Lex Luthor (1978 film series character)

Lore & Background

Lex Luthor first appeared in the 1978 movie Superman: The Movie. Luthor is a charismatic yet cutthroat businessman purely motivated by money, as well as the desire to swindle as tremendous a fortune as possible to prove his genius, with no concern for the consequences his schemes could produce. Although he is bald, he wears a variety of wigs throughout the film to conceal it. Gene Hackman's portrayal is a notable departure from the comic book incarnations; in the films, Luthor is portrayed as Superman's comedic foil, or as comic book critic Peter Sanderson puts it, 'a used car salesman wielding nuclear missiles'. In most of the films of this franchise, Luthor's main business interest is real estate speculation.

Reader's Guide

Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor established a distinct, less serious interpretation of the classic DC villain, influencing later portrayals. The character's comedic and vain traits were carried into other media, such as the animated film Superman: Brainiac Attacks, which incorporated elements of Hackman's less serious portrayal. Kevin Spacey's later performance in Superman Returns was directed to be 'darker and more bitter' than Hackman's, yet retained the same comically exaggerated vanity and interest in real estate. Hackman's portrayal also inspired the characterization of Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984, as noted by director Patty Jenkins. The character's legacy includes being referenced in popular culture, such as a 'lucky penny' featuring Hackman as Lex Luthor in the Ned's Newt episode 'The Lucky Penny'.

Did You Know?

• Gene Hackman was cast as Lex Luthor because he wanted desperately to work with Marlon Brando, who played Jor-El.
• Hackman was reluctant to shave his head or mustache; director Richard Donner made a deal to shave his own mustache, but Donner's was fake, causing Hackman to laugh.
• After Richard Donner was fired from Superman II, a Fake Shemp was used to finish Hackman's remaining scenes, with an uncredited actor standing in and impersonating Hackman's voice.
• Yuzuru Fujimoto did not dub Gene Hackman in Japanese for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace; other voice actors provided the Japanese dub for Hackman's Lex Luthor in that film.
• Sergio Fiorentini did not dub Gene Hackman in Italian for the Superman films; the Italian voice for Hackman's Lex Luthor was provided by other actors.