8 Actors Who Almost Played Lex Luthor in a DC Movie or Show

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As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that Superman has graced the pop culture landscape for an incredible 87 years. This longevity has allowed countless characters and aspects from his mythos to become part of everyday conversation. Terms like Kryptonite are now commonplace, and even people who haven’t read a single comic book know names such as Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and none other than Lex Luthor. Although Lex Luthor wasn’t Superman’s original adversary, he has solidified his position as the Man of Steel’s archenemy over time.

In seven movies about Superman that were shown in theaters, Lex Luthor has made an appearance. He’s been portrayed by various actors such as Gene Hackman, Clancy Brown, Michael Rosenbaum, Kevin Spacey, Jesse Eisenberg, Jon Cryer, and others. The latest actor to take on this role is Nicholas Hoult in James Gunn’s version of Superman, which means he will be the Lex Luthor in the DC Universe.

Over time, Superman has been a significant figure in Hollywood, with multiple movie franchises based on the Man of Steel. Numerous actors have been speculated to portray Lex Luthor, but many rumors, such as those about Bill Skarsgård from the movie “Nosferatu,” have been debunked recently. Contrary to popular demand, Bryan Cranston was never in contention for the role of Lex Luthor. In fact, Cranston himself joked about the frequent fan suggestions regarding his casting for the character.

In my humble opinion as a movie reviewer, even though the chosen actor nailed it as Lex Luthor, it’s fascinating to ponder over the big-name contenders that could have breathed fresh life into this iconic character. Here are eight actors who nearly donned the cape of Lex Luthor, potentially reshaping the cinematic universe as we know it.

8
Dustin Hoffman

‘Superman: The Movie’

During the 1970s, as the production of “Superman: The Movie” kicked off, Dustin Hoffman was a highly acclaimed actor globally. After his groundbreaking performance in “The Graduate” in 1967, Hoffman shone brightly in films such as “Midnight Cowboy,” “Straw Dogs,” and “All the President’s Men.” However, despite Gene Hackman eventually portraying Lex Luthor in “Superman: The Movie,” it was initially Hoffman who was offered the part, which he declined.

Although Hoffman received an offer to play Lex Luthor, he was also contemplated as a candidate for the role of Superman himself. Standing at 5ft 5, the producers of Superman: The Movie still viewed Hoffman as a possible Superman contender. This was prior to their decision to seek an unrecognized actor, as they wished the audience not to associate an actor with the Superman costume but instead visualize only Superman himself. Given these circumstances, it’s reasonable to assume that Hoffman would have been more fitting for Lex Luthor rather than Superman.

7
Jack Nicholson

‘Superman Lives’

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share an intriguing bit of trivia: Back in the ’90s, there was a time when Jack Nicholson might have played not one, but two of DC Comics’ most iconic villains – The Joker and Lex Luthor! If you remember, Nicholson had already donned the Joker’s grin in 1989’s Batman. This double duty was almost a reality thanks to director Kevin Smith, who was hired to write the script for Superman Lives around that time.

As he delved into the project, Smith had his own vision for the cast, even before Tim Burton signed on as director. The idea of Nicholson portraying both The Joker and Lex Luthor was a tantalizing prospect, but unfortunately, it never came to fruition.

In this rephrased version: Smith cast Ben Affleck as Superman, Linda Fiorentino as Lois Lane, and Jack Nicholson as Lex Luthor in his movie, Dogma. Since the 1989 Batman movie was significant to him, he chose Jack Nicholson for the role of Luthor, a choice that fit well with the storyline.

Despite rumors that Nicholson might take on the role, it was never officially presented to him. By the time Tim Burton came aboard for the project, he had already begun casting. Famously, he cast Nicolas Cage as Superman and approached Kevin Spacey for Lex Luthor. Although the film Superman Lives didn’t materialize, Spacey remained a strong contender to portray Lex Luthor in various Superman projects that were underway. Eventually, he was cast as Lex Luthor in 2006’s Superman Returns.

6
Michael Rooker

‘Superman: Lives’

In the movie “Superman: Lives,” Kevin Smith considered naming Lex Luthor “Michael Rooker.” This is interesting because Rooker had previously collaborated with Smith on “Mallrats” and was famous for his memorable performance in the 1986 film, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” However, it’s unlikely that Rooker would have been a contender for Lex Luthor as Warner Bros., at the time, might have preferred a well-known actor for such big superhero films. This was a common practice in the ’90s, as seen with the casting choices made in the Batman movies of the era.

In the grand scheme of things, I was fortunate enough to be selected for the part of Yondu in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a role tailored just for me by my longtime friend and director, James Gunn. I’ve had the pleasure of revisiting this role in the sequels of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” as well as the holiday special and the series “What If…?” More recently, I found myself stepping into the DC Universe under James Gunn’s direction once more in “The Suicide Squad.” This time around, I took on the villainous role of Savant, a character who met his end in the film’s initial scenes.

