Superman: 7 surprising cameos in the James Gunn DCU movie

James Gunn's Superman has just leveled up the cameo game, and it is far beyond what anyone could have expected. The film doesn’t just reintroduce the Man of Steel — it teases a full-blown multiverse of DC heroes, with unexpected faces popping up throughout.

Expect legendary Avengers voices, Justice Society legends, and family surprises to spill into Metropolis. From headline-grabbing news anchors to extraterrestrial surprises, here are 7 surprising cameos that signal a new DCU is taking shape, one cameo at a time.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Readers’ discretion is advised.

Bradley Cooper as Superman's father, Jor-El

Superman wastes no time tugging at legacy strings, opening with none other than Bradley Cooper as Jor-El, the father of Kal-El and the ghost of Krypton's past. The role, first made iconic by Marlon Brando in the 1978 classic, casts a long shadow, but James Gunn knew exactly what he was doing. In a recent Entertainment Tonight interview, Gunn shared that Cooper was chosen with Brando’s presence in mind, not to copy, but to echo. Speaking to the outlet, Gunn said:

“I needed somebody who could play Jor-El, who had the stature of what we imagine that character to be. Somebody that could walk in the footsteps of Marlon Brando.”

This isn't the first time Cooper has collaborated with the director. The actor had voiced Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, which was helmed by Gunn. Continuing, Gunn added:

“He’s a friend. We’ve stayed in close contact since the ‘Guardians’ movies, and I admire him greatly as an actor and as a director. [I asked] Hey, will you do me a favor? Come down, go to England, we’re going to shoot you in a 3D environment, make a hologram of you, and you can play Jor-El.”

Will Reeve as a news correspondent

Christopher Reeve's Superman is perhaps one of the most iconic versions of the superhero in the franchise's history, and his son Will Reeve is nurturing that legacy. The actor appeared in Gunn's Superman as a reporter, which was a surprising and, at the same time, emotional cameo from him.

Speaking about the role, he told The New York Post:

“I was honored to get the call from the wonderful filmmakers, and I jumped at the opportunity. And it was a nice homage, I think, to my dad, who for millions of people has been Superman for generations, and for the filmmakers of this new version of Superman. To include me as a way to include him meant a lot.”

John Cena as Peacemaker

James Gunn is not just rebooting Superman — he is planting seeds for the entire DCU, and one standout cameo is John Cena’s return as Peacemaker, aka Chris Smith. In a hilarious blink-and-you'll-miss-it news segment, Cena’s Peacemaker critiques Superman’s tactics, reminding us that this Peacemaker exists in the new canon, too.

It is a cheeky nod to Gunn’s interconnected universe and sets up a perfect bridge into Peacemaker Season 2, where Cena’s character grapples with his place among bigger heroes. With that cameo, the film doesn’t just introduce Supes, it telegraphs a world of quirky, overlapping narratives.

Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord

James Gunn can’t resist a little family business, and Superman is no exception. His brother, Sean Gunn, makes a sly appearance in the final act as Maxwell Lord, the sharp-suited billionaire behind LordTech and the corporate puppeteer of the Justice Gang.

Unlike the traditional Justice League, this government-aligned trio (Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific) operates under Lord’s careful watch, until they don’t. After Superman’s bold intervention in the Boravian–Jarhanpur conflict, the heroes act independently, leaving Lord scrambling to explain himself during a tense TV interview. His slick PR mask cracks as he's grilled on live news, suggesting a major power shift in how metahumans operate in the new DCU.

Sean Gunn, no stranger to playing scene-stealing oddballs (he has worked on Kraglin, Rocket’s mo-cap), delivers a performance that’s equal parts charming and slippery. With his return confirmed for Peacemaker season 2, it is clear Lord’s influence and paranoia are just getting started.

Michael Rosenbaum as one of Lex Luthor's guards

Premiere Of Sony Pictures Classics' "Becoming Led Zeppelin" - Source: Getty

Michael Rosenbaum, the iconic Lex Luthor of Smallville fame, sneaks back into the Superman mythos, not with a bald head and villainous glare, but with his voice. In Superman, he lends his voice to one of the Raptor guards in Lex Luthor’s private militia, a stealthy nod only die-hard fans will catch.

It is a full-circle moment: from starring in 154 episodes as Luthor to now voicing a soldier under a new Lex, played by Nicholas Hoult. Rosenbaum’s cameo may be blink-and-you-miss-it, but it is a clever wink from James Gunn, and maybe a hint at more to come.

Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.

Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flag Sr. in Superman, bringing his animated Creature Commandos character into live action. Though brief, his appearance ties the DCU timeline together, showing Flag siding with Superman against Lex Luthor’s growing influence.

As the gritty leader of a monster task force, his allegiance hints at deeper conflicts ahead, especially with his expanded role confirmed for Peacemaker season 2.

Milly Alcock as Supergirl

James Gunn saves the best cameo for last as we get a glimpse at DCU's next venture with the Woman of Tomorrow. As Superman recuperates in the Fortress of Solitude, sharing a quiet exchange with a newly-repaired Robot #4, peace is shattered when something explodes through the wall like a drunk meteor. The dust clears. Robot #4 announces that it's Superman's cousin.

Enter Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, and she’s not here for a heartfelt family reunion — she is here for her dog. Stumbling in with windswept hair, a wrinkled jacket, and chaotic energy radiating off her, Kara Zor-El makes the most unforgettable entrance in the DCU yet. She slurs a thanks to Clark for watching Krypto and takes him, which is when it is revealed to us that Krypto was hers all along, and Superman was simply dog-sitting. Big brother energy.

It is a perfect tease for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, dropping in 2026, and a bold declaration that this isn’t your polished, prim Supergirl. Alcock’s version is rough around the edges, irreverent, and instantly magnetic, the cosmic counterweight to Corenswet’s calm. One minute on screen, and she already steals the show. As she crash‑landed from a legend to our screens, it readies us to brace ourselves for DCU's next big project.