With James Gunn set to take the cultural icon back to his comic roots who will serve justice in the American way, fans are enthralled to know who the Man of Steel will go up against this time. While Lex Luthor is confirmed to show up in Superman: Legacy, with Nicholas Hoult playing the character, it’s pretty likely that he won’t be serving as the main antagonist of DCU’s first major release.
Even though nothing can be said for certain about the plot of the first Superman film in years, considering Gunn’s filmography, it won’t be surprising if a more obscure villain shows up. And if this ends up being the case, Parasite can be the perfect fit for the job.
Parasite Can Be the Perfect Foe for a New Superman to Go Up Against
One of Superman’s highly underrated villains, Rudy Jones, AKA Parasite, can be the perfect force for Superman to go up against in a brand new chapter of the DC universe. Unlike most villains the Man of Steel has gone up against on the big screen, Parasite isn’t just another physical foe for the character to beat up and is more of a victim, who accidentally turned into a monster. He could also act as a mirror to Clark, as unlike Superman, who went on to embrace humanity despite being part-alien. Jones, who grew up normal, strayed away from his human side following his curse.
Further considering that Lex Luthor is already confirmed to appear in Superman: Legacy, Parasite can act as the secondary villain in the story, who might be pushed to do Luthor’s dirty work. Parasite’s inclusion can also add some interesting challenges for Superman to overcome, as the character is known for absorbing people’s power through touch. So, if Clark did end up facing him in his first DCU film, it might force him to use his intellect to win the fight rather than resorting to brute strength.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor Will Be Different From Past Iterations Confirmed James Gunn
While it can’t be said for sure if Parasite will end up getting the live-action treatment in Superman: legacy or not, at least fans will get to witness Superman’s arch-enemy Lex Luthor onscreen. Set to be played by Nicholas Hoult, James Gunn revealed that this iteration of the character will be unlike anything that has come before, as he shared a post with Hoult. James Gunn wrote (via Threads),
“I couldn’t be happier. We went out to dinner last night to celebrate & discuss how we can create a Lex that will be different from anything you’ve seen before and will never forget.
With James Gunn urging fans to enjoy the holidays when one fan asked about some updates on the film, it might be a while before we get other major details of Legacy from Gunn himself.
Superman: Legacy will hit theatres on 11 July 2025.