In light of The Suicide Squad being established within the DC Universe, it’s possible that Michael Rooker is now part of the same franchise as the current Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult. Rooker recently lent his voice to Sam Fitzgibbon in Creature Commandos, a character who initially appears to be an ordinary man but later reveals himself to be a Neo-Nazi, eventually meeting his end at the hands of G.I. Robot.

5
Zachary Levi

‘Smallville’

In an alternate universe, it’s often thought that Zachary Levi might have played Lex Luthor instead of Michael Rosenbaum on the show “Smallville”. Interestingly, Smallville’s creator, Alfred Gough, shared that Levi performed well during his first audition, but his subsequent audition for Warner Bros. executives didn’t go as planned, which cost him the role. Later on, six years after this missed opportunity, Levi secured the lead in the popular series “Chuck” and went on to have a successful career with roles such as Flynn Ryder in “Tangled” and Fandrall in “Thor: The Dark World”.

2019 marked my debut in the DC Universe, donning the cape for the film “Shazam,” where I took on the heroic role. In 2023, I returned as Shazam in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” but unfortunately, this sequel failed to impress at the box office. With a series of underperforming films and my controversial support for Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election, it appears that my tenure as Shazam has come to an end.

4
Ralph Fiennes

‘Superman: Man of Steel’

Ralph Fiennes was Brett Ratner’s preferred actor to portray Lex Luthor in the highly anticipated Superman project, often referred to by fans as Superman Flyby. Ratner, who had previously collaborated with Fiennes on Red Dragon, was keen to work with him again. Unfortunately, Ratner stepped down from directing the film in 2003 due to continuous disagreements with producer John Peters. Interestingly, Fiennes went on to play another famous bald antagonist in a Warner Bros. production two years later when he was selected as Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

In a scenario where Ralph Fiennes had been chosen for the role, J.J. Abrams planned to write Lex Luthor as a government agent with an intense interest in UFOs, fueled by either fascination or animosity towards Superman. This version of Luthor was also speculated to be secretly a Kryptonian. In 2000, many fans would have been thrilled to see Fiennes play Lex Luthor, but they may have preferred a portrayal that adhered more closely to the original comic book character.

3
Johnny Depp

‘Superman: Man of Steel’

Following Brett Ratner’s withdrawal from directing “Superman: Man of Steel,” the film’s initial director, McG, resumed control over the soon-to-be unsuccessful Superman project in June 2003. Not long after, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” hit theaters and garnered worldwide acclaim, emerging as a surprise summer blockbuster and the third highest-grossing film of the year. With Johnny Depp’s newfound box office success, it is said that he was presented with the role of Lex Luthor.

It appears that Johnny Depp initially declined the opportunity to portray Superman. But later, he became involved with another Warner Bros. property that had been in development for a long time when he agreed to play Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Remarkably, this film was released before Superman Returns, which featured Superman next. Noteworthy is the fact that Depp has never been involved in a comic book or superhero movie up until now.

2
Leonardo DiCaprio

‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’

It came as a surprise when Zack Snyder revealed that Jesse Eisenberg would portray Lex Luthor in “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”. Initially, Snyder had envisioned Eisenberg for the role of Jimmy Olson; he intended to cast a well-known actor and have him meet an early demise as a tribute to “Psycho”. However, Snyder ultimately chose Eisenberg for Lex Luthor. Interestingly enough, the original choice for Superman’s arch-nemesis was none other than Leonardo DiCaprio.

In 2024, Snyder disclosed that he had conversations with Leonardo DiCaprio regarding portraying Lex Luthor in the DCEU. It’s unclear if an official offer was extended to DiCaprio, but it’s probable that he would have declined the role. In an earlier conversation, Leonardo DiCaprio advised Timothée Chalamet against doing drugs and taking on superhero roles. Given this advice, it appears that DiCaprio likely wouldn’t have accepted the Lex Luthor part in the DCEU, but it’s intriguing to imagine the possibilities.

1
Robert Downey Jr.

‘Superman: Man of Steel’

Prior to assuming the role that made him iconic as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and long before his announced transformation into the infamous villain Doctor Doom, Robert Downey Jr. was initially slated for the part of Lex Luthor in the movie “Superman: Man of Steel.” Director McG had cast Downey Jr. for the role, although this wasn’t officially confirmed by any trades at the time. This was during Downey Jr.’s significant career resurgence, marked by his performances in “Gothika” and an audition for the character of Doctor Doom in Tim Story’s Fantastic Four, which took place about twenty years before he would secure the role as the Marvel villain.

The original “Superman: Man of Steel” was discontinued and replaced with “Superman Returns,” directed by Bryan Singer. If it had proceeded, with Robert Downey Jr. portraying Lex Luthor, it could have significantly influenced his career path and the future of superhero films. Had “Superman: Man of Steel” been successful and led to sequels, Downey Jr.’s busy schedule might have prevented him from auditioning for Iron Man. Conversely, if “Superman: Man of Steel” had flopped, he might have grown tired of comic book movies.

The captivating portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man by Robert Downey Jr. significantly contributed to the movie’s massive box office success and the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a groundbreaking shift in superhero films and blockbusters. It’s fortunate that he didn’t take on the role of Lex Luthor instead.

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2025-01-11 03:02