James Gunn’s DC Universe has the opportunity to do what Zack Snyder wanted with Lex Luthor but never got to, and a new update makes me more confident that will happen. Lex Luthor is one of DC’s most iconic villains ever, with the Joker being the only one I would rank above him. That shows his importance to the franchise.

Both the DCEU and the new DCU understood that, which is why the two live-action franchises had/have big plans for the character. While I was not a fan of Jesse Eisenberg’s version of Lex in the DCEU, where he was headed was interesting. I believe that DC’s future movies could end up going in the same direction with his replacement.

That would be Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, who makes his DCU debut alongside David Corenswet’s Superman in the hero’s new movie. So far, I have loved everything I have seen from Hoult’s Lex. The character really feels like the Luthor from the comics, which Eisenberg’s never did. That is why I’m excited about how he could have the endgame Snyder teased.

Lex Luthor Will Be The Superman Movie’s Main Villain Despite All The Threats

The DCU’s First Movie Features Quite A Few Villains

Right from the start, Gunn was adamant that Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor would be the main villain of Superman. That does not mean that he will be the DCU movie’s only threat, as Superman trailers have shown that a kaiju, Ultraman, the Hammer of Boravia, the Engineer, and a sun-like creature will engage the Man of Steel throughout the film.

Superman movie merch has revealed Lex Luthor’s warsuit from the comics. This teases that Luthor will be both an intellectual and physical threat to the Man of Steel in the movie. Despite Lex and Superman sharing some interesting moments in the trailers, the character’s influence will be felt not only when he appears, but through every single threat in Metropolis.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, James Gunn explained how far Luthor’s reach extends in the film. According to the Superman movie’s director, “Lex is connected to everything.” Gunn claimed that there is not a bad thing happening in Metropolis that Lex does not have his finger on. He is Superman’s ultimate villain and is seemingly coordinating several threats in the film.

Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor Has A Long Future Confirmed For The DCU

DC Will Not Stop Using The Villain Any Time Soon

Lex Luthor’s story setup in Superman is exciting. However, that will not be the end of the road for the character in the DCU — far from it. During a Superman movie set visit that ScreenRant and other outlets attended, Lois Lane actress Rachel Brosnahan revealed she would be happy to stay in the DCU for 10-15 years.

It seems like the same could go for Lex. Recently, DC Studios’ co-CEO, Peter Safran, spoke to Omelete about how long Lex Luthor could stay in the franchise. According to Safran, they have plans for Luthor in the DCU beyond Superman, with Nicholas Hoult’s character being seen as “a very important character” for the future of the new DC Universe.

Superman has already broken trailer and pre-sales records leading up to its release. The movie is also projected to have a healthy opening weekend worldwide. If Superman is as successful as all signs point will be the case, then a Superman movie trilogy in the DCU and more could be in Hoult’s Lex Luthor future, including a Zack Snyder connection.

Zack Snyder Wanted Lex Luthor To Form A Team

The DCEU Teased That Outcome But It Never Really Happened

Snyder directed three movies in the DCEU: Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. After a string of divisive releases in the franchise, Snyder was phased out of the DCEU, with his plans for Justice League sequels never materializing and the director’s vision for the team’s first film only being released years later.

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Snyder had big plans for Jesse Einsenberg’s Lex Luthor. The director wanted to see Lex create the Injustice League in Justice League 2, and the team would have been successful at killing a few major heroes. The Injustice League’s roster would have included Wonder Woman‘s Doctor Poison, Captain Cold, Ocean Master, Black Manta, and the Riddler alongside Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor.

2017’s Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League never managed to reach that endgame. In the movie’s theatrical cut, Lex met Deathstroke and suggested they should form a league of their own, teasing the Injustice League’s debut. In the Snyder Cut, Lex’s prison escape was more detailed, and he told Slade Wilson that Bruce Wayne was Batman instead.

Why The Injustice League Makes Sense For The DCU

Based on how Peter Safran revealed that Lex Luthor will be key to the DCU beyond Superman and how the villain is seemingly in control of all the threats in the film, I think that the Injustice League endgame for Lex could finally come in the DCU. Firstly, Superman will introduce the Justice Gang.

The superhero team includes Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and operates out of the Hall of Justice. It is clear that this is the primitive version of the DCU’s Justice League. As it stands, the DCU’s many heroes are starting to ᴀssemble, and after Luthor inevitably loses to Superman, so should its villains.

The Injustice League would be Lex’s perfect answer to the Justice Gang. With James Gunn’s DC Universe closer to the comics than Zack Snyder’s DCEU, I think the villain team makes even more sense for the franchise. The Injustice League seems like a natural progression to Lex having a finger on the pulse of the DCU‘s threats, using Snyder’s endgame.