When we think of Superman, we often think of the iconic characters associated with him and his stories. There is, of course, Lois Lane: the journalist who stole his heart and the woman he is always rushing to save. Yet, aside from Lois, who is the next most recognizable Superman character? Why, none other than Lex Luthor, of course. Luthor is the polar opposite to Clark Kent and Superman: he is the definitive super-villain. With limitless amounts of cash at his disposal and an obsession with destroying the "Man of Steel," the character is an icon in comics. So it was something of a surprise when there was no real mention made in regards to whether or not he would appear in the Man of Steel movie.

The film, which will reboot the Superman film franchise for Warner Brothers has actor Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) playing General Zod, but what about Lex? Will he make an appearance at all? Will we see any mention of the character in the upcoming film? According to the film's screenwriter David Goyer (The Dark Knight Rises), there is still a chance we'll be seeing Superman's most recognizable adversary. Sort of. In a recent interview with I Am Rogue, Goyer revealed that there was never any confirmation or denial in regards to Luthor's appearance in the upcoming movie. When asked about what led to the decision to "exclude the character" from the film, Goyer responded by saying that they never actually confirmed or denied anything.

"I don’t think anyone has ever confirmed that we haven’t included him."

Well that's quite the interesting revelation, isn't it? So if he is going to make an appearance, what will it be like? Will it be a mere mention of the character's existence on film, or will it be more in depth? You might recall that last year it was rumored that actor Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) had landed the role of Luthor for the film, but that rumor has since died down quite a bit. So will it be Cooper? Will it be a mere mention? A simple cameo appearance? It will be interesting to see. Would having Luthor in the film be a good idea, or would it be an overload of adversaries for the first Superman film in years? What do you think?

Source: MTV

I don't think so, he will be mentioned, like Norman Osborn in Amazing Spider Man.

How can he not?

I think he will make a brief cameo.

Does anyone else have 0 Followers now? ps new comicvine is pretty cool.

This.

He was featured in a Man of Steel Lego set so I guess so

I think he'll pull a Marc Webb and just be mentioned in the background.

I'm glad he won't be a big part of the movie. Lex was overused in the last movies.

@ultrastarkiller: I still have followers but I lost over 50.

As for Lex, I say leave him out. Sooooo many great Superman villains and wut do we get? Lex and Zod, over and over again. Give me Brainiac, Toy Man, Mongul or Metallo. I want to see Superman thwarting intergang and trading blows with Bizarro.

I realize Luthor is important to the mythos, but for the love of Krypton leave him in the backround. If they're going corporate power house Lex, lets just see the Lexcorp logo on products and building. If we're going with the mad scientist version of the character lets just hear about "Luthor's division" in the military or hear about "the mysterious mad man doing strange experiments on the vagrants in the Suicide Slums."

That's just my two cents. Save Lex for a 3rd or 4th sequel if not a JLA sequel.

It would be better to have him appear in the second movie. The first movie should be to introduce the character. The later movies should be where they go all-out, and introduce their main villain, like in The Dark Knight

just because lex luthor is in the movie it doesn't mean he is adversary...if he is in it is a small part

Do not WANT

Yeah

i'd say with all the damage done lex would use it as his opportunity to run for president

with that being said I can see it just being a cameo in a daily planet headline

If he makes a cameo it will be a post credit scene. He'll be standing in front of a cryo-chamber, looking at a zygote or strand of hair. A tech walks up with cadmus embroidered on her lab coat asking him if he's reading for splicing.

I 3rd that!

Never cared for Luther , never will:P

I agree. Even if it's just a few seconds, he HAS TO be included.

I had always heard that the actor who played the Observer "September" on Fringe was cast as Lex Luthor, however that was like back when Zack Snyder was first hired on the project, so I dont really know how true that is.

@mr_riddler: You might be right. I just hope this movie doesn't disappoint like the crap-fest that ASM was. Maybe one of the worst decisions ever to reboot that franchise. You would think this people would look at the James Bond franchise & how well it was worked.

I would like to see him portrayed like he was in YJ

If it was me I would use Lex to setup a crossover movie for Superman & Batman. Could be confusing though depending on what they do with Batman.

@hempknight757: I enjoy Amazing Spider Man, pal.

