While everyone can agree that Nicholas Hoult is a great pick to play Lex Luthor, the decision to put the spotlight on that villain yet again in Superman: Legacy has raised some eyebrows.
If it's true that Brainiac is set to appear, it may not matter, but after Lex has taken centre stage in everything from Superman: The Movie to Superman Returns and even Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it feels like the reboot is retreading familiar ground. Ultimately, it will come down to whether James Gunn is able to do something new with him.
Given the filmmaker's longtime friendship with Smallville star Michael Rosenbaum, many have wondered whether he could be given the chance to play the DCU's Lex.
When that was put to Gunn on Threads, he responded, "I love Michael - he was my favorite Lex and he’s one of my very close friends. But I wanted a Lex who was contemporaries with Superman."
We're not remotely shocked that Rosenbaum wasn't cast (even if it would have been pretty cool), but Gunn's comments about Lex being Superman's contemporary suggest Superman: Legacy will feature a relationship akin to the one seen in the Superman: Birthright comic book.
That's an intriguing dynamic and one which could allow Gunn, Hoult, and David Corenswet to find a new approach to Luthor's hatred for the Man of Tomorrow.
Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.
David Corenswet is playing the Man of Steel, while Rachel Brosnahan has been tapped to star as Lois Lane. Other recent casting additions include Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
Kurt Russell no longer appears to be in the running for Jor-El and there's no word on Ma and Pa Kent or whether they're even alive in this iteration of Clark Kent's story. Brainiac, meanwhile, is expected to serve as the reboot's big bad. With production set to begin early next year, we're hoping the final few cast members will be revealed in the weeks ahead.
Superman: Legacy is currently set to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.