Michael Rosenbaum discussed Superman: Legacy on 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 in Smallville, there have been many live-action versions of the Superman villain on TV and in movies, such as Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns, Michael Cudlitz in Superman and Lois, Titus Welliver in Titans Season 4, Jesse Eisenberg in Batman v Superman, and Jon Cryer in the Supergirl series. 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.On Inside of You, Gunn couldn't confirm or deny if there will be a Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy or 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 by Superman: Birthright and 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 Reeves Superman movies of the '70s and '80s. As it turns out, out of all the live-action versions of Lex Luthor that the DC Studios CEO could be referring to, it was the one that came before Rosenbaum's adaptation in Smallville.
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 from All Star Superman or Superman: The Animated Series rather than Snyder's Earth One and Birthright-inspired versions 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 a Lex Luthor solo movie set in the DCU, similar to Joker.
Superman: Legacy is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Source: Inside of You, James Gunn