Lex Luthor has a protracted historical past onscreen; Hoult is simply the newest actor within the position. Gene Hackman performed a goofier tackle Lex within the Christopher Reeve “Superman” films, which Kevin Spacey imitated for the largely ill-remembered “Superman Returns.”
For the newest try at a silver display screen DC Universe, Zack Snyder selected Jesse Eisenberg to play an erratic tech bro Lex in “Batman V. Superman: Daybreak of Justice” — a alternative that did not fairly work out. In fact, for a lot of DC followers (particularly these of my era), the particular Lex Luthor is Clancy Brown, who voiced the villain in “Superman: The Animated Collection” as much as “Justice League Limitless” with the right cocktail of sinister delight. That is to not say there is not room for Hoult’s reinterpretation.
In comparison with these Lexes, Hoult is on the youthful facet (he’s at present 33 and solely 4 years older than Corenswet), a la Eisenberg and Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex on “Smallville.” Nonetheless, Hoult is a pure match for Lex Luthor; he is conventionally good-looking however a number of of his roles have a pompous and unlikable edge to them (see “The Menu,” “The Favorite,” and so forth.).
“Superman: Legacy” may even be the correct starting of the brand new DC Universe onscreen (after a prelude with 2024’s “Creature Commandos”), so I’d assume Hoult is signing on with data he might be in for the lengthy haul.
“Superman: Legacy” is at present scheduled for launch on July 11, 2025.