James Gunn Shares Which Comics Inspired His Take on Lex Luthor in ‘Superman’

DCU is officially kicking off with the release of ‘Creature Commandos’ bound to be released in a little under two months. Still, as both Gunn and Safran stated in the past, ‘Superman’ bound for 2025 release is the true start of the DCU.

Not much is known about the plot of the movie overall. But the cast has been known for quite a while, and we know that Nicholas Hoult will be playing Superman’s most famous villain Lex Luthor.

Lex Luthor is one of the most adapted Superman villains, especially in live-action as the character has been portrayed by several actors. Most recently Michael Cudlitz portrayed Lex in ‘Superman & Lois’ a vastly different take on the character we’ve never seen before.

Now Gunn shared what his take on the character will look like, as he shared which comics inspired him.

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James Gunn’s portrayal of Lex Luthor has drawn inspiration from several key comic book arcs, each offering a different perspective on the character. ‘All-Star Superman’ sees Luthor as a brilliant but deeply flawed villain.

He is obsessed with defeating Superman and is portrayed with a mix of intelligence and hubris. This version of Luthor is famous for his psychological depth, as we get to see his motivations and vulnerabilities. The series presents a version of Luthor who is both a dangerous villain and a tragic figure.

‘Lex Luthor: Man of Steel’ is told solely from the perspective of Lex Luthor. Azzarello’s Luthor is depicted as a charismatic and manipulative businessman who views Superman as a threat to humanity, so nothing new here.

Luthor’s schemes and his self-perception are presented as a necessary evil in a world where a godlike figure exists.

Last but not least, Silver Age Luthor. During this era, Luthor was often shown as a mad scientist who created various inventions and contraptions to challenge Superman. This version of Luthor was characterized by his intelligence, his scheming nature, and his relentless pursuit of power.

Based on Gunn’s past comments regarding his overall inspiration for the movie, we can expect that Gunn will mostly adapt ‘All-Star Superman’ take on Luthor.

David Corenswet, who is set to portray Superman, described the story as a mix of ‘For All Seasons’ and ‘All-Star Superman’ but of course, with Gunn’s personal touch.

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