Director James Gunn has confirmed that Bradley Cooper will portray Jor-El, Superman’s father, in the upcoming DC film Superman. Gunn, 58, who previously worked with the A Star Is Born actor (50) on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy—where Cooper voiced Rocket Raccoon—shared that Cooper is making a special appearance as a personal favor.

In an interview with Jake’s Takes, Gunn explained, “Bradley’s just helping me out. We’ve remained close since Guardians, and I respect him a lot both as an actor and a filmmaker. I asked him, ‘Will you do me a favor and come to England to shoot in a 3D environment as Jor-El?’ He agreed.” When asked if Cooper’s Jor-El might return in future DCU projects, Gunn hinted it’s possible but gave no concrete details.

Cooper isn’t the only Guardians cast member joining the project—Pom Klementieff and Michael Rooker, known for playing Mantis and Yondu respectively, will voice two robots located in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. The movie stars David Corenswet as Superman, who struggles to reconcile his human upbringing with his Kryptonian heritage, all while facing off against Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult).

Superman, hitting theaters on July 11, marks the start of Gunn’s new DC Universe. Corenswet emphasized that this rebooted DCU will focus more on telling meaningful, standalone stories rather than building a rigid interconnected franchise. He told Screen Rant that sticking too closely to a long-term plan can lead to creative compromises, which Gunn and co-head Peter Safran aim to avoid.

While Corenswet is largely unaware of DCU’s future plans, he trusts Gunn’s vision. He acknowledged he’s not deeply familiar with the comic book fandom or timeline announcements but appreciates that quality is being prioritized over strict scheduling. Gunn and Safran are committed to creating memorable, high-quality movies and shows that resonate with audiences and stand the test of time.