The DCU Won’t Make Room for Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate — I’m Crushed

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

Most viewers anticipated that 2022’s DC film Black Adam, headlined by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, wouldn’t fully match the weight of its marketing. What few expected was Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate to make such an impression. So when Brosnan, in a recent GQ interview, indicated he’d be open to returning to the role, fans eagerly welcomed the possibility.

“I’ve heard that Doctor 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,” Brosnan said. Asked whether he’d reprise the part, he added, “I enjoyed that, the philosophy of that character, very much, and I would definitely be open to it.”

That comment sparked speculation that Fate might appear in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow — the next Superman installment reportedly involving Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor and a confrontation with Brainiac. But DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn weighed in on social media, and the response cooled many fans’ hopes.

“My opinion is I’ve never heard a Dr Fate rumor,” Gunn posted on Threads, which was a disappointing update for those expecting Fate’s return. The remark suggested not only that Fate may not appear in Man of Tomorrow, but also cast doubt on whether Brosnan’s iteration will be revisited any time soon — a shame given how effectively he embodied the sorcerer.

The source of Doctor Fate’s abilities is the Helmet of Fate — an ancient relic granted by Nabu, the Lord of Order — which bestows profound magical power and millennia of accumulated knowledge. Brosnan, then 72, leaned into that ancient gravitas, grounding the character with calm authority as he guided Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) and the Justice Society. His dramatic sacrifice to save Hawkman at the close of Black Adam was a pivotal, selfless moment that helped the team prevail.

There’s fertile storytelling potential in Fate’s backstory. The Black Adam: Justice Society Files tie-in comic, which models the character on Brosnan’s likeness, teases a deeper history that could be explored in future projects. And because Dwayne Johnson once hinted that Fate would return — via a post on X — Gunn’s denial felt especially disheartening for fans who hoped that promise would be honored.

Compared with Marvel’s sorcerer archetype, many find Doctor Fate more compelling: he reads less like a flashy showman and more like a seasoned mentor whose authority comes from experience. Brosnan has pointed to Benedict Cumberbatch’s interpretation of Doctor Strange as an influence, but he avoids arrogance by giving Fate a measured humility and steady gravitas.

Here’s hoping this exchange between Brosnan and Gunn sparks a genuine conversation — Doctor Fate still has stories worth telling.

Source: Polygon