Superman‘s ending and the message within it has a lot of powerful moments, but I can’t believe I didn’t register the most important part of the DC movie’s finale until now. Setting up a cinematic universe in one movie is no small feat, but Superman pulls this off while also providing a heartfelt story for the Man of Steel.

The care put into ensuring the latest live-action version of Superman encapsulates the hope of the comic character is clear nowhere as strongly as the Superman movie’s ending and its final look at the hero. That said, the most important part of Superman‘s ending and what it sets up for the DCU’s future is easy to overlook, all things considered.

Superman’s Ending Speech Shows The Hero Still Believes In Lex Luthor

Superman’s Faith In Humanity Counts For Even His Worst Enemy

Superman‘s ending speech to Lex Luthor is one of the most important parts of the movie. Not only does Superman sum up his perspective on his life – telling Luthor he’s as human as anyone, and that he makes mistakes and gets scared just like any other person – he underlines that being human is about trying even after failing.

While the main focal part of the speech that’s easy to be drawn to most is Superman’s admission of being fallible like anyone else – and his insistence it’s about trying and having hope despite it all – there’s an equally important part of this speech that’s comparatively easier to overlook. After saying all this, Superman also tells Lex that:

“I screw up all the time – but that’s being human. And that’s my greatest strength. And someday I hope, for the sake of the world, you understand that it’s yours too.“”

For context, this is after Lex has threatened – and actively tried to – kill Superman several times, revealed he’s made a secret clone of the hero to murder him, unveiled his secret prison to Kal-El (and imprisoned him in it), and almost destroyed all of Metropolis with a black hole. Despite all of this, Superman still believes Lex can be good.

Looking back, it’s a huge gut punch that really underscores how much Superman cares for and believes in everyone – even the man who’s been committed to his downfall for the entire length of the movie. This one line also makes the message of Superman itself all the more powerful.

Superman’s Hope For Lex Luthor Reinforces The Message Of The DCU Movie In A Vital Way

The DCU’s Superman Is About Hope On Every Level

Superman‘s story forces the hero to confront that what he believed to be his parents’ mission for him to be was in fact very different. Learning that Jor-El and Lara intended for Superman to be more of a conqueror sent from the stars challenges Clark’s worldview, and forces him to re-examine his superhero career as a result.

Ultimately, Superman’s personal journey sees him come to terms with this less wholesome part of his past, and still believe he can do good. This is underscored by Superman trying to get Lex Luthor, the Engineer, and Ultraman to all turn things around, as he no doubt sees how he could have ended up walking a very different path too.

By the time of Superman’s ending, it’s clear this isn’t just good old-fashioned naivety. Superman has faced a lot by the time he delivers this speech, and the fact he not only still believes it, but also believes Lex could be a hero after everything shows him as the beacon of hope he’s meant to be.

In the end, Superman is a movie about how everyone can choose to do good – be they a Kryptonian hero or an everyday person. This message hits hardest because the Man of Steel is willing to believe this is possible for even his archnemesis, in spite of audiences watching Lex try and kill Superman for around two hours.

Superman’s Speech To Lex Luthor Makes A Major DC Storyline Seem Surprisingly Possible

Lex’s DC Superhero Career Doesn’t Seem All That Far Away

Superman’s final comments to Lex are especially interesting when factoring in the villain’s comic history. While Luthor is one of DC’s most famous supervillains, he has previously given the superhero role a try before – in part to spite Superman, but also because Lex often is characterized as wanting to help his fellow man in some complex ways.

As such, it’s not impossible to imagine that Luthor could at least attempt to be a hero in his own right in the DCU. While it’s unlikely Superman’s words will move Lex, they do show the Man of Steel would be willing to at least believe Luthor could become a hero, even if this hope may be misguided.

Indeed, with Lex in the comics liking the concept of being a hero in part for the public’s approval, Superman’s ending makes this storyline seem possible. Luthor’s desire to be revered is clear, and him trying to regain some approval after the events of the movie by taking a more personal approach seems in line with his current characterization.

All in all, Superman’s hopes for Lex Luthor in the final Superman speech paint a promising picture for the futures of both characters. Whether Luthor considers the hero approach or not, Superman’s belief Lex can change things around makes the duo’s rivalry all the more interesting, and all the more rife for future DC Universe follow-ups.