Michael Rosenbaum discussedSuperman: Legacyon his podcast with James Gunn, and the conversation takes an unexpected turn when Rosenbaum asks Gunn a question regarding the possible future adaptation of Lex Luthor in the DCU that has them look back on previous versions.Since Rosenbaum played Lex Luthor inSmallville, there have been many live-action versions of theSupermanvillain on TV and in movies, such as Kevin Spacey inSuperman Returns,Michael Cudlitz inSuperman and Lois, Titus Welliver inTitansSeason 4, Jesse Eisenberg inBatman v Superman, and Jon Cryer in theSupergirlseries. Gunn describes Rosenbaum as his personal favorite, despite not being fitting for the DC. It was at this point that Rosenbaum asks Gunn to promise him to have Luthor portrayed in the reboot as the ideal representation of the character, insinuating his displeasure with previous adaptations on-screen.RELATED:James Gunn Gives Superman: Legacy Update On The Casting Process For Next Man Of SteelOnInside of You, Gunn couldn’t confirm or deny if there will be aLex Luthor inSuperman: Legacyor even the DCU in general. Rosenbaum said to Gunn, “If there were a Lex Luthor, promise me this. He’ll have gravitas, or he’ll be Lex Luthor. He won’t be playing Lex Luthor, but he’s more acting like this character, or this, or goofy, or crazy. He’s going to be something that’s grounded and real.” Gunn replies, “everything is grounded and real.” Rosenbaum then says, “I’m not saying anyone’s done that,” referring to other versions of the character that weren’t up to his standards, with Gunn quickly replying, “Maybe somebody has done that.”
The public assumed that Rosenbaum and Gunn were referring to Eisenberg and Zack Snyder’s portrayal, with many fans coming to its defense on social media, describing it as the character’s origin story inspired bySuperman: Birthrightand taking the likeness of eccentric billionaires in the world today. While Rosenbaum may have been referring to Eisenberg, among many others, since there would be no reason to frame it the way he did unless Rosenbaum was referring to at least one or two Luthor adaptations that came after him, Gunn was not. The DC Studios CEO addressed this in a lengthy Twitter post that clears the air on who he was referring to.
A fan asked Gunn, “What is with the diss to Eisenberg? He’s one of the best actors of our generation,” to which Gunn replied by stating that he was “not referring to Jesse,” followed by a post revealing it to be Gene Hackman from the Christopher ReevesSupermanmovies of the ’70s and ’80s. As it turns out, out ofall the live-action versions of Lex Luthorthat the DC Studios CEO could be referring to, it was the one that came before Rosenbaum’s adaptation inSmallville.
Gunn admits that he has “perhaps” spoken out “unwisely” in the past and on the podcast, but that he is a fan of the actor and still describes him as “one of the five greatest actors of the ’70s & ’80s,” and that he “just didn’t love him as Lex.” As a result, fans should probably expect a closer version of Luthor fromAll Star SupermanorSuperman: The Animated Seriesrather than Snyder’sEarth OneandBirthright-inspiredversions of Superman and Luthor, as Rosenbaum and Gunn seem to agree in their personal taste for how to depict the character that seems like it could even aid itself to aLex Luthor solo movieset in the DCU, similar toJoker.
Superman: Legacyis scheduled to be released in theaters on June 03, 2025.
