Reports regarding the cast of Superman: Legacy are suggesting that the first film in the fresh DCU might encounter the same issue with villains that have plagued previous iterations of Superman films. Scripted and directed by James Gunn, the 2025 movie Superman: Legacy promises to bring a fresh take on Superman.
While there is no official word on a particular villain for the new Superman film, there have been reports that hint at a potential continuation of a somewhat overused villain trend. A similar pattern has been seen in Batman films over the years, where they focused too heavily on Joker, including Christian Bale’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Will Superman: Legacy Also Have Lex Luthor As The Villain
It’s imperative to note that neither James Gunn nor anyone has officially confirmed the involvement of Lex Luthor in the upcoming film. Nonetheless, several reports have surfaced suggesting potential actors, including Nicholas Hoult, Glen Howerton, Bradley Cooper, Bill Skarsgård, and Daniel Craig, are in the running for assuming the role of Lex Luthor.
Similarly, it seems highly possible that Luthor will have some part to play in Superman: Legacy, particularly since Gunn hasn’t completely denied the possibility of the classic DC villain making a comeback for the much-anticipated film.
If the reports are to be believed and Gun is actually looking for an actor for the role of Luthor in Superman: Legacy, it raises the concern of the character being overused yet again. However, this would only be possible if Lex Luthor plays the main villain in the upcoming DC film, which will set the course for a new cinematic universe. There’s definitely a way to bring DC’s iconic antagonist to the big screen without the film succumbing to the traditional movie formula that has been tried and tested numerous times before.
Can James Gunn Bring Lex Luthor With a Twist
To bring Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy effectively, it would make sense to introduce the character as a secondary character or a villain working in the shadows at first. Considering he’s Superman’s biggest enemy, it might not make sense for the franchise to put him against Superman in the very first film, as depicted in previous Superman films, be it Luthor or General Zod. Keeping Lex Luthor behind the scenes in favor of bringing another villain first is something that hasn’t been explored much on the big screen.
This can eventually set the stage for Lex Luthor to establish himself as the ultimate villain in the DCU, someone whom Superman might not be prepared to face. Luthor himself might not be fully ready to face the Man of Steel at first. In theory, both characters could witness significant development, progressively transforming into arch nemesis over time as a more impactful finale unfolds within the narrative of the upcoming film.
Moreover, the conflict between Superman and Lex Luthor could go beyond the film, potentially extending into sequels and a bigger cinematic universe developed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Only time will tell what lies in the future for DCU when Superman: Legacy hits the screens in 2025.
