Smallville’s Michael Rosenbaum Has a Secret Cameo in James Gunn’s Superman Movie

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As a die-hard movie fan, I must warn you that this article reveals spoilers for the latest Superman film playing exclusively in cinemas now. It’s not just Milly Alcock’s captivating portrayal of Supergirl that sneaks up in James Gunn’s Superman, but also a shocking reappearance of a cherished member from the Superman clan. The movie, which starts with a holographic message from Kal-El’s parents Jor-El and Lara (portrayed by Bradley Cooper in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Angela Sarafyan) and ends with an unexpected visit from his punk rock cousin Kara Zor-El (Alcock), skillfully honors the Superman legacy by welcoming back Michael Rosenbaum to the DC Universe.

In the TV show “Smallville,” the actor who portrayed Lex Luthor, a character initially friendly to Tom Welling’s Clark Kent but eventually became an adversary, briefly appears in the movie “Superman.” He made a brief appearance as one of Lex Luthor’s security guards working for the CEO of LuthorCorp, a role played by Nicholas Hoult.

After Eve Teschmacher, girlfriend of the bald antagonist, shares confidential information with Jimmy Olsen from The Daily Planet, which ultimately leads to Superman being freed from a secret prison within Luthor’s pocket universe by Lois Lane and Mr. Terrific, one of Raptor’s guards remarks, “It’s hard to believe anyone could be that dumb for sending flirtatious selfies while betraying Lex Luthor.

In an interview prior to the movie’s release on July 11, the former Lex actor playfully hinted, “James asked me for a fun task, which involves me recording some dialogue.” He added, “We’re more than just friends, and he’s incredibly loyal. It’s thrilling! I believe in his vision wholeheartedly, and he’s pouring all of his passion into it. You can tell he understands the significance of the character because he knows how crucial it is.

Previously, Rosenbaum and Gunn have collaborated on projects. In the movies “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Vol. 3,” directed by Gunn, Rosenbaum played Martinex. Prior to this, Rosenbaum was part of James Gunn’s production titled “PG Porn.” Notably, Rosenbaum has lent his voice to various DC Comics characters. He portrayed the Wally West Flash in the animated series “Justice League,” Kid Flash in “Teen Titans,” Deadman in “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” and Trapper in “Static Shock.” Additionally, Rosenbaum played Lex Luthor as a regular cast member across seven seasons of “Smallville” from 2001 to 2008.

In a conversation with ComicBook, Houlte acknowledged that stepping into the shoes of Gene Hackman’s iconic character Lex Luthor was an intimidating task for him. Moreover, Houlte mentioned that Rosenbaum’s portrayal of Lex Luthor in Smallville was the first one he became more consciously aware of while watching the series.

In his own words, Hoult expressed that when portraying Lex Luthor in the new cinematic version, it’s crucial to do justice to the script and serve the story. Honesty and truthfulness towards the character are essential aspects of his interpretation. He added that having James as both writer and director is brilliant because James deeply comprehends storytelling and the characters within this universe, understanding what they symbolize.

In a straightforward manner, “He wrote scenes that seemed genuinely real to me, so I focused on sticking with the concepts presented in the script, and indeed, re-watching Gene and Michael.

DC Studios’ Superman is now playing only in theaters.

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2025-07-13 22:39