James Gunn Says Lex Luthor Isn’t a Villain in Superman’s Next Chapter MAN OF TOMORROW and Fans Disagree
James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios and director of Superman, stirred up conversation across DC fandom after sharing a celebratory message for one of the Man of Steel’s most iconic foes, Lex Luthor.
What started as a playful nod to the character’s comic book debut quickly turned into a full-blown debate about whether Luthor is actually a villain at all.
Gunn took to social media to mark the character’s anniversary, referencing his first appearance in Superman #4 from DC Comics, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. But it was the way he described Luthor that really grabbed attention. Gunn wrote:
“Happy Birthday to the ambitious and unstoppable CEO and scientist Lex Luthor, who most definitely is NOT a villain, but instead of protector of earth and humanity (he swears on a stack of Bibles).
He followed that up with a tease for the next chapter in the DCU:
“We’ll see how he does working with arch-nemesis Superman in MAN OF TOMORROW, in theaters summer of 27. He first appeared in SUPERMAN #4, written by Jerry Siegel, with pencils by Joe Shuster and inks by Paul Cassidy.”
So according to Gunn, Lex Luthor isn’t a villain. He’s a “protector.” At least, that’s what he claims.
If you’ve seen Superman or know anything about Lex Luthor, you already know why fans immediately pushed back.
In the previous film, Nicholas Hoult’s version of Luthor didn’t exactly come off as a misunderstood humanitarian. Viewers were quick to remind Gunn of that. One user responded:
“Even though in Superman, he was willing to allow People to die in the rift but he’s still the ‘protector’.”
Another added: “I’m still trying to wrap my head around how he is not a villain because he literally killed an innocent man in the previous movie.”
And then there was this gem: “Didn’t he execute an innocent falafel cart vendor? Bro should be in prison for that alone, falafels are great.”
All of which I agree with! Still, Gunn seems to be setting up something more complex for Man of Tomorrow. The upcoming film will reportedly see Luthor working alongside Superman, and one fan embraced the idea, posting:
“Lex Luthor as hero? That’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming! Can’t wait to see the dynamic with Superman in MAN OF TOMORROW.”
That dynamic is sure to end up being the heart of the film.
Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to hit theaters in the United States on July 9, 2027, from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures.
Directed by Gunn, the film serves as a follow-up to 2025’s Superman and continues to build out the new DC Universe. David Corenswet returns as Clark Kent and Superman, while Hoult reprises his role as Lex Luthor. Lars Eidinger is also set to appear as Brainiac, adding another major DC presence to the mix.
Filming is expected to begin later this year. Hoult’s Luthor already made his mark in Superman and even popped up in Peacemaker Season 2, hinting that Gunn has long-term plans for the character.
The idea of Luthor as a self-proclaimed “protector of Earth” isn’t new in the comics. He often sees Superman as the real threat, believing humanity should answer to human intellect, not alien power. But translating that mindset to the screen while also addressing the character’s violent actions is going to take some careful storytelling.
We’ll just have to wait and see what exactly Gunn has planned.
So what do you think? Is Lex Luthor a villain through and through, or is there room in the DC Universe for him to see himself as the hero of his own story?