British actor Nicholas Hoult is set to play Superman’s arch-enemy Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s upcoming movie Superman: Legacy, US-based entertainment magazine Deadline has reported.

The casting process for Superman: Legacy began following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike on November 9. Nicholas has worked with Warner Bros. on Clint Eastwood’s upcoming film Juror No. 2 and the 2015 blockbuster Mad Max Fury Road.

Last week, Deadline also reported that Venezuelan actress María Gabriela de Faría will be playing the antagonist The Engineer in the upcoming film.

Previously, actors Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey and Jesse Eisenberg have played the role of Lex Luthor on screen in the Superman franchise.

The Kruptonian superhero’s character was originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Gunn had selected David Corenswet as Superman and Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane months before the actors’ strike after a long process of auditioning.

Gunn — who directed the Guardian of the Galaxy films, The Suicide Squad (2021) and the original Max series Peacemaker (2022) — has also written the screenplay for the upcoming superhero movie.

Co-produced by DC Studios CEO Peter Safran, who has also produced Aquaman films and The Conjuring franchise, Superman: Legacy is slated to release in theatres globally on July 11, 2025.