
The new Superman trailer has generated buzz not just for offering our first look at David Corenswet’s Man of Steel, but also for revealing Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal of Lex Luthor. While it’s still early to fully gauge Hoult’s take on the iconic villain, the trailer teases a more action-oriented, dynamic version of Luthor, with the character seen waving a gun—suggesting that this iteration may be more willing to get his hands dirty than previous versions.
Despite some skepticism, particularly because Hoult originally auditioned for Superman himself, there is a growing curiosity about his portrayal. The trailer doesn’t give much away in terms of performance, but it’s clear that James Gunn has written Luthor as a more active, menacing presence compared to past portrayals, which have often leaned into broad comedic elements (think Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, and Jesse Eisenberg’s eccentric tech-bro Luthor).
Hoult’s casting has also sparked conversation, especially given Jesse Eisenberg’s controversial portrayal in Batman v Superman and Justice League. Eisenberg’s portrayal, which was widely criticized, has reportedly hurt his career, with the actor suggesting that the backlash cost him roles. Hoult, however, already has an established career, with multiple acclaimed projects under his belt, so he might not face the same fallout.
James Gunn has promised that Hoult’s Lex will be the most comics-accurate version yet, aiming to make Luthor a real threat to Superman rather than a caricature. Whether this will resonate with fans remains to be seen, but for now, the teaser has people intrigued—especially those eagerly awaiting what could be a “Hot Lex Summer” in 2025.
In the meantime, if the DC Universe doesn’t take off as planned, at least Hoult can look forward to potentially joining the Hitman franchise, given his portrayal of a gun-toting Luthor.