Movies News Talk
Particularly with the expected arrival of Brainiac, a classic Superman villain, the forthcoming DC Universe (DCU) reboot is creating great enthusiasm among fans. Based on Michael Emerson's outstanding performance in the animated series "My Adventures with Superman," there is a strong case for casting him as Brainiac even though the live-action portrayal of this legendary character is still unknown.
Michael Emerson gives a fresh and convincing performance of Brainiac in "My Adventures With Superman." Unlike the usual green-skinned, cybernetic-loaded alien, this Brainiac is presented as a Kryptonian android developed during war. Undercovering Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, he brainwashes her into conquering and destroying worlds that challenge his rule, so subtly arranging Krypton's death.
Especially remarkable is Emerson's voice performance. He precisely captures the core of Brainiac by embodying his terrible calm and limitless intelligence. Moreover, Emerson masterfully depicts Brainiac's developing emotional instability, so adding complexity and depth to the character as Superman and Supergirl challenge his perfection and compliance quest.
It is indisputable that Michael Emerson experienced portraying villainous characters in live-action. Brainiac chose him ideal because of his legendary performance of Ben Linus in "Lost," which confirmed his mastery of capturing difficult and morally dubious characters. Emerson's ability to portray the villain on the big screen with both the intellect and the underlying darkness of a character like Brainiac would give the villain fresh dimension.
Michael Emerson's ability to represent several iterations of the character shouldn't be a problem even if the Dcu's Brainiac might be more in line with the classic comic book portrayal. The animated and live-action versions would probably live in different worlds and let for different interpretations free from conflict. Emerson's extraordinary acting range would also help him to move between these two readings, so giving the character's portrayal across media an unusual degree of consistency.
Actors presenting characters in both animated and live-action forms have a well-established precedent. Notable performances include Lars Mikkelsen's Grand Admiral Thrawn in "Star Wars Rebels" and "The Mandalorian," and Katee Sackhoff's Bo-Katan Kryze in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." This effective cross-media casting technique has helped to create a sense of continuity and shared universe, so opening the path for a like approach with Michael Emerson as Brainiac.
Michael Emerson's performance of Brainiac in "My Adventures With Superman" is an amazing evidence of his talent. He is ideal for the Dcu's live-action adaptation since he can portray the complexity, intelligence, and sinister character nature. His past performance of gripping villains supports this point even more. The DCU should welcome this ideal casting selection and realize Michael Emerson's Brainiac on the big screen.