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This morning’s release of the first Superman trailer gave fans their highly-anticipated first look at Nicholas Hoult as the iconic DC Comics villain Lex Luthor. The trailer teases Hoult’s portrayal of the character, who was last played by Jesse Eisenberg in Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe and Michael Cudlitz in Superman and Lois.
Nicholas Hoult’s casting has been met with enthusiasm, with many eager to see how the British actor, known for his performances in The Great and Mad Max: Fury Road, handles the complexity of the character. Before landing the role of Lex, Hoult was one of the finalists for Superman, as well as The Batman in the 2022 Matt Reeves movie.
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Lex Luthor made his debut in the pages of Action Comics #23, published in April 1940. Luthor is one of the most iconic villains in comic book history, renowned for his intelligence, charisma, and relentless ambition. Known as a self-made billionaire and mastermind, Luthor serves as Superman’s ideological opposite, with the character expected to play a huge role in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s reimagined DC Universe.
What to expect from James Gunn’s Superman movie
Corenswet steps into the role of Superman, taking over from Henry Cavill, who portrayed the character in Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe. Rachel Brosnahan joins him as Lois Lane, alongside a star-studded cast that includes Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific. James Gunn, known for his distinct blend of humor and emotion in superhero projects like Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, writes and directs the film.
Superman is a much-anticipated project, given that Clark Kent has been an integral part of the DC Universe for over 80 years, with various iterations and adaptations across different media. The movie promises to explore the character’s origins and his struggles to balance his dual identities as Clark and Superman while fighting off villains and saving the world.
Superman: Legacy is set to launch a new chapter for the DC Universe under Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership. The movie hits theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as the DC Universe continues to unfold.
