For Superman actors David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, there’s only one top villain.
The latest episode of Rolling Stone Philippines’ brand-new Instagram series, “Rank,” saw Corenswet and Brosnahan ranking their top five Superman villains. The actors took their time playfully debating which bad guy deserved a higher spot. Corenswet was especially eager to dig deep into the comic book lore, pointing out why certain villains posed unique physical challenges for the Man of Steel. “I feel like an uneducated Oscar voter here,” said Brosnahan. “I’ve read a fair amount of comics, [but] I’m admittedly unfamiliar with some of these.”
But when it came time to choose their top Superman villain, both actors knew exactly who deserved the crown. “Lex [Luthor] all the way,” said Brosnahan. “Lex Luthor is the OG, the best,” added Corenswet. Their choice came with a nod to co-star Nicholas Hoult, who plays the villain in director James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie. “Nick is an awfully handsome man,” joked Corenswet.
Of all of Superman’s foes, only Lex Luthor stands as his true arch enemy. As a billionaire mogul and the most intelligent man on Earth, Lex Luthor uses his brains and funding to wage a calculated war against the Man of Steel. Over the years, the character has been brought to life on the silver screen by actors such as Gene Hackman in 1978’s Superman: The Movie and Jesse Eisenberg in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. While Hackman’s portrayal of Superman’s nemesis is widely seen as the best one, Eisenberg’s was met with such negative reviews that the actor admitted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the role “hurt [his] career in a real way.”
But if Corenswet and Brosnahan’s answer is any indication, Hoult’s portrayal of Lex Luthor is definitely one to watch. Gunn’s Superman flies into Philippine cinemas and IMAX on July 9.
Watch Corenswet and Brosnahan’s full “Rank” episode on Rolling Stone Philippines’ Instagram.
