According to reliable sources, it appears that Daniel Craig, the renowned former James Bond actor, has been officially offered the role of Lex Luthor in the highly anticipated film Superman: Legacy, produced by DC Studios.
This casting news comes on the heels of recent announcements about the star-studded cast for the DC Universe’s flagship feature. As confirmed by Deadline, David Corenswet (known for Pearl) will be taking on the role of Clark Kent/Superman, replacing Henry Cavill, who portrayed the superhero since 2013’s Man of Steel. Joining Corenswet will be Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), who will play Lois Lane.
Subsequent to these updates, it was revealed that Nathan Fillion (Firefly) will portray Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi (X-Men: First Class) will embody Mister Terrific, and Isabela Merced (Transformers: The Last Knight) will portray Hawkgirl in the film.
If Daniel Craig accepts the role of Lex Luthor, he will be entering a casting history for the character that has been somewhat mixed in live-action films. Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) portrayed the wealthy villain in the most recent live-action feature, with his performance eliciting a diverse range of reactions from fans. Prior to Eisenberg, Kevin Spacey (American Beauty) portrayed Luthor in 2006’s Superman Returns, while the late Christopher Reeve’s era saw Gene Hackman (The French Connection) taking on the role. Though Hackman was generally well-received at the time, some, including James Gunn, have expressed a different opinion on his portrayal of Luthor.
Should Daniel Craig accept the role, he won’t face the pressure of “filling big shoes.” Interestingly, Luthor’s television portrayals, such as Michael Rosenbaum in Smallville and Jon Cryer in the Arrowverse, have garnered considerable fan appreciation, unlike the response to Eisenberg’s interpretation.
If Craig takes on the role of Lex Luthor, it will mark his first appearance in either the Marvel or DC cinematic universes. It was previously confirmed that Craig had plans to play the Asgardian character Balder the Brave in last year’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but for undisclosed reasons, that role did not materialize.
This opportunity has the potential to be a new venture for Craig, as he is primarily known for portraying heroic characters like James Bond and Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out films. Although Craig has played villains before, notably the mobster Connor in 2002’s Road to Perdition, he has never portrayed an iconic villain like Lex Luthor.
At this stage, it is important to note that Daniel Craig has been offered the role of Lex Luthor, but his response is still unknown. As soon as more information becomes available, we will ensure you are informed.
Superman: Legacy is scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025, almost exactly two years from now.