Nicholas Hoult's portrayal of Lex Luthor in the new Superman film emphasizes the character's pettiness and insecurity. Luthor is depicted as the smartest and wealthiest character in the DC universe, yet he harbors a deep insecurity regarding Superman. The film draws parallels with Luthor's infamous ambitions from the 2004 series Justice League Unlimited, particularly regarding his political aspirations. Initially seeming reformed, Luthor's true aim to undermine Superman reveals a complex and dangerous character dynamic.
Luthor sees himself as the smartest person in the DC universe, and in Superman, he might also be the richest. But he's also extremely insecure and petty, especially when it comes to Superman.
Gunn leans heavily into those elements with his Luthor, paralleling one of the character's most notorious reveals from Bruce Timm's 2004 animated series Justice League Unlimited.
Initially, he appears reformed, with seemingly noble goals. He even builds an energy-efficient city that Superman ends up destroying, due to his distrust of Luthor's plans.
However, it's later revealed that Luthor is secretly working with Cadmus, and that his real plan is to push Superman into losing control and killing him.
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