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Summary
TheDCU ’s interlingual rendition of Lex Luthor inSuperman : Legacycan instruct many valuable lesson from his numerous predecessors . DC Studios is start a new chapter of DC on photographic film , withJames Gunn’sSuperman : Legacyset to serve well as its first major cinematic outing . Nicholas Hoult bring together theSuperman : Legacycastas Lex Luthor , and will seem diametric David Corenswet ’s Man of Steel , with the picture set to debut stagily on July 11 , 2025 .
As the DCU ’s Lex Luthor , Hoult ’s edition of the character follows a very farseeing demarcation of previous live - action Lex Luthors in both DC moving-picture show and TV shows . Eachlive - action version of Lex Luthorhas contribute something alone and worthful to his legacy as a scoundrel , and each can also learn Hoult ’s Lex some important moral for his function in the DCU . Here are 10 important matter Hoult ’s Lex Luthor should take from previous reading of the DC villain .
hot - military action Lex Luthor doer
Movie or TV Series Appearances
Lyle Talbot
Atom Man vs. Superman
Gene Hackman
Superman : The Movie , Superman II , Superman II : The Ricard Donner Cut , & Superman IV : The Quest for Peace
Scott James Wells
Superboy
Sherman Howard
John Shea
Lois & Clark : The New Adventures of Superman
Michael Rosenbaum
Smallville
Kevin Spacey
Superman Returns
Jesse Eisenberg
Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice , Justice League , & Zack Snyder ’s Justice League
Jon Cryer
Supergirl
Titus Welliver
Titans
Michael Cudlitz
Superman & Lois
Nicholas Hoult
Superman : Legacy
10Lex Luthor Is Inherently Deceptive
He’s All About Tricking His Enemies
One of Lex Luthor ’s defining character traits as a villain is his skill at strategic deception , and it ’s a natural endowment that has served every big and small screen variation of the character well . Lex Luthor ’s power to deceive both Superman and the populace about the nature of his villainous plans is what has made him one of the greatest supervillains ever created . It would sure be to the benefit ofNicholas Hoult ’s Lex Luthorto make Lex ’s delusory nature one of his many asset in the DCU .
9Lex’s Scientific Knowledge Shouldn’t Be Overlooked
It’s Been Instrumental To Many Of His Plots
Modern portrayals of Lex Luthor in the comics , movies , and television place gravid emphasis on Lex as a conniving business tycoon , which makes his origins as a mad scientist type of villain easy to forget . However , numerous cinematic interlingual rendition of Lex Luthor have still contain Lex ’s scientific genius as a key artillery he wields against Superman , peculiarly Gene Hackman and Jesse Eisenberg ’s versions of Lex . For his use in the DCU , Lex ’s scientific aptitude is a trait of his that should be maintained .
Before being chuck as Lex Luthor inSuperman : Legacy , Nicholas Hoult was also considered for Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’sThe Batman , though Robert Pattinson ultimately won the role .
8Lex’s Business Acumen Is Important
LexCorp Is A Major DC Universe Conglomerate
While Lex Luthor ’s scientific genius should carry over into his enactment in the DCU , his contemporary status as a ruthless businessman should also not be abandoned . Lex Luthor ’s ship’s company , LexCorp , is one of the biggest multinational conglomerates in DC Comics , while Lex ’s status as a billionaire businessman is one of the most enduring examples of a sinister king plotting everything up to mankind domination in popular culture . His report as both a cool business genius and supervillain all in one is another classic trait that anterior versions of Lex have show that Nicholas Hoult ’s Lex Luthor should for sure dribble over into the DCU .
7Lex Luthor Respects Superman
His Hatred Doesn’t Blind Him To Superman’s Power
Lex Luthor might hate everything Superman represents , but that does n’t intend he does n’t respect the Man of Steel . On the opposite , Lex holds the variety of respect for Superman that only the most calculating and ruthless of villain can have . In every previous Superman version , Lex recognise just how outmatched he is by Superman in a forcible sentiency , and takes every safeguard to counter Superman ’s powers while manipulating Superman to walk into whatever bunker he lays . Jesse Eisenberg ’s Lex Luthor is specially good at this inBatman v Superman , and it ’s a nefarious trait that Hoult ’s DCU Lex Luthor should emulate .
