Superman‘s latest trailer has convinced me that the DC Universe needs to avoid an annoying trend regarding superhero villains. As the first true installment of the new DC franchise, James Gunn’s Superman movie will include several characters. The heroes in Superman‘s ensemble cast, aside from the тιтular figure, include Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Mr. Terrific, and Metamorpho. To go up against these benevolent beings are the villains of Superman, including the Engineer, Ultraman, and the new original character, the Hammer of Boravia.

Spearheading the villainous group of the film, though, will be Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Most of the marketing material for Superman thus far has focused on, well, Superman. That said, the most recent trailer for the upcoming DC movie, released to coincide with tickets going on sale, offered a better look at Lex than any of the previous marketing materials. In doing so, I am hoping that Superman and the DCU break an annoying superhero villain trend now more than ever.

Superman’s Latest Trailer Highlights How Great Lex Luthor Will Be As A Villain

Lex’s Hatred Of Superman Has Never Been Stronger

Firstly, I wish to explore exactly how the latest Superman trailer highlights the strength of Hoult’s Lex Luthor. For many, Luthor is best depicted when his absolute hatred of Superman shines through. In this sense, the trailer succeeds by showcasing how Lex will stop at nothing to go against Superman, even if it means putting innocents in harm’s way.

The trailer begins with words spoken by Luthor, as the villain says “Superman. The most powerful being on planet Earth. We finally meet.” This is intercut with sH๏τs of Lex and his team infiltrating the Fortress of Solitude. Lex then claims “Now, as planned, I’ll destroy you. And, of course, that reporter you always do interviews with. Who raised you as a child? I’ll kill them too.” If anything gets across Lex’s sheer hatred for Superman, it is these lines. The final claim that anyone who “chooses” Superman should die only solidifies how good Lex will be as a detestable villain in Superman.

Superhero Movies Often Kill Off Major Villains After One Movie

And I Hope Superman Avoids This Trope

This brings me to the annoying villain trend that has been common in superhero movies. Oftentimes, major villains are killed off after one movie, meaning they do not get the chance to continue facing off against their classic comic book rivals.

This has long been the case, be it The Joker dying off-screen after The Dark Knight or Red Skull being sH๏τ across space in Captain America: The First Avenger, which are only a few instances of this. Rarely are villains allowed to live on and continue being antagonists to their respective heroes.

I Need The DCU To Avoid This Villain Trend After The Promise Of Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor

Lex Should Be A Thorn In Clark’s Side For A Long Time

In the DCU, I am hoping this changes. Hoult’s Lex Luthor is evidently going to be an excellent foil to David Corenswet’s Superman, just as he is in DC Comics. For this reason, I hope the DCU breaks the mold by allowing Lex to stand against Kal-El in sequels to Superman and potentially even have a hand in team-up movies like Justice League. What is known about Superman is that Lex will use many other antagonists to push his agenda against the тιтular hero.

Be it the creation of Ultraman or the employment of the Engineer, Lex will have several foes face off against Clark in a bid to defeat Superman. There have even been hints that the Hammer of Boravia from Superman links to Lex. This would allow for him and Kal-El to not completely face one another in Superman, leaving off the potential for Lex to come back even stronger in sequels. If so, the DCU would be avoiding the annoying trend of killing off great villains after one appearance, starting with Superman and promising a return for Lex Luthor as the Man of Steel’s arch-nemesis.