Nicholas Hoult Wants A Lex Luthor & Joker Team-Up in the DCU

Nicholas Hoult portrays the first significant supervillain in the DC Universe on the silver screen as Lex Luthor, and he’s eagerly anticipating future collaborations with other nefarious characters. In an interview with ComicBook prior to Superman’s premiere on July 11th, Hoult expressed enthusiasm about encountering the DCU’s Joker version and the chaos they could unleash together. This idea wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thought; it came to him while studying DC Comics to prepare for his role as Luthor. Over the years, Luthor and the Joker have had numerous encounters with varying outcomes. Uniting them on the big screen in a shared universe like this could offer a fresh perspective on villains that are already well-known to general audiences.

During his interview with ComicBook, Hoult mentioned one comic he enjoyed beforehand was a team-up between Lex Luthor and the Joker. The interplay of these two characters was quite entertaining in the comic, so if we’re fortunate enough to continue making movies, I’d love to explore that dynamic further.

In several aspects, Luthor and Joker appear dissimilar with few shared traits; one is a cold-hearted, strategic entrepreneur who prioritizes his reputation and heritage, whereas the other is an unpredictable costumed assassin indifferent to his wellbeing and comfort. However, they share striking similarities in their adversarial relationships with their chief enemies. For these two villains, the conflict transcends mere obstruction; they aim not merely to hinder Superman and Batman, but to undermine their roles as symbols of tranquility and lawfulness. They seek to tarnish their representations as beacons of peace and order, rather than simply removing them from their paths.

Collaborations such as these are enjoyable because viewers have to guess which villain is betraying the other at any moment. Both Luthor and Joker aren’t completely reliable, and their cunning natures make it difficult to trust one over the other. Each usually comes prepared with several backup plans for any partnership, turning the narrative into a series of false moves as they both try to put the blame on each other.

It’s tricky to pinpoint the specific comics that might have inspired this unusual team-up of Luthor and the Joker, but there have been some intriguing tales recently worth exploring. In the early stages of the DC Rebirth saga, Luthor assembled a new Legion of Doom and briefly enlisted Joker as a member. This narrative can be found in Justice League Volume 4, written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Guillem March. What’s captivating about this story is that the two villains spend significant time together with minimal hero interference, and even their betrayals occasionally benefit each other’s best interests.

Indeed, it’s premature to speculate about the Joker’s appearance in the DCU at this point. The DC universe is set to debut on the big screen for the first time with the premiere of Superman on Friday, July 11th. Tickets are currently available for purchase.

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2025-07-06 18:09