Nicholas Hoult set to play villain Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy

James Gunn is reported to have found the person to take on the role of Lex Luthor in his new take on Superman.

And, in keeping with Hollywood history, it seems a Brit will be playing the villain.

Known most recently for the fantastically rambunctious and petulant Tzar Peter III in The Great, Nicholas Hoult is now reportedly set to take on the role of Superman's greatest rival.

The studio reportedly wanted a movie star in the antagonistic role after casting relative newcomer David Corenswet to play the title role, alongside Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

Warners is already working with Hoult on Clint Eastwood's Juror No. 2, and Hoult also had a big part in the studio's 2015 hit Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.

Hoult joins a list of big names to take on the role of the villainous Lex Luthor, including Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey and Jesse Eisenberg.

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Corenswet and Brosnahan landed the roles following months of audition tapes and screen tests.

The casting process was interrupted by the SAG-AFTRA strike, resuming after the industrial action concluded.

Gunn will reportedly direct the movie from his screenplay, with the movie being called Superman: Legacy, and being scheduled for global release on July 11 2025.

The movie will form part of a new DC franchise, taking centre stage in the new iteration.

Among the big changes made by Gunn when the project was announced earlier this year was recasting the lead role.

Corenswet will take over from The Witcher star Henry Cavill, who has portrayed Superman since 2013's Man of Steel.

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Corenswet, 29, had his breakout role in Netflix's The Politician.

And you may also know Brosnahan from her role in the The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, winning a an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her performance in the hit series.

Superman: Legacy will tell the story of Superman as he struggles to come to terms with his Kryptonian heritage and his upbringing as a human.

Cavill is not the only big name to depart from the DC Universe, with Dwayne Johnson also leaving after starring in 2022's Black Adam.

Describing the sudden changes in the film's line-up, The Rock said: “It’s almost like when you have a pro football team and your quarterback win championships and your head coach win championships and then a new owner comes in and says ‘Not my coach, not my quarterback. I’m going to go with somebody new.’”