Edi Gathegi Reveals Superman Role Is His Redemption Arc After X-Men Tragedy

Do you recall Edi Gathegi’s appearance in X-Men: First Class? Regardless of whether you recognize his name, fans of the initial installment of the “First Class” series of X-Men films will likely remember Darwin, Gathegi’s character, being killed by Sebastian Shaw. Despite Darwin possessing the mutant ability to endure any harm, this was his fate. Now, Gathegi is returning to the superhero genre by portraying Michael Holt, also known as Mr. Terrific, in James Gunn’s Superman, and he discussed how this part in the 2025 movie represents a “redemption arc” for him.

Despite not discussing his experience on X-Men: First Class during the DC Studios Showcase podcast due to it being “too juicy,” Gathegi expressed the significance of portraying the DC Universe’s Mr. Terrific to him in his own words.

I’m thrilled that I’ll have a chance for redemption in the latest DC Universe! I can’t wait to motivate a brand-new wave of young Black children with this new superhero character. Mr. Terrific is simply remarkable, and there’s an incredible amount of potential just waiting to be tapped!

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For the first time on screen, Superman is set to introduce Mr. Terrific, and I appreciate how James Gunn is honoring the DC character’s anniversary in an engaging way.

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In superhero films, it’s usual for characters to meet their end, but the demise of Darwin in X-Men: First Class stood out as peculiar. Similar to his comic book character, the portrayal of Darwin by Edi Gathegi featured adaptive evolution abilities – his body would swiftly adjust to any circumstance or environment to ensure survival, such as developing gills when submerged and growing armored skin upon attack. However, unlike his remarkable adaptations, a simple act by Sebastian Shaw – channeling one of Havok’s energy blasts towards Darwin – led to his immediate demise.

Based on Edi Gathegi’s statement that Mr. Terrific has “a lot of potential,” it seems likely that his character won’t meet a tragic end in the Superman storyline. What’s more intriguing is that Gathegi appreciates the depth Mr. Terrific brings to the role and hopes he will make an impression on young Black audiences. Given Michael Holt’s intelligence, ranking among the brightest minds on Earth (possibly even at the top), and his impressive nanotechnology, this impact seems quite probable. Gathegi also shared his thoughts about developing Mr. Terrific’s character for the upcoming DC film: he found it challenging yet rewarding to uncover the layers of this fascinating superhero.

Before we actually performed the role, I wasn’t certain about how it would unfold. Since I auditioned for the part, though, I had already visualized my approach to the character. Thus, when I arrived on set and began acting according to my plan, we stumbled upon something more intriguing, layered, and nuanced – something that seemed a bit more multifaceted than what I initially imagined.

Though Michael Holt is not the original Mr. Terrific in the comics, having been preceded by Terry Sloane during World War II, he is certainly more recognized of the two. This will be the second time the character appears in live-action, following Echo Kellum’s portrayal of Curtis Holt within the Arrowverse. In the movie Superman, Edi Gathegi plays Mr. Terrific, Nathan Fillion is Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced is Hawkgirl – these three comprise the Justice Gang, a team backed by Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord.

On July 11, Superman graces the big screen, and here’s to hoping we’ll catch more of Edi Gathegi’s portrayal of Mr. Terrific in the DC Universe. Additionally, you can find the talented actor playing Dev Ayesa in “For All Mankind,” a series available for streaming with an Apple TV+ subscription.

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2025-06-09 16:09