Actor Nicholas Hoult is all set to step into the shoes of Lex Luthor, Superman’s iconic archnemesis in the upcoming film Superman: Legacy as revealed by sources close to the production led by director James Gunn, as per Deadline. This casting decision follows Gunn’s earlier selections of David Corenswet for the title role of Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The studio’s choice of Hoult for the iconic role of Lex Luthor stems from a comprehensive casting process prompted by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Hoult, a British actor with notable roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and Clint Eastwood’s Juror No. 2, has an established relationship with Warner Bros.
He has previously portrayed the Marvel/X-Men character Beast and earned acclaim for his performance in Hulu’s ‘The Great,’ securing an Emmy nomination in 2022.
Adding to the film’s ensemble, Venezuelan actress María Gabriela de Faría has been cast as the villain, The Engineer. Hoult now joins the ranks of distinguished actors such as Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, and Jesse Eisenberg, who have all portrayed Lex Luthor in the Warner Bros. Superman franchise throughout the years.
Lex Luthor, introduced in 1940, has undergone various on-screen interpretations, with actors like Hackman opposite Christopher Reeve, Spacey against Brandon Routh, and Eisenberg in Zack Snyder’s ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’
Gunn’s casting decisions for Corenswet and Brosnahan were made after extensive auditions, ensuring a well-rounded main cast for ‘Superman: Legacy.’ Known for his directorial work on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ ‘The Suicide Squad,’ and the Peacemaker series, Gunn is helming the film from his own screenplay based on DC characters, reports Deadline.
The production, overseen by co-DC Boss Peter Safran (‘Aquaman,’ ‘Aquaman 2,’ ‘The Conjuring’ franchise), has set a worldwide release date for July 11, 2025. ‘Superman: Legacy’ plays a pivotal role in Gunn and Safran’s strategic plan for the first phase of the revamped film slate, as announced earlier this year.
Hoult, represented by UTA, 42, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern, brings his diverse acting experience to the highly anticipated superhero film, promising an engaging portrayal of the iconic villain Lex Luthor.
Talking about the movie itself, as per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy narrates 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, informs ComicBook.
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