As the release of Superman, the inaugural theatrical installment in the DC Universe (DCU), draws near, Nicholas Hoult, who portrays the antagonist Lex Luthor, has revealed his interest in a potential collaboration between his character and the Joker. Hoult expressed this preference during a recent interview, highlighting the intriguing dynamic such a team-up could bring to the screen.
Nicholas Hoult Suggests Lex Luthor and Joker Collaboration in Superman
In a discussion alongside his Superman co-stars, Hoult identified the Joker as the DC character he most wishes to see join forces with his Lex Luthor. He recalled reading comics where the two villains united, describing the pairing as “really fun to read.” Hoult stated to ComicBook.com, “One of the comics I read in the lead up to this was a link up between Lex and Joker. The combination of those two together was really fun to read, so perhaps if we are lucky and get to keep making movies, that’s something I’d like to see combined there.”
James Gunn’s DCU and the Uncertainty of Lex Luthor and Joker Interaction
James Gunn has confirmed Batman’s presence in the first chapter of his reimagined DCU, titled Gods and Monsters, through the standalone film The Brave and the Bold. However, with the DCU still in its early development stages, Gunn has yet to cast actors for many Batman-related characters, with Tom Rhys as Clayface being a notable exception.
Currently, it remains uncertain whether Lex Luthor, Superman’s primary adversary, will share screen time with the Joker, Batman’s iconic nemesis, within Gunn’s cinematic universe. This potential alliance was notably absent in the previous era under Zack Snyder’s direction. In the former DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Jared Leto portrayed the Joker and Jesse Eisenberg took on the role of Lex Luthor, but the two characters never appeared together in any film, including Zack Snyder’s Justice League.