Lex Luthor’s Epic Scheme in Superman (2025) Is a Brilliant Throwback to Justice League Unlimited
James Gunn’s latest Superman movie brings a fresh yet familiar vibe to Lex Luthor’s character, echoing one of the most iconic moments from the 2004 animated series Justice League Unlimited. Fans of the DC universe will appreciate how Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal captures Luthor’s mix of grandiosity, pettiness, and a relentless obsession with Superman.
- Lex Luthor’s complex scheme in the 2025 Superman film
- Connection to the Justice League Unlimited’s Justice Lords storyline
- How Luthor’s pettiness defines his character
- The expensive and elaborate nature of his plans
- Why Luthor remains Superman’s perfect foil
Lex Luthor’s Signature Pettiness and Ambition
In the new Superman movie, Lex Luthor is portrayed as the smartest and richest man in the DC universe, but also deeply insecure and petty, especially towards Superman. This version of Luthor doesn’t just want power for its own sake; his entire grand plan is a personal vendetta against the Man of Steel. He’s willing to spend billions and orchestrate international conflicts just to get under Superman’s skin.
A Nod to Justice League Unlimited’s Justice Lords Arc
Gunn’s Luthor shares a lot with his animated counterpart from Justice League Unlimited. In that series, an alternate Superman kills the U.S. president Lex Luthor and leads an authoritarian Justice League called the Justice Lords. The prime universe’s Lex Luthor then launches a fake presidential campaign, secretly working with a shadowy organization called Cadmus. His goal? To push Superman into losing control and prove he’s dangerous.
The Question, a detective character, discovers that the Justice Lords’ world is actually a possible future of their own timeline — a dark loop where Luthor always rises to power, the Flash dies, and the Justice League loses its moral compass. Luthor’s plan involves spending a staggering $75 million on a fake campaign just to provoke Superman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI0vtqxoG1k
Superman (2025) Luthor’s Expensive War Against Superman
Similarly, the 2025 film’s Luthor secretly funds the fictional nation of Boravia with $80 billion in weapons, engineering a conflict with neighboring Jarhanpur. His true aim is never political power or territorial gain — it’s all a setup to justify eliminating Superman.
In a classic supervillain monologue, Luthor tells Superman:
“I think you overestimate the importance of Jarhanpur to me, Superman. That was just a bonus. I’m not killing you so that the Boravian military conflict can proceed. I created the Boravian military conflict so I’d have an excuse to kill you!”
This perfectly captures Luthor’s need to explain every detail of his plan before striking, proving how much he loves to gloat about his intellect. It’s peak Lex Luthor — brilliant, wealthy, capable of greatness, but utterly consumed by jealousy and hatred toward Superman.
Why Lex Luthor Remains Superman’s Ultimate Rival
Despite all his resources and genius, Luthor can’t stand that Superman is loved and admired for his strength and selflessness. Deep down, he knows he’ll never measure up to what Superman symbolizes. This makes him one of the most petty yet compelling villains in the DC universe.
James Gunn’s take on Lex Luthor stands alongside the Justice League Unlimited version as one of the best portrayals of this complex character. Both versions remind us why Luthor is the perfect foil to Superman, no matter how many times DC tries to compare him to Batman.
