The cast of Superman Legacy brought together David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and a surprisingly large group of DC superheroes and Daily Planet characters. There is one important update, though: Superman: Legacy was renamed simply Superman before filming began, and the finished movie opened in July 2025. DC’s official page confirms the main cast and James Gunn as both writer and director.
The movie became the first theatrical feature of the newly rebuilt DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran. That made its casting especially important. This was not simply another Superman film—it was introducing actors who could continue appearing across connected DC movies and television shows.
Here is the complete easy-to-follow guide to who plays whom, which superheroes appear, and which cast members are already continuing into the DCU in 2026.
Cast of Superman Legacy Quick List
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| David Corenswet | Clark Kent / Superman |
| Rachel Brosnahan | Lois Lane |
| Nicholas Hoult | Lex Luthor |
| Edi Gathegi | Mister Terrific |
| Nathan Fillion | Guy Gardner / Green Lantern |
| Isabela Merced | Hawkgirl |
| Anthony Carrigan | Metamorpho |
| Skyler Gisondo | Jimmy Olsen |
| Wendell Pierce | Perry White |
| María Gabriela de Faría | The Engineer |
| Sara Sampaio | Eve Teschmacher |
| Pruitt Taylor Vince | Jonathan Kent |
| Neva Howell | Martha Kent |
| Beck Bennett | Steve Lombard |
| Mikaela Hoover | Cat Grant |
DC officially lists Corenswet, Brosnahan, Hoult, Gathegi, Carrigan, Fillion, Merced, Gisondo, Sampaio, de Faría, Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Vince and Howell among the film’s principal cast.
Why Is It Called Superman Instead of Superman: Legacy?
When James Gunn first announced the movie in January 2023, the title was Superman: Legacy.
DC described it as the first major movie in its new “Gods and Monsters” chapter and said the story would explore Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with the human values he learned growing up in Kansas.
Then something changed.
On February 29, 2024, as principal photography began, Gunn revealed that the title had been shortened to simply Superman.
So people searching for “cast of Superman Legacy” are looking for the same movie released as Superman in 2025.
There are not two separate films.
David Corenswet as Superman and Clark Kent
At the center of everything is David Corenswet.
He plays both Clark Kent and Superman.
DC officially confirmed him as the new Man of Steel, making Corenswet the actor responsible for launching Superman into James Gunn’s new cinematic universe.
Corenswet had already appeared in projects such as Hollywood, The Politician, Pearl and Twisters, but Superman pushed him into a completely different level of worldwide fame.
His version of Clark is not starting at the very beginning.
This is not another story where audiences spend half the movie watching Krypton explode and baby Kal-El land in Kansas.
Clark is already working.
Superman already exists.
People know who he is.
Other superheroes already operate in the world around him.
That gave Corenswet the chance to play a Superman who is still growing but is not completely new to the job.
Is David Corenswet Replacing Henry Cavill?
Yes, but this is not technically the same Superman continuing from Henry Cavill’s movies.
Cavill played Superman in the previous DC film continuity, including Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.
James Gunn’s film begins a new continuity.
That means Corenswet is playing a new version of Clark Kent rather than simply taking over halfway through Cavill’s story.
This difference is important.
It explains why characters look different, relationships have changed and other superheroes already exist in completely new forms.
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane.
She is best known to many viewers from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where her performance earned major awards and made her one of television’s most recognizable actors.
In Superman, Lois is a Daily Planet journalist and Clark’s romantic partner.
But she is not simply there to be “Superman’s girlfriend.”
Lois has always been one of DC’s most important human characters.
She asks difficult questions.
She investigates stories.
She challenges powerful people.
And unlike Superman, she has no superpowers to protect her when she gets into trouble.
DC officially lists Brosnahan alongside Corenswet and Hoult as one of the film’s three central stars.
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor.
Lex may not be able to fly.
He cannot lift buildings.
He cannot fire heat vision from his eyes.
But he has something Superman’s monsters often do not have:
an extraordinary mind.
Lex is wealthy, intelligent, ambitious and deeply obsessed with defeating Superman.
