A brand new episode of the DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast has just dropped, featuring two exciting guests from the upcoming Superman film: Edi Gathegi, who plays Mister Terrific, and María Gabriela de Faría, cast as The Engineer, an associate of Lex Luthor.
During his appearance, Edi Gathegi clarified a key detail about Mister Terrific's iconic "T-mask," confirming that it's not paint, but rather made of nanotechnology. This aligns with the comic book portrayal, where Mister Terrific's entire costume often forms from millions of nanotech bots released from his T-spheres.
Gathegi also shared insights into how he developed his portrayal of Michael Holt (Mister Terrific). He initially approached the role with a clear idea formed during his screen test. However, once filming began, the collaborative process led to a more nuanced and intricate performance. "I didn't know what was going to happen until we did it," Gathegi revealed. "I had in my brain how I was going to play the part because I screen tested for the role. So when you screen test for a role, and you get it, you assume that's the way you're going to play it. So, I showed up to set, playing it that way, and it was in the playing that we found something that I think is a little bit more interesting, a little deeper, a little more complex, a little bit more hinged."
When asked about the meaning of "Fair Play" for Mister Terrific, Gathegi explained that it translates to sharing Holt's advanced technology with the rest of the world.
María Gabriela de Faría discussed director James Gunn's vision for The Engineer, describing her as initially intended to be "really serious, poker face, nothing ever happens to her." However, De Faría quickly realized there was more to the character that aligned with her acting background: "Oh shit, happens to her. She feels a lot. And she's really emotional and I think that's telenovela."
De Faría then delved more into The Engineer's motivations and her complex relationship with Lex Luthor. She developed her own backstory for the character, believing that The Engineer genuinely desires a better world. "She probably had some trauma when she was a kid and she felt the need to be part of the change," De Faría explained. "So she is a good person at heart that's extremely broken and is willing to team up with Lex to get rid of what he believes are evil aliens."
Intriguingly, De Faría also pitched a "secret relationship" between The Engineer and Lex to James Gunn. "I also kept telling James that I feel like [The Engineer and Lex] have a secret relationship. I feel like they f**k! Lex is so serious, and he has this gorgeous girlfriend that he treats terribly. So what if, after hours The Engineer gets really mean with Lex and he loves it."
Superman is slated for release on July 11, 2025, marking the inaugural film in James Gunn's rebooted DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Gunn not only directs but also penned the screenplay for this highly anticipated movie, which was formerly titled Superman: Legacy.
The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast:
- David Corenswet takes on the dual role of Kal-El/Clark Kent.
- Rachel Brosnahan portrays the intrepid reporter Lois Lane.
- Nicholas Hoult embodies Superman's arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor.
A contingent of other heroes and notable figures includes Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific.
Supporting the main cast are:
- Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord.
- María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica/The Engineer.
- Terence Rosemore as Otis.
- Wendell Pierce as Perry White.
- Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher.
- Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.
Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell appear as Clark Kent's adoptive parents, Jonathan 'Pa' Kent and Martha 'Ma' Kent, respectively. Additionally, Milly Alcock is set to debut as Supergirl in this film before headlining her own solo adventure, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.