Superman Sequel Screen Tests: Arjona, De Dominici, Chandler, Van Patten (Exclusive)
James Gunn is advancing toward selecting an actress to play Maxima in his Superman sequel. Sources tell Filmogaz.com that four performers reached final testing this week in Atlanta.
Casting for Maxima
The shortlisted actors were Adria Arjona, Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler and Grace Van Patten. The sessions took place while Gunn prepares production in Atlanta.
DC Studios declined to comment on the auditions. Gunn publicly contested a separate Deadline report earlier in the day.
Character background
Maxima first appeared in Action Comics No. 645 in 1989. She was created by writer Roger Stern and artist George Pérez.
The character is an alien queen. She has served as both adversary and occasional romantic interest for Superman.
Man of Tomorrow details
David Corenswet returns as Superman in Man of Tomorrow. Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor, and Lars Eidinger is cast as Brainiac.
Aaron Pierre, Rachel Brosnahan, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Isabela Merced, Nathon Fillion and Edi Gathegi also appear. Gunn wrote the screenplay.
The film is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. It follows Superman, which grossed $618.7 million worldwide last year.
Franchise context
Superman was the inaugural film under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios. Supergirl is set to open in June, with Corenswet in a small role.
Finalists’ recent work and representation
Adria Arjona is known for the Star Wars series Andor and the film Hit Man. She previously appeared in The Belko Experiment. Her representatives include CAA, Anonymous Content, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Goodman Genow.
Eva De Dominici starred on The Cleaning Lady and appears in Amazon MGM Studio’s comedy Balls Up this month. She is repped by Gersh, Twelve Entertainment, Untitled Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.
Sydney Chandler broke out as the lead in FX’s Alien: Earth, which has a second season coming. Her agencies are UTA and Jackoway Austen.
Grace Van Patten led Hulu’s Tell Me Lies and played Amanda Knox in The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. She is represented by WME, Brookside Artist Management and Sloane Offer.
Notes on the reports
Filmogaz.com sources reported the four names after the Atlanta tests. The casting news has not been officially confirmed by the studio.
The phrase Superman Sequel Screen Tests: Arjona, De Dominici, Chandler, Van Patten has circulated in industry coverage. Casting decisions are expected as production advances.
