If Doctor Fate does show up in Man of Tomorrow, we’re likely looking at one of two scenarios. The first—and perhaps most intriguing—is that Brosnan’s Doctor Fate could appear as a Multiverse variant. That would be a pretty big deal because it would mark the first time Gunn’s DCU directly acknowledges or bridges elements from the SnyderVerse era. So far, that hasn’t happened in any officially announced project.
Sure, Gunn has kept some actors around—John Cena’s Peacemaker being the prime example—but those have been treated as part of the new continuity, not callbacks to the old one. Bringing back Brosnan’s Doctor Fate would be different. It would be a deliberate nod to what came before, a Multiverse handshake between two distinct DC eras.
The second scenario? Gunn could simply recast Brosnan as the DCU’s Doctor Fate without any Multiverse explanation whatsoever. Just a clean slate with a familiar face. After all, Gunn did confirm that Doctor Fate appears in the Hall of Justice mural shown in promotional material for Superman—which might be exactly what Brosnan is referring to when he mentions hearing about the character’s involvement. Whether that’s Brosnan’s version or someone else entirely remains to be seen.
The Black Adam factor
The timing of all this is particularly fascinating given that Dwayne Johnson recently confirmed he’s moved on from DC and Black Adam. The Rock publicly threw his support behind Gunn’s DCU reboot and made it clear he’s not looking back. With Johnson officially out of the picture, bringing Brosnan back—whether as a Multiverse variant or a rebooted version—becomes a lot easier from a storytelling perspective. There’s no baggage, no need to explain why Black Adam isn’t around, and no conflicting narratives to juggle.
So, is this actually happening?
Let’s pump the brakes for a second—nothing is confirmed. Brosnan isn’t launching a social media campaign or showing up at Comic-Con with a Doctor Fate cosplay. He’s simply saying he’s available and interested if the opportunity arises. “No, I’m not [banging down the door of a Marvel movie],” Brosnan told GQ. “I’ve never banged down anyone’s door. I mean, they know where to find me.”
That’s the kind of laid-back confidence you’d expect from someone who’s already played James Bond. He’s not desperate, but he’s definitely open.
From Gunn’s perspective, if he wants to establish a mystical presence in the DCU early on, Doctor Fate is one of the smartest ways to do it. The character opens the door to the supernatural side of the DC universe—magic, ancient powers, cosmic threats—all the stuff that makes comic book storytelling so delightfully weird. And having an actor of Brosnan’s caliber already familiar with the role? That’s just good business.
When can we expect answers?
Superman: Man of Tomorrow is set to hit theaters on July 9, 2027. Directed and written by James Gunn himself, the film stars David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. The supporting cast includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Maria Gabriela de Faria as The Engineer, and Milly Alcock as Supergirl.
Whether Doctor Fate—and by extension, Pierce Brosnan—will be part of that lineup remains one of the DCU’s most intriguing unanswered questions. But if Gunn does decide to bring the character into the fold, he already knows exactly who to call. And judging by Brosnan’s comments, that call would be very warmly received.