Nicholas Hoult gets a shaved head and looks pitch-perfect as Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy fan art. James Gunn is not only responsible for leading the new DC Universe’s creative side but is also the writer and director of the upcoming reboot of the Man of Steel, 2025’s Superman: Legacy. Casting reports for Superman: Legacy recently began making the rounds, revealing that Hoult appears to be the only name in contention for the new Lex Luthor at the moment. Based on that, new fan art imagines the actor as the Superman villain in the movie.
On Instagram, artist BFHDESIGN shared their vision of what Hoult could look like as part of Gunn’s Superman: Legacy as the new Lex Luthor.
Hoult looks comic book-accurate in the Lex Luthor fan art, with the actor also possessing the necessary skills to bring such a complex villain to life. In the past, Hoult has shown that he can easily balance his excellent comedic timing with some intense dramatic chops, making him an actor that suits Gunn’s style, which is great for his chances of being the next Lex Luthor.
Everything We Know About Lex Luthor In Superman: Legacy
The first round of Superman: Legacy casting reports offered a few choices for both the new Lois Lane and Clark Kent, with David Corenswet (Hollywood) being the apparent top candidate for the hero. While the other two main roles to be cast for Superman: Legacy now have a few possible options made public, Lex Luthor only saw Hoult’s name pop up, and the reports have even conflicted on whether the actor is up for Superman or his villain.
Other possible names for the villain role could come from Gunn’s past projects, with a Guardians of the Galaxy franchise actor possibly playing Lex Luthor in the film. Deadline journalist Justin Kroll revealed that Gunn has been talking with one of his actors from the Marvel franchise to play Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy, with discussions said to have happened during the press tour for the franchise’s latest release, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. A rumor has since emerged, claiming Bradley Cooper was the actor in question, although no confirmation has been given at the moment.
At 48, Cooper is seemingly too old to play Luthor in Superman: Legacy, with the movie said to go younger with its cast. However, one of the movie’s casting reports did hint at how different Superman: Legacy‘s version of the villain might be from the other live-action iterations. Luthor is labeled as “Apex” for the film’s casting process. Apex Lex Luthor was a version of the character in the comics that could physically present a challenge for the Man of Steel. Superman: Legacy including that version of the villain would bring a fresh take on Lex Luthor to the big screen.
Source: BFHDESIGN/Instagram
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