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Could it be time for a familiar face to soar once again through the DC universe? Michael Rosenbaum, whose turn as the infamous Lex Luthor earned him a legion of fans in Alfred Gough & Miles Millar’s iconicSmallvilleseries, may just have the key to unlocking his return to James Gunn’s DCU—under one clear, heartfelt condition.
With a candid moment tinged with possibilities, Rosenbaum recently shared that he would be thrilled to play the incredibly complex villain, given the right pitch and call from his friend James Gunn.TheSmallvilleseries followed Clark (played by Tom Welling) as he learned about his Kryptonian ancestry and eventually underwent the training that would prepare him to become Superman.
Also, the series told the staggering tale of Lex Luthor and how, in hindsight, he came to be the Man of Steel’s greatest adversary.
What Will It Take for Michael Rosenbaum to Embrace the Luthor Role in James Gunn’s DCU?
Fans of the hitSmallvilleserieswere delighted when the news broke thatJames Gunnwould be writing and directing aSupermanreboot for the DC universe. But one question lingered in the minds of many: Why isn’t Michael Rosenbaumreprising his iconic roleas Lex Luthor in Gunn’sSuperman?
“RIP Nicholas Hoult’s hair”: James Gunn’s Lex Luthor Looks More Bad*ss Than Anyone From the Past as He Tastes the Thrill on Race Track
During a panel atComicBook’s Nashville Comicon 2024, Rosenbaum addressed this burning question, revealing that he had actually posed the same question to his long-time pal, James Gunn. The actor, who played Lex Luthor across seven seasons ofSmallville, expressed his willingness toreturn to the DC universeunder one condition.
I’m always up for a challenge. I’m always up for fun. Whatever comes to me, I look at it, and if it’s not too silly, or if it makes me laugh, or I think I could do a really good job or I think I can make an impression, I’ll do it.
Rosenbaum, 51, who has portrayed Martinex in Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, made it clear that he would love to work with the director again. However, the actor acknowledged that the final say is up to the co-CEOs of DC Studios:
I asked him, ‘Why am I not in Superman? Why am I not in the movie somehow?’ It was fine, though. I wish him all the happiness. He deserves all the success he has. He’s enormously talented. When it’s the right thing, he’ll ask me. Or he won’t. And that’s aside from friendship. When your friends go off and do big things, you say, ‘Hey, they know I’m here. They know my number’. And you just hope for the best.
In other words, Gunn will ask Rosenbaum when the time is right. The actor is still holding out hope for a return, knowing that his friend has his “number” and will get in touch with him when the opportunity aligns.
As of now, Nicholas Hoult has been cast for the role of Lex Luthor inSuperman, which stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman.
Nicholas Hoult Shared His Inspiration for Playing Lex Luthor
While specifics aboutSupermanare still being kept under wraps,Nicholas Houltearlier revealed some of the inspiration he has drawn for his owninterpretation of Lex Luthor. He named two of his motivations, in particular: the comic book seriesAll-Star SupermanandSmallville.
In an interview withMichael Rosenbaumfor his podcastInside of You(viaCollider), Hoult started by raving about the former’s portrayal of Lex Luthor inSmallville. TheRenfieldstar gushed:
I grew up. I think the first ever Lex I saw was you. Yeah, I grew up whenSmallvillewas on, I can’t remember if it was Channel 4 or Channel 5 in the UK, but like growing up. I was like 11, 12, I guess.
Throughout the interview, Hoult repeatedly brought up the topic ofSmallvilleto express his gratitude for Rosenbaum’s performance. The former continued, saying,
You inhabit him with such depth and charm. And then, yeah, that ability to switch, which makes him dangerous and formidable and a great opponent. I just loved what you did.
In addition, Hoult also mentioned that he took inspiration for the character from theAll-Star Supermanseries.
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Speaking of the upcoming flick, David Corenswet will take Henry Cavill’s place in James Gunn’s DCU as Clark Kent/Superman. In addition to Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan was revealed as the movie’s female lead, portraying Lois Lane, Superman’s romantic interest.
Supermanwill hit theaters on June 01, 2025, whileSmallvilleis streaming on Hulu.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