6Lex Is A Villain For Every DC Hero
Batman V Superman Shows Lex Is A Foe To All DC Heroes
While Lex Luthor is well - known as the implike - villain of Superman , he is also a scoundrel that other DC heroes palpate compelled to bear care to . InBatman v Superman , Jesse Eisenberg ’s Lex is every bit the foe of Ben Affleck ’s Dark Knight that he is of Henry Cavill ’s Man of Steel , pulling every strand to make Batman more and more distrustful of Superman to elicit their fight . A great way to establish Nicholas Hoult ’s Lex Luthor as a honest terror in the DCU would be to be a like path of making him a villain all DC Hero of Alexandria must contend with .
5Lex Can Introduce Other Villains
He’s Done So In Other Superman Movies
In multiple Superman picture show and television show , Lex Luthor has oft been an envoy of sorting for other DC villains to make their first appearance . Gene Hackman ’s Lex Luthor liaises with General Zod ( Terrence Stamp ) and his followers inSuperman II , while Jesse Eisenberg ’s Lex make Last Judgement and correct up the arrival of Steppenwolf ( Ciarán Hinds ) inBatman v SupermanandZack Snyder ’s Justice League . Michael Rosenbaum ’s Lex Luthoralso frequently fetch other DC villain into play onSmallville , read Lex Luthor ’s predilection for facilitate to launch other DC villains could be a great plus for the DCU .
4Lex Shouldn’t Kill Superman Again
The Death Of Superman In BVS Is Still Very Fresh
Cast
Jesse Eisenberg ’s Lex Luthor holds a distinction that about no other live - action Lex does , which is successfully killing Superman with his founding of Doomsday inBatman v Superman . With Zack Snyder ’s DCEU films , andBatman v Supermanin particular , driving dateless debate long after their dismission , the divide and controversy around them and upon Superman ’s dying in the film seems likely to continue into the foreseeable future tense . That is plenty of reason the DCU would be wise to avoid having Lex follow in stamp out Superman again .
3Lex Manipulates Other Villains
He Knows How To Get His Way
Lex Luthor is not only a schoolmaster operator of heroes and fair people , but of other villains , something he has done repeatedly in his cinematic and television portrayals . Some of the biggest examples include Gene Hackman ’s Lex bunco his way into a partnership with General Zod inSuperman IIand Jesse Eisenberg ’s Lex hiring Deathstroke ( Joe Manganiello ) to assassinate Batman at the ending ofZack Snyder ’s Justice League . Lex Luthor sees his fellow villains as mere tools in whatever plot he is formulating , something Nicholas Hoult ’s Lex Luthor should put into practice in the DCU .
2Lex Luthor Has Big Political Ambitions
Lex Wants To Be President Of The United States
1Lex Luthor Is A Tragic Villain
His Rough Upbringing Makes Him Envy Superman
The complexness of Lex Luthor ’s aspect of Superman is part of what makes him a great villain . Even as he detest and prise Superman , Lex also looks upon the Man of Steel with envy , either being overjealous of his powers or pick him for misfortune in Lex ’s life . Michael Rosenbaum ’s Lex destroys his friendship with Clark Kent ( Tom Welling ) by constantly trying to reveal his hidden alien powers , which partially post Lex down his nefarious path .
Additionally , Jesse Eisenberg ’s Lex Luthor sees Superman as a fictitious deity who bomb " to deliver me from Daddy ’s clenched fist and abominations"inBatman v Superman . In all , Lex Luthor ’s envy of Superman is what makes him an inherently tragic villain . That combining of tragedy and envy is one that Nicholas Hoult’sLex Luthor can continue to incarnate inSuperman : Legacyand the larger DCU .
