One Academy Award-winning MCU actor wants to be Marvel’s version of DC’s Lex Luthor fifteen years after his debut in Iron Man 2. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor provides a standout performance in James Gunn’s Superman. Fueled by hatred for Superman, Hoult’s Luthor cements himself as one of the best portrayals of the Man of Steel’s archnemesis.
Speaking to ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley at The Bad Guys 2‘s press junket, Justin Hammer actor Sam Rockwell voiced his interest in reprising his Iron Man 2 role. Rockwell compared Justin Hammer to Lex Luthor, and stated that “it’d be fun” to play Tony Stark’s CEO rival in the MCU. Read Sam Rockwell’s full comments below:
Liam Crowley: Sam, it’s cool to see you back in a sequel because there’s been so many roles of yours over the years that I would have loved to see you reprise. The one that everyone always goes back to is Justin Hammer. We love Justin Hammer. It’s been 15 years, and so many have come back. Everyone’s coming back. RDJ’s coming back as Doctor Doom.
Sam Rockwell: I know. I’m waiting for the call.
Liam: We’re waiting for you to answer the call. I’m sure Feige has your number on speed dial.
Sam: I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go.
Liam: Would you actually like, like to do Hammer again? Would it be fun?
Sam: Yeah. It’d be fun. I mean, it’s kind of my Lex Luthor version, slash Vince Vaughn, slash Ben Schwartz. I got to work with the great Mickey Rourke as well.
What Sam Rockwell’s MCU Comments Mean
Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer Has The Potential To Be Marvel’s Lex Luthor
There are several similarities between Lex Luthor and Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. Luthor and Hammer are both highly intelligent, rich, and cunning tech entrepeneurs with a twisted fixation on their heroic counterparts, and both repeatedly fail to defeat their respective heroes. However, Hammer hasn’t had many chances to shine.
Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2 was arguably the weakest entry in the MCU’s Phase 1, released when the franchise was only beginning to take shape. Justin Hammer has since remained absent from the MCU, though Sam Rockwell’s memorable performance left the door open for his return. Since then, Hammer has only appeared in the Marvel One-SH๏τ “All Hail the King.”
In Marvel Comics, Justin Hammer is originally a considerably older and less eccentric British industrialist.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor will likely become a recurring villain in the DCU even though he’s arrested at the end of Superman. Likewise, Justin Hammer’s arrest at the end of Iron Man 2 may not forbid him from returning as a menace to other MCU heroes. Once Marvel Studios is done with the Multiverse Saga, Hammer’s story could be revisited.
Our Take On Sam Rockwell’s MCU Comments
Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer Could Be Even More Dangerous Now
Justin Hammer was more of a nuisance than a real villain in Iron Man 2. Now that Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, however, Hammer might be prepared to fill in the void. After finishing his sentence, Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer could attempt to be the next Tony Stark, complete with his own version of Iron Man technology.
Marvel Studios’ Armor Wars has been put on hold, but Justin Hammer still seems like the perfect candidate for its main antagonist role. Similarly to the comics, Hammer could participate or lead a war between armored villains and anti-heroes. James Rhodes, Riri Williams, and possibly Morgan Stark could fight Justin Hammer to protect Tony Stark’s Iron Man legacy.
