Edi Gathegi stars as Mister Terrific in James Gunn‘s newly re-launched DC Universe. But before becoming Superman’s tech-genius sidekick, he was a mutant in another universe. Recently, he opened up about his shift from Marvel’s X-Men: First Class to DC’s Superman, and why stepping into the role of Mister Terrific meant so much after past hurt.
Gathegi’s journey in the superhero world hasn’t been without its bumps. Casting directors once pegged him as Darwin in X‑Men: First Class, a role he embraced, only to see it cut short. He later shared his frustration with the cliché “Black character dies first” trope. Marvel promised Darwin would return, after all, the comic book character regenerates, but those promises dissolved.
“I called my agents to say, ‘Hey, listen…I am also the only mutant who meets an untimely demise halfway through the film.’ It was 2009 at the time, and I was like, ‘Killing the Black guy first is so played out,” Gathegi told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Kenya-born actor was told his character would appear in future X-Men films and that his death was necessary for the storyline.
“They assured us that it was essential for the storytelling in order to motivate the mutants to avenge my [character’s] death. They also fully intended to bring my character back as they do in the comics. [Darwin] can’t die; he regenerates,” Gathegi recalls. ”So we held onto the hope that they would honor their word. When I didn’t come back for X-Men: Apocalypse, I just knew it was done.”
Fast forward to 2023, when DC came calling, asking Gathegi to audition for Superman as Michael Holt, aka Mister Terrific. At first, Gathegi was hesitant; he had just landed a new TV show and had a European vacation coming up.
Still, he submitted a self-tape, not expecting it to stand out. What he didn’t know was that Gunn had already seen 200 auditions without finding the right fit. After watching Gathegi’s tape, Gunn DM’d him, praising his tape. Ultimately, Gathegi landed the role.
“The pendulum has swung in the complete opposite direction. With X-Men: First Class, the message that I received as an actor and as a man of color in this world is you can be the most powerful mutant in the world and they’ll never let you reach your full potential,” Gathegi shared with THR. “Whereas with Mister Terrific in Superman, the message that I’m receiving is you can be one of the most intelligent characters in the universe, and you can help save the world. It’s a different level of conversation.”
Superman is crushing it at the box office: $22.5 million in preview screenings alone, and forecasts pointing to a domestic opening of anywhere between $115 million and $130 million. Internationally, projections exceed $200 million. All told, this puts the film on track to become a major hit and a strong launchpad for Gathegi’s Mister Terrific and the new DC universe.
For Gathegi, this role isn’t just a career move; it’s a redemption arc, for him and Black superhero representation.
“This job is kind of undoing the wrongs of Darwin. I know that as it stands right now, this isn’t the only project that I’ll be in,” Gathegi said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
We look forward to seeing more of Mister Terrific!
