Categories: Superman

APRIL FOOL’S 2023: Michael Rosenbaum To Play Lex Luthor (Again) in James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy

NOTE: The following story is NOT true and is part of KryptonSite’s 2023 April Fool’s post.

KryptonSite has learned that the new DC Films co-head James Gunn has recruited media’s best Lex Luthor for his upcoming Superman: Legacy film, making him the first cast member tied to this new project…. and the man who is facing off against the Man of Steel might look a bit familiar, especially to those who have been reading this website for the past 22 years.

Who is the new Lex Luthor for the 2025 movie? None other than Michael Rosenbaum. Apparently his recent Twitter profile picture change was a hint of the news that would be coming.

Smallville fans might be a little disappointed, though, that no other cast members from the show are planned to be a part of this project, so this is a different Lex Luthor than Michael has played in the past. However, we knew James Gunn had already spoken to Henry Cavill and other former DC actors about new roles, and this is the first to come out, so who knows what the future may bring? As far as Superman goes, though, Gunn is looking for an actor who is younger than Cavill, making the Clark/Lex dynamic significantly different this time from what we saw in Smallville.

Michael has long been a friend of James Gunn’s and appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Martinex. Interestingly, we hear that the two top considerations for the Luthor role were Michael Rosenbaum and Michael Rooker who also starred in that film, but that Rooker passed on the part after having an adverse reaction to chocolate covered pretzels in the production office.

Interestingly, we are hearing that part of Rosenbaum’s deal is that it would also include a secondary project which we are hearing is titled Luthor, which will ideally give Superman’s greatest enemy the kind of attention and awards love that Joaquin Phoenix had in The Joker. The Joker has a sequel coming out in the future and has no connection to Gunn’s new shared DC Films universe.

Should this report be true, we expect that Michael will have to take a step back from his excellent Inside of You podcast as well as TalkVille which he hosts with Tom Welling. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear more; however, before you share this article, you might want to read this.

Craig Byrne

Craig Byrne has been writing about Superman TV since 1995, when the "Lois & Clark Krypton Club" launched. He founded KryptonSite.com in February 2001, becoming the first fan site for The WB/CW television series Smallville. He also wrote the Official Companion books for Smallville seasons 4-7 as well as the Smallville Visual Guide.

View Comments

  • Should this report turn out to be true, are you actually serious? The article writer is basing their whole story on a picture post, yea right ok, that's some journalism there. When the article mentioned Michael Rooker was also in line to play the role I almost pissed my pants, Rooker is almost 70 20 years older than Rosenbaum.

  • I absolutely love the idea of Michael being Lex again. Glad he is up to it. Can’t wait to see that sexy scar again.

  • If this is true why not make Tom Welling the new Superman. Him and Michael have worked together for years and would make sense to be like Smallville in the future. Bring back Erica Durance too

  • Honestly though, this would have made sense. He has expressed an interest in playing the character again & has done voice over work (as the Flash" for animation. Checks all the boxes, honestly

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