SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director James Gunn Is Considering Black Actors To Play "Apex" Lex Luthor In Reboot

SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director James Gunn Is Considering Black Actors To Play "Apex" Lex Luthor In Reboot

With DC Studios and James Gunn making moves to cast upcoming DCU reboot Superman: Legacy, some new details have emerged about the filmmaker's plans for Lex Luthor. Are we getting the "Apex" version, though?

By JoshWilding - May 15, 2023 07:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman: Legacy
Source: The Wrap

The cast of Superman: Legacy is beginning to take shape, but reports that Nicholas Hoult has been chosen to play Lex Luthor were a tad premature.

Instead, the X-Men: Days of Future Past star is said to be among those being eyed to play the Man of Tomorrow, an interesting casting decision after he very nearly landed the role of Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves' The Batman (in fact, he was runner-up to eventual Dark Knight, Robert Pattinson). 

Hollywood trade The Wrap has also weighed in on the Superman: Legacy casting hunt, reiterating recent reports that the movie's main antagonist is currently being labelled "Apex." Director James Gunn is said to be meeting with Black actors for the part, suggesting that's the route he plans to take Lex Luthor on screen. 

This would go some way in explaining recent reports that the filmmaker has spoken to a member of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's cast about playing Lex (presumably meaning he's considered casting The High Evolutionary actor and Peacemaker star Chukwudi Iwuji). 

As for this "Apex" label, DC Studios is either trying to throw us off the scent or this is a potential spoiler. 

In the comic books, Lex captured Martian Manhunter and used him to gain Martian-based superpowers that made him strong enough to defeat the Justice League. This would go a long way in differentiating Lex from previous big screen iterations, but there are many, many other Superman villains fans would prefer to see on screen. 

Yes, a superpowered Lex changes his dynamic with the Man of Steel, but the likes of Brainiac, Metallo, and Bizarro would all be vastly more interesting at this point. 

There's nothing to say this "Apex" baddie will be Superman: Legacy's only villain, of course, so we'll see what happens in the weeks ahead as the cast is assembled.

Superman: Legacy is set to be released in theaters on July 11. 2025.

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dagenspear
dagenspear - 5/15/2023, 7:23 AM
Definitely would prefer, LORD willing, Brainiac as the villain of the first movie.
KWilly
KWilly - 5/15/2023, 7:39 AM
As far as I was concerned growing up, this Lex was a black man lol.

JackBurton1
JackBurton1 - 5/15/2023, 7:50 AM
@KWilly - Could be or hispanic...that being said "suggesting that's the route he plans to take Lex Luthor on screen" nothing suggest that's the route Gunn is going...but the author of this article is a hack so it's expected.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 5/15/2023, 8:01 AM
@KWilly - Man I always thought they based him off Billy Zane when he took the wig off 😅
Conquistador
Conquistador - 5/15/2023, 8:01 AM
@UniqNo -
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 5/15/2023, 8:09 AM
@KWilly - He had some greek features, reminded me of a young Telly Savalas.
mountainman
mountainman - 5/15/2023, 8:32 AM
@KWilly - I always thought he looked Greek, but I hear that from a lot of people.
marvel72
marvel72 - 5/15/2023, 8:56 AM
@KWilly - Or he had a tan.
SethBullock
SethBullock - 5/15/2023, 9:18 AM
@UniqNo - Also looks like this guy:



Though the Mummy movies were released a few years later.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 5/15/2023, 10:41 AM
@SethBullock - Yeah I see it now for sure.
TheyDont
TheyDont - 5/15/2023, 7:46 AM
Let's meet in the middle and cast Vin Diesel.
CoHost
CoHost - 5/15/2023, 7:58 AM
This is an easy way to see who're the white supremacists on this site.
Radders
Radders - 5/15/2023, 8:23 AM
@CoHost - True, the one thing we know about white supremacists is that they want comic book characters to look the same in live action as they do in the comics - I think it's one of their slogans.
Midnaslament
Midnaslament - 5/15/2023, 9:23 AM
@Radders - no, thats their disguise
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