Highlights
- Smallville actor Michael Rosenbaum congratulates Nicholas Hoult on being cast as Lex Luthor in James Gunn's upcoming Superman film, showing no hard feelings and supporting his fellow actor.
- Rosenbaum's performance as Lex Luthor in Smallville is hailed as one of the best, with Gunn even dubbing him his "favorite Lex."
- Gunn's decision to cast a younger actor like Hoult may be to have a contemporary Lex Luthor to match the new Superman actor's age. Fans are skeptical but hopeful about how Hoult will portray the iconic supervillain.
Smallville actor Michael Rosenbaum has finally spoken up about being replaced by Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy.
While he won't return for Gunn's new Superman movie, Rosenbaum's performance as the hero's arch-nemesis in the 2000s hit series Smallville has gone down in history as one of the best. Many great actors, such as Gene Hackman, Jon Cryer, and Jesse Eisenberg, have put their spin on Lex Luthor over the years, but none have reached the same heights as Rosenbaum, who still reigns as a fan-favorite. Even Gunn himself has dubbed Rosenbaum his "favorite Lex."
However, it was recently revealed that Gunn decided to cast young actor Hoult in the role rather than Rosenbaum. After weeks of silence, the Smallville star finally responded on Twitter. "Congratulations to Nicholas Hoult!" Rosenbaum's post reads, "You’ll be a great Lex Luthor. You’re in good hands with [James Gunn]." It's clear from Rosenbaum's tweet that there are no hard feelings between him and Gunn, who are friends in real life, and that he wishes Hoult the best with the role. Gunn and Rosenbaum have previously expressed disappointment in previous versions of Lex Luthor, and it seems they both want what is best for the iconic villain. Rosenbaum's message to Hoult continues, "Pumped for you buddy. I know you’ll kill it. Welcome to the family."
Gunn previously shared his reason for not casting Rosenbaum in the upcoming Superman film, stating, "I love Michael ... But I wanted a Lex who was contemporaries with Superman." This may be about new Superman actor David Corenswet, who is only 30 years old, and Hoult, 34. While Rosenbaum's nuanced portrayal did Lex Luthor justice during the long run of Smallville, the actor is now 51, and perhaps Gunn aims to bring a younger face on board. Hoult's impressive resume, which includes films like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Menu, may make him the perfect promising actor to tackle the role.
However, some fans in the comments of Rosenbaum's post are skeptical of a new Lex Luthor. Given that Gunn has brought the idea of an interconnected cinematic universe from Marvel Studios to DC Studios, some fans even think a multiverse revival of Rosenbaum's Lex is still in question. While stranger things have happened, a Rosenbaum cameo seems unlikely any time soon, given Gunn's desire for Superman: Legacy to kick off an entirely new DCU canon.
Only time will tell whether Hoult's portrayal of the mad scientist supervillain will live up to Rosenbaum's legendary performance or whether the new Superman film will reignite audience enthusiasm for superhero movies. For now, it's nice to see that Gunn and Hoult have Rosenbaum's support in upholding Lex Luthor's legacy.
Superman: Legacy will enter theaters on July 11, 2025.
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Source: Michael Rosenbaum/Twitter