Falling in love with a DC film villain was not on my 2025 bingo card, however right here we’re, and I’m brazenly saying that I like Lex Luthor from Superman. Okay, effectively, not the villain total, however Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal within the 2025 film launch.
If you already know me, you’d know that I’m not a tremendous big fan of the DC universe. I take pleasure in certainly one of their movie from time to time, and the DC comics are all the time enjoyable, however for some cause, I simply by no means obtained DC as a lot as others did. I grew up liking Batman as a result of my dad loved it, however aside from that, it wasn’t actually on my radar.
As I’ve gotten older and explored extra of this comedian world, I’ve seen loads of DC films, and the villains simply by no means did something for me. Then Lex Luthor and Nicholas Hoult’s unbelievable portrayal of him got here alongside, and I used to be hooked.
The DC Film Villains Had been At all times Hit Or Miss For Me
This isn’t an article for me to tear on DC villains total as a result of, in honesty, I actually do like them — simply in comedian kind. I feel there are a ton of nice DC villains who we haven’t even seen in films as a result of they have a tendency to stay to the most-known ones, which is okay. It’s fairly typical for variations to do this.
However in terms of DC film villains, I’ve…all the time not been an enormous fan. It’s not that a few of them aren’t good – Heath Ledger as The Joker will reside on for the ages, a lot in order that his efficiency was referred to as “unpredictable” by Christopher Nolan. I nonetheless suppose Joaquin Phoenix is nice as the enduring clown, too. I additionally suppose that Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman was an amazing decide again within the day.
Aside from that, although? I actually don’t keep in mind quite a bit, and that’s coming from somebody who has spent her time watching a lot of the DC movies ever since she started her comedian journey. I’ve stated earlier than that I grew up primarily on Marvel, so after all I like any upcoming Marvel film as a result of the villains simply all the time clicked extra for me there. After which we now have Thanos – the last word baddie.
After I began entering into DC films, I used to be just a little perturbed with how I felt relating to the villains. I used to be instructed by somebody a very long time in the past that lots of the DC villains are considerably darker than their Marvel counterparts, and I suppose that holds in some instances. However in truth, a few of these portrayals have been so forgettable. The very thought of me attempting to provide you with something memorable is painful.
I suppose I might examine this to Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor, whom I assume he had his moments. However he wasn’t something particular. Nicholas Hoult, nonetheless… now that’s a villain.
The Means Nicholas Hoult Portrayed Lex Luthor Made Me Need To See Him Come Again
I’ve been a fan of Nicholas Hoult for years. I’ve watched Nicholas Hoult’s finest films and I’ve loved watching him on tv. Heck, he was the co-star of certainly one of my favourite Hulu authentic exhibits, The Nice. He’s a unbelievable actor. When he was introduced as the brand new Lex Luthor, many individuals have been skeptical, however I used to be all in.
Then I noticed Superman and he blew me away. I used to be in my seat simply staring each time he was on display screen in utter awe and disbelief as a result of Hoult actually poured each ounce of his performing into this function.
Each actor ought to do this, however there was one thing so compelling about his portrayal. There have been moments the place I truly felt dangerous for Luthor, which is one thing that I actually shouldn’t say, however it’s the reality. Clearly, Superman is the hero, and Lex Luthor hates him, however there was an oz of humanity beneath the evil genius that we noticed on this movie, which made me actually like him as a villain.
However Lex Luthor can also be just a little unhinged, and Nicholas Hoult knocked that out of the park as effectively. There’s one scene within the movie – with out spoiling something – the place he so nonchalantly kills somebody that I used to be simply gasping on the display screen and gazing him. That is Lex Luthor. That’s the form of villain that we wanted to see. He was campy when he needed to be, dramatic on the identical time, and the right mix of comedian faithfulness and actuality.
There Are So Few DC Film Superhero Villains That I Can Overtly Say I Need To See Once more
There are only a few DC villains that I actually wish to see once more. I really feel like a lot of them are sometimes one-and-dones within the franchise as a result of they normally get defeated very shortly and simply, and then you definately’re simply questioning the place the large combat is. Nevertheless, Lex Luthor is a villain that I might see sticking round for a very long time, so long as it’s Hoult’s model.
On the very finish of Superman, we actually see him at his lowest, and from that look on his face, you may inform he needs extra. There’s revenge laced inside his eyes and a coil that’s wound so tightly inside his physique that I’m positive it’s solely ready for the sign to snap. Lex might have been crushed, however he’s nonetheless a genius – somebody who constructed a complete industrial empire. You don’t suppose he might simply do this once more?
Superman itself was vastly profitable, with hundreds of individuals attending the film and loving each facet of it. I used to be a type of who fell for Superman much more so, and ended up having a favourite in Mr. Terrific (as did many others). However as a result of this movie did so extremely effectively, I feel this would possibly not be the final we see of Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor.
I Actually Assume He May Be A Mainstay In This Franchise
I don’t simply suppose we’ll see Lex Luthor once more: I actually consider he’s going to be a mainstay within the franchise. If something, I’m going to check him to Loki from the MCU.
I don’t consider Lex Luthor can have some redemption arc like Loki did – he’s just a little too far gone for that. However the true comparability is how I feel Luthor goes to pop up in locations you’d by no means count on him to and have an enduring impression on the story as an entire, simply as Loki did within the MCU. It’d are available in a approach you don’t even count on, however that’s the fantastic thing about it – you don’t know.
Honestly, Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal truly made me excited for the way forward for the DC film universe and all the things else popping out. With him as an enormous baddie, this simply is likely to be the beginning of a memorable slew of DC villains, and I’m so right here for the trip.