Agreed, even though Lex is Superman's arch villain, doesn't mean he's his only villain. I think the main problem with the Superman film franchise has been that they wasted so much time retreading the story of a single nemesis, where every successful superhero franchise from Batman to Spider-Man to the X-Men has always kept things fresh. Even using Zod again screams of been there done that. Had any of the villains you listed been chosen for this film, I would probably be excited to see the Man of Steel.

I am so FREAKIN tired of every Superman story having Luthor as the villain!! Is Superman incapable of fighting anyone else?!? If it's not Luthor, it's Zod and I want someone different! JUST!! THIS!! ONCE!!

@mr_riddler: Possible ASM spoilers.*** I mean I thought the point of the reboot was to expand on Uncle Ben & give a little more screen time. They totally failed on that. I liked the perfomance in the first one way more. They had been setting up the Lizard so why reboot if you are going to use him anyways. The whole turn the city in to Lizards was pretty pointless. Then they all get turned back so easily. Wack! The death at the end felt very forced for a character I didn't really care about. I really do hope the next one is good. I just think Webb didn't bring much to the table. He had no creditably in the first place to take over the franchise. And however wrote it didn't do much for him. I just thought it was pretty bland overall. What was really memorable about the movie? The end setting up the next one & that was pretty much it. I want to see more about Peter's parents, but don't really have much hope for a terrible start.

Lex is not cast...how can the studio make a character appearance on the silver screen that has yet been cast.

I'm quite happy with General Zod, I'm hoping for a trilogy with Doomsday in one of them.

It's superman... DUHHH

Cooper would make a good lex

I would fine with a cameo or a mention of Lex. Or some kind of reference to LexCorp. And I can't think of any actor that could portray Lex other than Billy Zane. He is the absolute perfect casting choice.

They should mention LexCorp and then have him in the epilogue after or during the credits. They don't even have to show anybody; just show the silhouette of a bald man looking out of a sky scraper window.

Lex is a little been there done that in the films

Lex is lame as hell. Hope they try to use Supes other Rogues instead of Lame Luthor.

@ultrastarkiller: I lost every single follower I had >:-(

@lone_wolf_and_cub: WRONG!

@bluelanternbeast: Stop casting based on looks and cast based on talent, when was the last time you saw Zane in a A or even B list movie?

@Superguy1591 it's my opinion so no need to tell me I'm wrong. Don't get so worked up over someone else's opinion.

Justify.

Lex should at least make a cameo

@razzatazz said:

I concur. It would be nonsensical to leave out such an important Superman character.

Oh God no!!!!!!

I had enough of this guy.

@lieutenant_awkward: how would that work?

@violetphoenix: but he hasn't been done right though the Christopher reeve films he was hardly lex luthor and in superman returns the whole movie was just awful I hope to see him done right either in the man of steel or in a sequel it would be awesome to see a power armor lex vs superman fight

@spidermanandsuperman: Doomsday? I honestly don't know but I just think it would be cool if it were done well.

Cameos of LexCorp in this one, minor role in the sequel and make him a villain in the third. Luthor has been overused in previous movies so no one really wants him that soon, but on a third movie people usually expect something big, don't know why, maybe it's because we're so accustomed to the trilogy format of movies that we have high standards for the third movie, I dunno, but Luthor would make a hell of a villain in Man of Steel 3. But they should still tease the villain, make us anticipate him, it'll make his appearence as a full on villain that more relevant.

Either way, we all know he's gonna appear eventually.

He would probably be mentioned.

Lex Luthor > The Joker

That said I'd be okay with a Luthor-free Superman movie.

I'd rather not have him. Out of 5 Superman movies, Luthor's been in 4 of them. If you count animated movies, I've seen 7 Supermans. Luthor has been a villain in 6 of them. A friend was talking to me about how he didn't care for the Superman movies too much because he was constantly fighting the same guy. Yeah, we had General Zod in Superman II, but also Luthor. There was some weird guy in Superman IV, but he was controlled by Luthor. It'd be nice to see some other villains once in a while. Get Bizarro or Brainiac. Lex Luthor has to show up eventually, but maybe save him for a sequel. Let's face it There's like a 95% chance there will be a sequel. They plan sequels now before the first movie has even come out. We don't need to seem Luthor in every single Superman movie.

Thay may have cast him but they may be keeping it a secret.