Summary
- Nicholas Hoult is set to play Lex Luthor in James Gunn's Superman.
- Hoult is using All-Star Superman as inspiration to physically embody Lex.
- The movie may feature Apex Lex Luthor, potentially posing a physical threat to Superman.
Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor in James Gunn's cast of the DCU's Superman. Hoult will play Lex Luthor opposite Corenswet's Superman, with the actor having the dramatic skills to bring one of the most iconic villains in DC Comics to life.
The DC movie has already started filming to make good on its scheduled July 11, 2025, release date. Gunn has not revealed many direct details about Superman's story or how Lex Luthor will fit into the movie. However, the fact that the movie will feature multiple heroes beyond just Superman — including the Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho — means Lex Luthor and other villains will have to be at the top of their game, and Hoult might have revealed how he will do it.
Who Is David Corenswet? James Gunn's Superman Actor Explained
David Corenswet has officially been cast as Clark Kent in the DCU’s Superman: Legacy, leading many to wonder about his career up to this point.
Nicholas Hoult Is Working Out For Lex Luthor
Lex's Physicality Is Not Something The Movies Have Explored
Hoult recently spoke to another live-action Lex Luthor actor — Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum — on the DCU actor revealed that he is working out to play Lex Luthor, saying, "I have been working out. No, you know what, there's that bit in All-Star Superman where he talks about his muscles being real and like hard work and all that. I kind of took that as a little bit of like fuel for the fire."
In "All-Star Superman," Lex Luthor shows Clark Kent the pride he has in maintaining his body in top human condition because he worked hard to achieve his impressive figure while Superman got his from his genetics.
While Lex Luthor has appeared in several Superman movies and series over the years, there has never been a focus on making him look physically imposing in them, which has happened in the comics and some animated projects. Based on Hoult's words, DC's new Superman movie could break that Lex Luthor trend. The movies so far have presented a calm and collected Lex, or perhaps a more energetic Luthor like Jesse Eisenberg's case in the DCEU, but all versions of the character were a play on his genius intellect and the schemes that came from it.
The DCU could go for a similar muscular frame as Lex Luthor had in Superman: The Animated Series and both Justice League animated shows. Hoult's mention of "All-Star Superman" is important. While the actor could have only used the DC Comics story as a motivation for bulking up for Lex, Gunn has already revealed that specific story was an inspiration for the Superman reboot. In "All-Star Superman," Lex Luthor shows Clark Kent the pride he has in maintaining his body in peak human condition because he worked hard to achieve his impressive figure while Superman got his from his genetics.
“Apex” Superman Casting Report Connects To Lex Luthor In DC Comics
Lex Luthor Has Been A Physical Threat To Superman In DC Comics
Hoult's comments about hitting the gym to play Lex Luthor in the DCU are also interesting because they connect with a long-running theory about the movie. Back during Superman's casting process, in which Hoult initially auditioned and even screen tested for the role of the Man of Steel before being asked to play Lex Luthor instead, some details came out about a character under the codename of "Apex" for the movie. The Superman casting including a character under the guise of Apex could have been a way of testing stars to play Lex Luthor without revealing what the role was.
In DC Comics, there is a version of Superman's nemesis that is known as Apex Lex Luthor. What separates that Lex from other versions of the character across the DC multiverse is that the Apex Luthor can rival Superman both intellectually and physically. Reborn in a body that was half-human and half-Martian by the goddess Perpetua — who would make sense as part of the DCU's Chapter One, titled "Gods and Monsters" — Lex continued to have his genius intellect while also having all the physical abilities that came from his new Martian physiology, wield mystical powers, and travel the multiverse.
Is Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor Superman’s Real Villain?
James Gunn Has Yet To Make That Clear
Many villains are rumored for 2025's Superman, though Gunn has yet to confirm who will actually go up against Corenswet's Clark Kent. While Hoult will play Lex Luthor in the movie, there is a chance that the character will play more of a ing role, setting him up for other appearances throughout the DCU. Another DC character could then take on the main villain role in a Superman movie this time around. Interestingly, one of the possible villains for Gunn's Superman reboot should be part of an DC Universe film, which makes reports of the character's role raise eyebrows.
The character in question is María Gabriela de Faría's Engineer. The star's role was described as an antagonist when she was cast, which could mean that she will be the main foe Superman fights in the movie. On the other hand, more of her anti-hero team are rumored to be in Superman before they lead The Authority. If that is true, then Superman could be fighting multiple of the team in the film. Other rumors about Superman's main villain included names like Brainiac — who has been teased multiple times — Mongul, Bizarro, and more.
Superman
- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Director
- James Gunn
- Writers
- James Gunn, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
- Producers
- Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran
- Franchise(s)
- DCU
Cast
Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El
Rachel BrosnahanLois Lane
Nicholas HoultLex Luthor
Edi GathegiMichael Holt / Mister Terrific
