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James Gunn confirmed the casting of Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor inSuperman: Legacyjust a couple of days ago. While many were excited about the casting, a few fans expressed their disappointment in Gunn not selecting Michael Rosenbaum for the character. Rosenbaum portrayed the archnemesis of Superman in The CW series,Smallville.
James Gunn shared that Rosenbaum was also one of his favorite Lex Luthor actors. However, Rosenbaum is much older to play the supervillain against a younger David Corenswet. Hoult, who just turned 34 a few days back, would be a great contemporary to the 30-year-old Corenswet.
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James Gunn Didn’t Want To Cast Michael Rosenbaum As Lex Luthor
James Gunn‘sSuperman: Legacyreceived some exciting updates in recent weeks. The first film in theGods and Monsterschapter will also mark the launch of the newly restructured DC Cinematic Universe.Nicholas Hoult, who excelled in roles in films includingX-Men,Mad Max: Fury Road, andThe Menu, was initially considered for the Superman role. However, Gunn found him more fit for the Lex Luthor role and the announcement was made via his Threads account recently.
While many celebrated the announcement, some used the platform to remind Gunn thatSmallville’s Lex Luthor,Michael Rosenbaum, was a better choice. Rosenbaum has been a fan favorite for the role ever since Gunn announcedSuperman: Legacy.The Suicide Squaddirector shared that Rosenbaum, now 51, wouldn’t fit his vision of Lex Luthor.
He wanted his supervillain to be a contemporary ofDavid Corenswet’s young Superman. Gunn’s concern is justified because the actors would have to maintain their roles for at least a few years. Nevertheless, he added that Rosenbaum was his favorite Lex Luthor.
James Gunn also revealed that theImpastoractor was his close friend. Interestingly, Gunn cast Rosenbaum as Martinex in his Marvel films,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2andVol. 3. It appears that Rosenbaum still has a chance to play Lionel Luthor if the character gets featured in the first DCU film.
Also Read:“We wanted Zack not James Gunn”: Zack Snyder Says He Wants to Make His Return in DC Universe Under This Condition and Fans Are Already Hyped
James Gunn’sSuperman: Legacy— Casting Updates
David Corenswet was officially confirmed as Clark Kent / Superman in June 2023, replacingHenry Cavillin the newly restructured DCU. Corenswet has previously appeared in projects likeHollywoodandThe Politician. Alongside Corenswet,Rachel Brosnahanwas announced as the female lead in the film, playing Superman’s love interest, Lois Lane. Brosnahan is best known for her role inThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Licorice Pizzaactor Skyler Gisondo was later confirmed to play Superman’s friend Jimmy Olsen in the film. Lex Luthor’s assistant Eve Teschmacher will be played by actress Sara Sampaio. María Gabriela De Faría ofDeadly Classfame will play another villain, The Engineer. Another interesting casting choice wasThe Rookie’sNathan Fillion, who will play Guy Gardner aka Green Lantern.
Also Read:Tom Cruise’s Top Gun Co-Star Gets Envisioned as a DC Hero in Magnificent Fan Art, Making him a Potential Candidate for James Gunn’s DCU
Other cast also include Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, and Anthony Carrigan as the Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho, respectively.Superman: Legacyis scheduled to be released on June 03, 2025.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
