Among the many things to look forward to in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film are new iterations of classic DC heroes and villains. Besides David Corenswet’s “old-fashioned” take as the lead character, there is also plenty of anticipation for Nicholas Hoult to play Lex Luthor, a deeply complex villain whose relationship with the Man of Steel has evolved and become much more nuanced throughout several comics, movies, and television shows. Collider attended Nicolas Hoult’s panel at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, where the actor briefly talked about Luther’s motivations while praising Gunn’s ability to bring an exciting new angle to the character, as he would say:

“If someone had ultimate power and the ability to do anything, then what happens when what he does doesn’t align with everyone’s belief of what is right? I love the way James Gunn writes this character. I think it’s very fun and very smart. I won’t give too much away.”

The cast and crew behind Superman have kept a tight lip on what viewers can expect of the story, which is unsurprising given the amount of moving pieces on display. Whether it be a character from the Authority or heroes like Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern, all playing a role in the film, so many aspects of the first film in the new DCU are intriguing to say the least. Hoult’s Luthor and his relationship with the other heroes, and his influence in the greater DCU, remains to be seen. Still, it will be exciting to watch the character’s story unfold, especially in comparison to other live-action portrayals in film.
Nicolas Hoult is the Latest in a Long Line of Memorable Lex Luthor Actors

From mad scientist to cool and collected ruthless business mogul, Luthor has taken on many different forms in comics and other media. However, his intellect and inferiority complex in his relationship with Superman has always been a driving force for some of the best stories involving the character. Gene Hackman delivered one of the most memorable iterations of the character in the Richard Donner Superman films, acting opposite Christopher Reeves in an enthralling dynamic that would influence Superman stories for years to come.

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Michael Rosenbaum also gave an iconic performance of the character in the Smallville television series. This Superman prequel explored Clark Kent’s teenage years before he would wear the red cape. Given that the series had multiple television seasons to develop the character, Rosenbaum’s Luthor is a much more multi-faceted character, starting out as a friend of Clark’s before the Kryptonian’s secret heritage leads to a rift in their friendship that eventually becomes a rivalry.
Jesse Eisenberg also played Luthor in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman and Justice League movies, providing an eccentric performance as the character who unfortunately would be left to the wayside as the DCEU came to an end. Hoult is the latest in a long line of talented performers taking on the role and will hopefully leave his distinct mark on the character, especially since the evil genius is now being written by someone as talented as James Gunn, who has a unique way of writing evil characters that can also still be empathized with to a certain extent.

Superman

Release Date

July 11, 2025

Director

James Gunn

Producers

Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran