sky,” that featured Maxima teaming up with Brainiac.
