Superman & Lois: First look at Michael Cudlitz as Lex Luthor

Last Updated on April 4, 2023

Many have played iconic DC super-villain Lex Luthor over the decades, and the latest actor to join the pantheon of Luthor’s is none other than Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead). It was announced earlier this year that Cudlitz had joined the cast of Superman & Lois for its third season, and now Entertainment Weekly has the first look at the actor in all his bald glory.

According to the official character description, the Superman & Lois version of Lex Luthor is “known to the world as the visionary billionaire behind LexCorp. But the criminal underworld knows who Lex truly is: a brutal psychopath who terrorizes anyone he crosses paths with. It’s been years since he dropped out of the public eye and he’s re-emerging hellbent on correcting a personal injustice by enacting revenge on the two people he feels have wronged him — Superman and Lois Lane.“

Lex Luthor will be showing up later in the third season of Superman & Lois, and it sounds as though Michael Cudlitz has been having a ball as the character. “This whole experience so far has been amazing,” Cudlitz said. “From the collaboration with our showrunners Todd [Helbing] and Brent [Fletcher] to the incredibly warm welcome I received from Tyler [Hoechlin] and Elizabeth [Tulloch] and the entire cast and crew. I cannot wait to share with the fans how much fun we’ve been having. Personally, I’ve always felt Lex was just misunderstood.“

Jon Cryer had previously played Lex Luthor in the Arrowverse, but it’s been made clear that Superman & Lois doesn’t take place in that universe, leaving the door open for a new Luthor. “We love Jon Cryer, we think his work on Supergirl was amazing,” showrunner ToddHelbing said. “But we wanted to do our own stamp [on that character]. I’m excited for everybody to finally meet Lex.” Fellow Superman & Lois showrunner Brent Fletcher teased how this version of Lex Luthor will be introduced. “It’s a slow burn before Lex shows up, so it’s earned, but his whole point of view in the world is different,” Fletcher said. “His demeanor, his tone is different, and he is going to be the greatest oppositional force to Superman and Lois that they’re ever going to face.“

The third season of Superman & Lois will premiere on March 14th on the CW.