Superman: Legacy’s Lex Luthor Promise Can Finally Deliver What 7 Movies Failed To

The DC Universe iteration of Lex Luthor can stand out from all previous cinematic takes of the character if fans are to believe James Gunn’s views on Superman: Legacy. From Gene Hackman’s portrayal in Richard Donner’s Superman movies to Jesse Eisenberg’s reimagining in the DC Extended Universe timeline, Superman’s arch-nemesis Lex Luthor has gone through multiple makeovers. But there might be something different that a noted character actor like Nicholas Hoult can bring to life in James Gunn’s first chapter of a revamped DC Universe. The X-Men star will be paired opposite David Corenswet’s Superman and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, as has now been officially confirmed by Gunn himself.

Hoult’s addition to the Superman: Legacy cast is an interesting choice given his previous involvement in sci-fi and superhero movies. In fact, the British actor once auditioned to play the Kryptonian hero in Man of Steel before the role went to Henry Cavill. Getting to walk in the footsteps of live-action Lex Luthor actors is no small feat, but the actor’s history combined with some current hints about the character and plot suggest a promising future is in store for both Nicholas Hoult and the villain he will play.

Superman: Legacy Can Finally Deliver Power Suit Lex Luthor

In an Instagram post, James Gunn wrote about how he met Nicholas Hoult for dinner to discuss how to “create a Lex that will be different from anything you’ve seen before and will never forget.” The writer-director might be planning to portray a new version of Lex Luthor that fits the plot of Superman: Legacy which in itself could be a reset button for Gunn’s new DC Universe. Considering that almost all cinematic iterations of the character frame him as a ruthless businessman or scientist, Gunn might be hinting at Hoult’s Luthor being a full-fledged supervillain this time.

This could signal the cinematic debut of a much anticipated storyline for Lex Luthor – namely that of his mechanized power suit. While Luthor was introduced as a powerless human in the comics, the Bronze Age found him occasionally donning a Warsuit to defeat Superman. The suit debuted in 1983, with George Perez inking the armor’s iconic purple-and-green color scheme. Since then, the suit has only been reinterpreted with more powers and abilities, with some memorable versions in the animated movie Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths and the Injustice video games. If Gunn indeed introduces a Power Suit-wearing Luthor, then the antagonist will be a fitting combatant to Superman, instead of just being a manipulative industrialist who pulls the strings.

Why Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor Being Different Is So Important

Over the years, many actors have offered their unique take on the personality of Lex Luthor. Gene Hackman prioritized the comedic elements, while Jesse Eisenberg brought a more youthful, unhinged energy to the character. While these takes often demonstrate considerable acting talent, they are almost all limited by the fact that Luthor ended up being somewhat pigeonholed into a specific role as a manipulative mastermind in the end. But considering his lore in the comics, there are endless possibilities of how Luthor could approach actually getting in action to take down Superman, either with his Warsuit or Kryptonite-laced weapons, opening a range of useful possibilities.

Another way Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor could be different is in terms of the villain’s psyche. While all previous actors have offered memorable performances, they all reflect mostly the negative side of Luthor.When compared to the comics, none of the live-action takes on Lex Luthor have managed to capture his morally gray nature and savior complex. Despite his ruthlessness, Luthor is convinced that he’s improving human society by freeing it from a messiah-like superhero – and being able to truly hone in on this aspect of the character could be what makes the DCU supervillain the most compelling of the current roster.

Donner’s Superman movies, Superman Returns, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice couldn’t explore the more tumultuous and nuanced sides of Luthor, often reducing him to a power-hungry foe. Even if the Warsuit turns him into a supervillain, Luthor views himself as a superhero, and some storylines even portray him as an occasional antihero, which all sets up real opportunity for the DCU version of the character should the franchise be able to dedicate real time to his story. Ultimately, this multi-dimensional nature is what can set the Lex Luthor of Superman: Legacy apart from formulaic villain tropes.