Adria Arjona’s ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Physique Has the Internet Talking and the Role Debate Raging
When Adria Arjona was cast in James Gunn’s upcoming DCU sequel, the internet immediately had opinions. The ‘Andor’ breakout had long been fan-cast in DC properties, and her landing a spot in ‘Man of Tomorrow’ felt like the universe finally catching up to what audiences already knew: she belongs in a franchise this big. What no one expected was just how visually striking her preparation for the role would become.
The film is shaping up to be a packed and ambitious follow-up to ‘Superman’, with David Corenswet returning as the Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult back as Lex Luthor. This time, the uneasy rivals are forced into an alliance to take on Brainiac, a super-intelligent threat played by Lars Eidinger. Additional cast members include Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., among others.
The new photo that has fans doing a double take came by way of trainer Paolo Mascitti’s Instagram story, showing Arjona mid-pose in a home gym, flexing with visible muscle definition that has been building since production ramped up. Mascitti, who also worked with David Corenswet to prepare him for his Superman role, has been training Arjona throughout filming and has regularly reshared her workout content on his own account. Earlier social media posts showed her performing heavy lifts in a structured gym setting, with the song “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne playing in the background as she tagged Mascitti in the footage.
The transformation is turning heads partly because of the mystery still surrounding her character. While she has widely been reported as playing Maxima, a formidable alien queen from DC Comics, some fans and outlets still believe she may actually be playing Wonder Woman, and the former feels like the more popular wish among audiences. In the source material, Maxima is the warrior queen from the planet Almerac, a character who arrives on Earth in search of a suitable mate and sets her sights on Superman. She has previously appeared in live-action in ‘Smallville’ and ‘Supergirl’, but has never been depicted in a DC feature film.
Arjona won the role after testing against finalists Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler, and Grace Van Patten, with a deal said to be imminent as cameras prepared to roll in Atlanta. The competitive casting process only underscores how coveted the part was, and her physical commitment to the role is now making it abundantly clear that whoever she is playing, she is not treating it lightly.
Arjona has previously crossed into major franchise worlds through ‘Andor’ and Marvel’s ‘Morbius’, but ‘Man of Tomorrow’ marks her first appearance in a DC Studios film. The production is filming at Trilith Studios in Georgia, with the film officially set for release on July 9, 2027. With the DCU’s biggest sequel yet still over a year away, the combination of set footage, physique reveals, and unresolved character speculation is keeping the conversation alive every single week.
Whether Arjona ultimately steps into the armored regality of Maxima or the golden armor of Wonder Woman, one thing is already settled for fans: the dedication is undeniable. Are you in the Maxima camp or do you think the role she’s building this body for is actually Diana Prince?
