Thankfully, Next Superman Villain Won’t Be Lex Luthor

Posted by on January 6th, 2009   Filed under: Action, Books/Comics, Rumours
Source: Movieweb

We heard a while back that Warner Brothers is finally starting to develop a new Superman movie that will not be a continuation of Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns. Smart move. Although there’s a possibility that Brandon Routh might still star in the flick, it looks unlikely that Lex Luthor will return as the main villain. Kevin Spacey, of course, insists that he will indeed be back for the sequel (and also that it will be called Superman: The Man of Steel, apparently), but word on the street is that he will be forced to take a back seat to another opponent.

According to Latino Review, the WB is currently taking pitches from writers, and they are specifically looking for another one of Superman’s enemies to take center stage. There is no word yet on who that might be, but I definitely think this is a good news. In order to create a movie with some kick ass action and the possibility of suspense, Superman requires a powerful otherworldly adversary, not just a really smart businessman and/or scientist. Besides, Luthor has been given plenty of screen time, and I’m sure I’m not the only one dying for something new. (Yeah, bringing back Zod would be cool too, but let’s try to get past merely paying tribute to the ’80s films.) All that being said, who would you like to see Superman face off against next? Personally I’d have to vote for Muhummad Ali.



  • Neil M

    Why was it necessary to reboot this franchise again? I never saw Superman Returns, but it’s sitting at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and made 200 million during its run. That sounds like a success to me.

  • Believe it or not, $200 million was considered a disappointment for this movie. It actually made $390 worldwide, but the budget was around $270 million.

    Also, it seems to me that people went pretty easy on Superman Returns initially, but then it experienced a major backlash a few months later. The main reason why I think a reboot is good is because of the kid. That would just be a nightmare to deal with in a sequel.

  • Wil

    As much as I love Superman, I really hope they don’t open the floodgates with this like they did with Batman. They should take a tip from Marvel and hero jump, Ironman, Hulk, and Thor should be coming up here soon enough from what I’ve read. Hello WB – Batman – check, Superman, check… Wonder Woman should be next, someone go beg Joss Whedon back!

  • Thank God, Allah, Vishnu, and Chuck Norris! Apparently my telepathy works. Now I must focus hard on making them pick Brainiac and Metallo.

    “it’s sitting at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and made 200 million during its run”

    It cost over 300 million to make the thing and it was boring (and Luthor is tired)…just not dumb and ridiculous or it would have had a 15% like The Spirit.

  • swarez

    I have the perfect idea to get rid of the kid. But I’m not telling you guys so you’ll run off with my million dollar idea to WB.

  • Jason B

    I found Spacey as Luthor to be the ONLY interesting thing about that movie. His mastermind plot was the weakest thing ever but that’s the product of an awful movie and bad writing, not the character. Man, that has to be one of most boring movies ever.

  • JakeTheFatMan

    Awesome Superman reference. Isn’t there a recent Superman comic in which Superman was born on Earth, without powers, far into the future where the sun is now a red giant and sent back in time before it is destroyed? Great concept for a Superman film …

  • Ian

    You could do Intergang which would lead to Darkseid and then that could connect with a JLA flick.

  • Derek

    DOOMSDAY GODDAMMIT!!! After watchin, Superman Returns, I realized there was not one fight scene in that movie except when he was gettin his ass kicked by Luthors thugs; but that doesn’t really count. It’s about time we start seein buses and 18 wheelers/w gasoline tanks, gettin thrown around and through buildings on Metropolis grounds. A good Superman/Doomsday story for film would be more than enough to make up for the slow paced, drawn out, overrated “3D” Returns movie. That’s my wish. In a way I guess makin that film would be a bit “sudden”. Probably better as a sequel (or not)
    Just wishful thinkin. If not Doomsday, than I was thinkin maybe the villain, METALLO, or PARASITE. We need some super brawling this time around.

    I agree… It’s about time we start lookin at different Superman villains on the big screen, other than Lex. Especially with the CG in this day and age. Lex is gettin kind of boring to watch (being the top villain in the movies)

  • twililghtfox

    I agree with everyone when saying that Superman needs a bigger bad guy to fight, not just Lex Luthor. I was probably one of the only people who enjoyed Superman Returns but I’m afraid taht if they beef up the CGI in the next one, it could end up looking like the Hulk, which was done well, but didn’t seem “believeable”

  • Doomsday? Please, he’s a gimmick villain for a stupid idea.

    I say go with Brianiac or Metallo.

  • HPJ

    Well, i would LOVE if DC went and took a page from Marvel and start having their movies lead to a united team (JLA). I liked Superman Returns, but the kid idea was a really bad one. Get Luthor to take the backseat and bring in Darkseid or Brainiac. Maybe (if the WB will be willing to make 5 Superman movies) by the 3rd film, bring in Doomsday.
    Oops! Should i have said my idea to pitch to WB? damn…

  • Alex

    The problem with the film version of Lex is that they don’t know how to write him. He’s not a bumbling idiot type who likes to wear wigs. He’s evil and thinks that Superman is a threat to the world. He needs to be written as if Superman would actually fear a human. And get rid of the female sidekick.

    I’m all for Lex coming back just write him like the comics do.

  • Bizzaro or Cyborg Superman should be in the next one

  • kal-el fanatic

    If they are going to have a female sidekick with Lex it needs to be Mercy Graves as she is in the comics, but ultimately i would love to see Brainiac as the main villain in the movie. Brainiac is the only sensible choice for a first movie. Cant be Bizarro because Superman has to get beat up enough to actually bleed in order to create Bizarro. Cant be Darkseid cause you have to develope the intergang theme before bringing him in. Cant be Metallo or Parisite cause they’re just not high profile enough to be main villains for a first movie. Noone really cares about Mr. Mxyzptlk. We’ve already seen General Zod in the old school movies. Definitely not Doomsday cause he KILLS Superman! So bring on Brainiac & show Lex toward the end of the movie. Then let Lex create either Metallo or Bizarro in the sequal.

  • Jordan Lee

    I think Lex Luthor should be included in a first movie as a corrupt business tycoon who makes the discovery of Superman being able to get weakened by kryptonite. But to avoid reusing him after most people are obviously sick of that- they could use regular villains such as Parasite and the Toyman. I personally believe that each movie should make the next villain more powerful than the last. Therefore, Metallo should be brought in the second movie with Lex Luthor using the advantage of kryptonite being Superman’s weakness. It could possibly have Bizarro in it if more than one villain is needed. The third movie should bring in Brainiac for Superman to have an encounter with a powerful alien. I always thought a story with him should have it come out that he is the one who caused the destruction of Krypton. That way Superman would be emotionally affected by the encounter. Then there should be a fourth movie bringing in Darkseid and Kalibak. Most powerful villains should be saved for last. They would help out in making a story of Superman facing his toughest challenge ever. I have always imagined the series ending with him battling Darkseid on Apokolips.

  • Felix Garza

    Ithink it’s time to introduce Darkside and apocalypes.

  • Felix Garza

    It’s time for a Green Lantern Movie too.

  • Felix Garza

    Mongol

  • Insight Versus

    Superman, along with spiderman are a cliche of their times..Where special effects wizardry or strange named characters seemed to be all the rage. Audiences are a bit more advanced and prefer character and dialogue over a bald headed businessmen thats too ridiculous to be taken seriously anymore or flying geezers with wings. Superman giving advice about flying or self help dating program from a spandex wearing fruit who lives with someone looks like a grandmother. Lets be truthful, Superman movies had its time, unfortunately its run out , likewise for Spiderman.