Sean Gunn announces Maxwell Lord will return in two new DCU projects.

During the promotional tour for his upcoming AI-horror thriller, Sean Gunn shared some exciting news about his role in the reimagined DC Universe. He revealed that DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, who happens to be his brother, has given him the go-ahead to announce that his character, the cunning businessman Maxwell Lord, will appear in at least two additional DCU projects.

“James Gunn has approved me to say he will appear in two other projects,” Gunn stated.

When directly asked if one of those appearances might be in the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow, Gunn quickly refrained from confirming anything. “I can’t say, of course,” he replied.

Gunn was a bit more open when discussing why Maxwell Lord hasn’t interacted with characters in HBO’s Lanterns. He suggested that the series’ focus on ground-level investigations and specific heroes simply doesn’t register on Lord’s radar, implying that they are “small fry” compared to the larger, high-stakes maneuvers he’s orchestrating behind the scenes.

This version of Lord marks a return to the character’s roots from the late-1980s Justice League International comics. Instead of being a straightforward supervillain, the DCU’s portrayal presents Lord as a savvy, media-conscious corporate leader. As the head of LordTech, he funds hero teams like the Justice Gang while navigating the intricate politics of a world filled with metahumans. Positioned at the intersection of corporate PR, advanced defense technology, and government oversight, Lord serves as a uniquely grounded narrative anchor for the franchise, embodying a megalomaniac reminiscent of figures like Elon Musk.

Gunn’s update comes as he promotes Appofeniacs, an intriguing indie horror film about deepfakes and AI chaos, where he not only stars but also serves as an executive producer. With roles like G.I. Robot and Weasel in Creature Commandos, alongside bringing Maxwell Lord to life, Gunn is quickly becoming one of the busiest actors in DC Studios’ Chapter 1 lineup.

The confirmation of Lord’s involvement in multiple projects underscores DC Studios’ strategy of interconnected storytelling across various media. Whether LordTech’s influence appears in future live-action series, animated crossovers, or major films, Maxwell Lord’s financial and political clout is poised to have a significant impact on the developing universe.

For now, fans will have to wait to see where this calculating mogul will show up next. One thing is clear: LordTech’s expansion is already in motion, and James Gunn is allowing his brother to drop just enough hints to keep everyone speculating.

Appofeniacs releases in theaters on Oct. 2.