Is Lex Luthor in Justice League? Ever since a handful of people saw early cuts of the film, whether Jesse Eisenberg will reprise his role is one of the many mysteries ahead of the film’s Nov. 17 premiere. We will never know for sure until the movie actually comes out. So just, chill. But we do have some information about how Luthor plays into the storyline, whether it’s behind the scenes or in front of the camera.
In a photograph allegedly showing a page from Hollywood Spotlight magazine, a “Meet The Justice League” article about Ciaran Hinds (who plays Steppenwolf) suggests Lex Luthor is definitely his partner in crime. The article also seemingly confirms he’s the uncle of Darkseid (though it’s unclear if the author is talking about the DCEU or the comics). Bear in mind, there is no indication of when this article was written and there’s no website for the publication. The sourcing, coupled with frequent changes to the film after Zack Snyder’s departure, suggests there’s a chance this information could be inaccurate.
In Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, he was responsible for the creation of Doomsday, the monster who would kill Superman in the movie’s climax. While Luthor was imprisoned at the end of the film, he’s back alongside the movie’s primary villain, Steppenwolf. The uncle of the universe’s greatest villain, Darkseid, and a member of his elite force, Steppenwolf survived a battle with Doomsday. That should tell you just how powerful he is. Aside from his strength and near-immortality, he’s also an expert tactician and wields a viscous elector-axe that can cut through just about anything.
Steppenwolf's primary role is as the leader of the parademons, the storm troopers who seek to destroy in the name of Darkseid. His primary mission is to serve his nephew, and his status as the main villain in Justice League suggests the scope of the threat facing Earth as well as the inevitable appearance of Darkseid himself.
Irish star Ciaran Hinds plays the role in the movie, though he will appear through the use of motion-capture technology. According to the actor, in the film, Steppenwolf is old, tired, and trying desperately to get out from under his servitude to his nephew. That Herculean task might require some help from a superpowered team.
While this article makes Steppenwolf’s true agenda in Justice League more intriguing, it’s clear even if Lex Luthor doesn’t appear, his presence will be felt. The chilling bonus scene showing Lex and Steppenwolf together, “Communion,” from Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice exists for a reason. If you need a refresher, Player.One’s Zulai Serrano breaks that scene down here. And if you need an explainer on what mother boxes are and what they do, we've got that too.
Do you think Warner Bros. is keeping Lex Luthor as a surprise? Let us know in the comments below.
