After the announcement of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s slate for the DC Universe, fans have been feeling all kinds of emotions. Some are giddy with excitement, some nervous with anticipation, and some are simply boycotting this part of the DCU after what happened with Henry Cavill’s Superman.
Talking about Superman, James Gunn is knee-deep in work for Superman: Legacy. While he himself is not giving any spoilers about the film, many rumors and reports are emerging left and right. According to one report, the filmmaker is looking at audition tapes for the titular character. However, this time, what has caught the fans’ eyes is not the protagonist, but the villain instead. A report suggests that Superman: Legacy will flaunt a version of a beloved villain, Lex Luthor.
Who is Playing Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy?
According to a report by The Wrap, the antagonist role in Superman: Legacy has been labeled as “Apex”. This could very well be a nod to Superman’s superpowered nemesis – Apex Lex. Once a super-genius businessman, Lex Luthor gained god-like abilities to become Apex Lex. Thanks to the powers given to him by Perpetua, Apex Lex became a villain to watch out for. His bare hands were enough to deal with great, powerful heroes, including Superman.
Now, should Apex Lex find himself in Gunn’s Superman: Legacy, the question is who will play the guy. According to The Wrap, James Gunn is looking for Black actors for the gig. However, Deadline’s Justin Kroll reported that the filmmaker was looking to get someone from Guardians of the Galaxy for the role. However, he added that there’s a strong probability that it’s not going to work out.
Also Read: James Gunn Replaces 7 MCU Actors in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 Including Miley Cyrus
Apex Lex and The Batman Who Laughs – How are They Connected
Straight from Earth -22, The Batman Who Laughs is the dark version of Bruce Wayne and the leader of the Secret Six. He belongs to the Dark Multiverse. Also known as The Darkest Knight, he somehow managed to make Perpetua choose him over Lex Luthor as her lieutenant.
A terrifying fusion of Batman and the Joker, The Batman Who Laughs once stood face-to-face with Lex and his allies. While the former might have thought that he defeated the latter, Lex rose up despite his injuries and stabbed The Darkest Knight. The blade had the antidote to his dark infection which caused the freedom of those who were infected by the Batman Who Laughs.
After Lex transports back to Perpetua with the Batman Who Laughs, Perpetua backstabs Lex and rids him of all his powers before sending him to Earth-0.
Will The Batman Who Laughs be in James Gunn’s DCU?
Given the fact that Apex Lex might be making his DCU debut with Superman: Legacy, there is a strong possibility that sometime in the future, the Batman Who Laughs could come finding him. If his fan following is any indication, bringing him to the DCU could be the way to go.
However, the Batman Who Laughs is a seriously dark character and the DCU would have to turn its wheels to a darker territory. Looking at the way things are going and the fact that Superman: Legacy is going to stay as far as possible from the dark side, there’s a long way to go before DCU can make space for the Batman Who Laughs. However, there’s nothing wrong with hoping, right?
Will Dark Nights: Metal Get a Movie Adaptation?
In the comic books, Dark Nights: Metal saw many dark versions of Batman including the Batman Who Laughs. Now, thanks to the multiverse being a hot, hot, hot topic, there is a strong possibility that the Dark Universe will be unveiled sometime in the future. DCU’s upcoming film, The Flash, has already opened the doors to this by stumbling into the multiverse.
And since Gunn seems to be all about bringing new comic book characters, especially the super-villains, to the big screen it might not be too surprising that the Batman Who Laughs is one of them.
Not only will this be an incredibly entertaining watch, but it will also put the DCU levels above the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since the competition is tough, it might just be what this superhero universe needs.
Superman: Legacy is all set to release in theatres on July 11, 2025.
Source: The Wrap
