James Gunn’s Superman Has Lex Luthor Inspired by These Titles

Recently, upon being asked by a Thread user brahmastra_veda, James Gunn hinted at what inspired Superman’s Lex Luthor. What do All-Star Superman, a ‘60s mad scientist, and Nicholas Hoult have in common? According to James Gunn, it’s a recipe for the perfect Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman: Legacy.

James Gunn Dishes on Lex Luthor’s Inspiration 🍿

Brahmastra_veda asked

“What comic or arc inspires your Lex Luthor depiction in the upcoming Superman movie?”

Upon which James replied

“God there are so many. Lex is one of my favorites – he works on so many levels – and it’s been a joy bringing him to the screen with the incredible [Nicholas Hoult]. Some of the influences were, of course, All-Star Superman, Azzarello’s Luthor, and the reckless scientific genius from the 1950’s and ‘60’s.”

James also shared these three images to give a hint of the inspiration behind Lex Luthor in his upcoming movie titled Superman: Legacy.

The Power Cast for Superman Legacy 💪

Fans went gaga over the announcement of the cast of Superman Legacy. It has some of the greatest lineups coming in the DC universe including Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner.

The Superman Legacy release date is set for July 11, 2025. So it’s less than a year of wait- but given the history of Gunn’s movies, it’s going to be so much fun. His recent experiments with Peacemaker and Suicide Squad 🎬💥 have already ate and left no crumb!

So I say, let him cook! 🍳🔥

With this killer lineup and Gunn’s knack for reinvention, Superman: Legacy could be the DC movie we’ve all been waiting for! Ready for Lex to steal the show? 💥

By the way, What do you think about Nicholas Hoult as the next Lex Luthor? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s geek out together! 🔥

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