“Superman: Legacy” will serve as the first cinematic installment in the new DC Universe, with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor filling the spot as the franchise’s first big-screen main antagonist. However, as longtime DC media fans know, Hoult is far from the first actor to step into Luthor’s dress shoes.
Over the years, numerous talented actors have put their own spin on the iconic DC Comics villain. First and foremost is Lyle Talbot, who brought Luthor into live-action for the first time via “Atom Man vs. Superman” in 1950. Then famously came Gene Hackman in the Christopher Reeve-led “Superman,” “Superman II,” and “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.” Kevin Spacey followed in his footsteps for “Superman Returns,” with Jesse Eisenberg taking the baton from him for “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
Meanwhile, Luthor has been adapted into live-action several times for small-screen productions as well. Both Scott James Wells and Sherman Howard took on the role for “Superboy,” with John Shea becoming Luthor on “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” Then came Michael Rosenbaum, who brought the character’s arguable best-known live-action TV take to “Smallville.” John Cryer then became Luthor within the Arrowverse, Titus Welliver reimagined him on “Titans,” and Michael Cudlitz portrayed him on “Superman & Lois.”
With so many Lex Luthor renditions across film and TV, one has to wonder how Nicholas Hoult will differentiate himself from his predecessors. DC fans everywhere will get to see what he comes up with when “Superman: Legacy” swoops into theaters on July 11, 2025.
