James Gunn Confirms Bradley Cooper Was Almost Cast as Lex Luthor Before Nicholas Hoult Landed the Role
James Gunn’s Superman continues to dominate at the box office, and fans and critics have, for the most part, been loving its fresh take on iconic characters. Now Gunn has confirmed that before Nicholas Hoult landed the role of the villainous Lex Luthor, he initially considered casting Bradley Cooper in the iconic role.
It was previously rumored that Gunn wanted Cooper, but now we know for sure that this was the case. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn shared insights into his decision-making process.
Surprisingly, Cooper wasn't always eyed for the role of Superman’s father, Jor-El, as Gunn initially imagined him stepping into the shoes of Superman’s legendary adversary.
Gunn explained:
"I did talk to Bradley. I did want Lex to be someone that was more contemporary of Superman's...I didn't write it with an age but I think Lex Luthor is important to Superman, and I think he's important to the future of the DC Universe and I thought it was better [to go with Nick] but yeah, Bradley would have been a great Lex. Bradley's great at everything."
Even though Cooper didn't land the villainous role, his presence in the DC Universe was secured with the significant part of Jor-El. Gunn pointed out the necessity of casting an actor capable of filling the legendary shoes of Marlon Brando, who famously portrayed the character in the 1978 classic.
Gunn previously described Hoult as someone who "could walk in the footsteps of Marlon Brando," highlighting the gravity of the role.
Gunn offered hints at what lies ahead. While specifics remain under wraps, the director teased that audiences got a glimpse of early versions of the iconic Lex Luthor battle suit, a high-tech armor famously infused with kryptonite weapons, used to level the playing field against Superman. Gunn said enthusiastically:
"We still have plenty of time, man. We see the early prototypes of that suit."
The comics have long depicted Lex as a formidable opponent for Superman, thanks in part to his ingenuity and ruthless tactics. It sounds like Gunn’s vision aligns closely with the source material, making Hoult's Lex Luthor a critical piece for future storytelling within the evolving DC Universe.
Fans will have to wait and see how Luthor’s rivalry with the iconic Man of Steel unfolds, but with Gunn steering the ship, expectations for epic confrontations and fresh takes on classic characters remain sky-high.