Nicholas Hoult is your new Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy

The cast for James Gunn's Superman: Legacy is taking shape. We already know that David Corenswet (Pearl) is portraying Superman/Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) is taking on the role of Lois Lane. Now, it's been announced (via Deadline) that Nicholas Hoult, versatile star of About a Boy, Skins and The Menu, will be going all evil on us in the pivotal role of Supes' nemesis, Lex Luthor.

Interestingly, Hoult lost out on the role of Superman himself. (He was also in the running to play Batman in The Batman and narrowly missed out on the villain's role in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part One). Nevertheless, we're sure he can chew up the scenery as the maniacal Lex who has already been portrayed by the Oscar-winning likes of Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey. The character was played most recently by Jesse Eisenberg.

Are we imagining a Lex with a bleached white face and silver-glossed teeth a la Hoult's full-throttle role in Mad Max: Fury Road? Probably not, but it's nice to dream.

 

Superman: Legacy is the first instalment in Gunn's DC Universe franchise. Gunn is the new chief creative officer of DC and is working with his regular production partner Peter Safran to reboot the current DC slate, which ends this December with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Hoult's casting follows the announcement that María Gabriela De Faría is playing villain The Engineer. Superman: Legacy is set for release on July 11th, 2025. Find out more about the new slate of DC Universe movies by clicking the link below.

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