A few weeks ago, I started my on-going editorial series in which I look at the many comic book baddies that have yet to grace the big screen, as well as some of the villains that have had the film treatment, but were badly mistreated and need a bit of re-vamping to make them the bad-ass they deserve to be.
In part two of my series, I've decided to spot light a Superman villain that has been rumored to be involved in Zack Snyder's upcoming reboot of the iconic DC character: Brainiac. This isn't the first time that Brainiac has been discussed as a villain for Superman, as he was a possible villain for
Superman III, as well as the scrapped
Superman Lives and
Superman Reborn. The character was also a part of Kevin Smith's discarded script along side Doomsday. So, if you ask me, he's been tossed aside too many times in favor of Kal-El's main nemesis, Lex Luthor and it's time for him to move into the spot light.
Brainiac has a long history in DC Comics, first appearing in
Action Comics #242 in 1952. He was a bald, green humanoid who came to Earth and shrank several cities, including Metropolis, and stored them in jars, preserveing them so that he could use them to restore his home planet Bryak. Brainiac has many, many different versions and reincarnations to include here, but he has solidified himself as one of Superman's most dominate foes. His powers and/or abilities includes a "12th Level Intellect," which allows for calculations, enhanced memory, and an advanced understanding of mechanical engineering, bio-engineering, physics and many other theoretical and applied sciences and an extensive knowledge of numerous alien technologies. Brainiac has created such devices as a force field belt and a shrinking ray that, as mentioned previously, has the capabilities of shrinking cities. His superior mental capacities have allowed him to possess other beings, transfer his consciousness, manipulating computer systems and even some control over time and space. More recently, Brainiac has possessed strength and durability to challenge Superman, as well as some telekinesis and telepathy.
So how would incorporate Brainiac? Since DC and Warner Brother's seem hell-bent on keeping Lex Luthor in the picture, which is fine, because he is the yang to Superman's yin, I like where Tim Burton was headed with the character. The idea was also used in the popular
Justice League Unlimited as well as in the comic book story
Superman: What Ever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Essentially, Lex Luthor and Brainiac melded into one being, combining the goals of Brainiac and the ambitions and cruelty of Luthor, creating a being that would dominate mankind and beyond. Having said that, this would be a story that would be difficult to convey without it delving into the world of cheese and corn. Someone like Nolan and Snyder definitely have the creativity and the know-how to pull it off. I wouldn't mind seeing Kevin Smith's script come to life either, bringing Doomsday into the picture, but that would obviously have to come along later in the franchise.
Many actors have been suggested for the role of Brainiac, including Jason Isaacs, James Marsters (who played the role on the TV series
Smallville), Jude Law and Hugo Weaving. I went with a different choice here. Sam Neill has been a favorite actor f mine for some time. He has proven time and again that he is a very capable and talented actor. His work in
Jurassic Park is probably his most widely known role, but his part in the sci-fi horror film
Event Horizon, in which he played a possessed scientist, that really impressed. More recently, he played the rather naughty Cardinal Wolsey on
The Tudors, as well as one of the main villains in the questionable yet cool-looking
Daybreakers. Neill's voice has potential to add a creepiness and a darkness to any villain and I'd love to see what he could do with a character like Brainiac.
Leave your feedback below, as I'm sure this one will create some discussions. Also, be sure to check out part one of "Baddies That Need Movie Love" below!
Baddies That Need Movie Love: Omega Red