We’re only a few weeks away until the release of the much anticipated Superman film from filmmaker and DC Studios co-head James Gunn. It’s no exaggeration to say that excitement and hype is palpable at this point with the marketing and promotion in full swing. While certain aspects of the film are still being kept under wraps, most notably casting, it seems like something new is being revealed each day. Case in point today Gunn revealed on social media that actor Stephen Blackehart will be playing the role of Sydney Happersen.

Debuting in the pages the relaunched Superman tile by writer/artist John Byrne, specifically Superman Vol. 2 #2, Sydney Happersen was a top scientist scientist at LexCorp and loyal assistant to Lex Luthor. Admittedly a lesser known character among non-comic book readers, this isn’t Happersen’s first time in media outside of comics having appeared in the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game. 

The character met his demise during the events of the “Fall of Metropolis” storyline after detonating a switch to launch ultrasonic missiles at Metropolis only to be electrocuted in the process. In his (albeit meager) defense, he only did after Superman convinced Luthor not to destroy Metropolis and be remembered as a mass murderer. Whether or not the character will meet a similar tragic end in the film remains to be seen.

As fans of James Gunn are well aware, he frequently works with past collaborators and Superman is no exception. Blackehart has appeared in a number of Gunn projects which isn’t surprising considering the two have a long history going as far back as Gunn’s days at Troma with Tromeo and Juliet, Gunn’s debut film as a screenwriter. Other notable roles for Stephen Blackehart include Knowhere dispatcher Steemie Blueliver whose name is clearly based on, as well as helicopter pilot Briscoe in The Suicide Squad.