Pierce Brosnan hints that he might return as Doctor Fate in Man of Tomorrow, but is this true, or is a game of telephone being played with information getting lost in the shuffle? The legendary James Bond actor played Doctor Fate in 2022’s Black Adam, a film starring Dwayne Johnson as the title anti-hero. The fallout of the superhero film led to James Gunn and Peter Safran being appointed heads of DC Studios and, ultimately, the slate being wiped clean for the DCU.
Speaking with GQ, Brosnan hinted that he might appear as Doctor Fate in Man of Tomorrow, saying, “I’ve heard that Dr Fate was going to have his own show, or his own movie. I’ve heard that he’s going to be in the next Superman.” He also talked about playing Doctor Fate and reprising the role, saying “I enjoyed that, the philosophy of that character, very much, and I would definitely be open to it.” Meanwhile, DC Studios co-president James Gunn took to Threads and said, “My opinion is I’ve never heard of a Dr. Fate rumor.”
Will Doctor Fate Join the Cast of Heroes in ‘Man of Tomorrow’?
It is entirely possible that James Gunn is downplaying the news, and Doctor Fate is in Man of Tomorrow, as he didn’t directly say he was not in the film. However, it is also reasonable to assume that Pierce Brosnan might have gotten some information wrong. The actor might have been referring to a prior Superman movie that with Henry Cavill before the DCEU was rebooted. In fact, Black Adam was intended to launch its own mini-corner of the DCEU, featuring not only a Superman vs. Black Adam crossover, but also a Justice Society spin-off and a Wonder Twins movie.
Brosnan might also be referring to the fact that a Doctor Fate-like character, SisSymmetryetry, appears on the Hall of Justice Mural in Superman. Sister Symmetry is the Justice League Dark hero Madame Xanadu, wearing the Cloak of Cyra, a magical item created by a female Lord of the Order similar to Doctor Fate’s helmet. Someone could have told the legendary actor about a Doctor Fate Easter egg in Superman.
Now, to some extent, Doctor Fate would align with much of what James Gunn has established for the DCU. Doctor Fate was a member of the Justice League International run that Gunn is pulling heavily from, which also included Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern and Booster Gold. Doctor Fate is also a member of the Justice Society, which in the comics also includes Justice Gang members Mister Terrific and Hawkgirl. However, Man of Tomorrow is already filling up with characters, as not only will it include Brainiac, but rumors point to the movie possibly introducing Wonder Woman (a rumor Gunn did not deny). Between them, as well as returning characters from Superman, and maybe characters from Peacemaker, not sure if there is room for Doctor Fate in Man of Tomorrow.