Hoult had already played major franchise roles before joining DC, including Beast in the X-Men films.
This time he moved from superhero to supervillain.
The movie places Lex at the center of the threat against Superman, and DC’s own trailer analysis described his resentment as driven partly by his inability to stand Superman receiving the world’s attention.
David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult Became the Main Trio
Most promotional material centered on these three actors.
Corenswet represented hope.
Brosnahan represented journalism and Clark’s human life.
Hoult represented Superman’s greatest human enemy.
They appeared together repeatedly during the 2025 promotional tour, including CinemaCon and the Los Angeles premiere.
But they were only the beginning.
James Gunn filled Superman’s world with established superheroes from the start.
Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific
Edi Gathegi plays Michael Holt, better known as Mister Terrific.
He may be less familiar to casual audiences than Batman or Wonder Woman, but comic readers know him as one of the smartest characters in the DC Universe.
Mister Terrific uses advanced technology and his famous T-Spheres rather than Superman-style alien powers.
Gathegi had previously appeared in projects including For All Mankind and X-Men: First Class.
In Gunn’s DCU, Mister Terrific is part of the group of superheroes operating around Superman.
DC officially confirmed Gathegi in the role before release.
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner.
And yes, Guy Gardner is a Green Lantern.
But he is very different from the calm, perfect superhero you might expect.
Guy is loud.
Confident.
Often annoying.
And not afraid to tell people exactly what he thinks.
His power comes from a Green Lantern ring, allowing him to create energy constructs through willpower.
Fillion already had a long relationship with James Gunn through projects such as The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Gunn gave him one of Superman’s most visually unforgettable supporting characters.
And, of course, there is that haircut.
Is Nathan Fillion Playing Hal Jordan?
No.
This is an easy mistake to make.
Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, not Hal Jordan.
Both characters belong to the Green Lantern Corps.
Hal Jordan exists separately in the DCU.
So seeing a Green Lantern in Superman does not mean Gunn replaced Hal Jordan with Guy Gardner.
They are different characters.
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
Isabela Merced plays Hawkgirl.
Merced had already appeared in movies including Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Alien: Romulus before joining DC.
Hawkgirl brings something visually different to the superhero team.
She has wings.
She can fly.
And she fights using powerful weapons rather than relying only on technology.
DC confirmed Merced as Hawkgirl well before the film’s release.
Her inclusion also shows how crowded this superhero world already is.
Superman is not the first extraordinary person Earth has ever seen.
He enters a world where heroes are already working publicly.
Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho
Anthony Carrigan plays Rex Mason, better known as Metamorpho.
Carrigan became especially well known through HBO’s Barry, where he played NoHo Hank.
Metamorpho is completely different.
His body can transform into different chemical elements and substances.
That gives him a strange appearance and equally strange abilities.
The character may look frightening at first, but Metamorpho traditionally has a much more emotional and human side than his appearance suggests.
Carrigan’s casting was one of Gunn’s more unusual choices—and one that helped introduce audiences to a hero who had never received the same mainstream film attention as Superman.
The Justice Gang
Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl work together as part of a superhero group commonly referred to as the Justice Gang.
Variety described the team as an early version of the kind of superhero grouping that could eventually lead toward something resembling the Justice League.
This is one of the biggest differences between Gunn’s Superman and many earlier Superman films.
Clark does not live in an empty superhero world.
Other powered people already exist.
They have their own methods.
They have corporate connections.
And they do not always agree with Superman.
That creates conflict without requiring every superhero to become a villain.
María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer
María Gabriela de Faría plays Angela Spica, better known as The Engineer.
She belongs to a superhero group called The Authority in the comics.
The Engineer has nanotechnology inside her body that gives her powerful abilities and allows her to transform herself in unusual ways.
Her appearance in Superman helps connect the film with the wider DC Universe.
DC announced The Authority as one of the major projects in its original Gods and Monsters slate, although the wider franchise plan has continued evolving since then.
The Engineer’s presence shows that Gunn was planting pieces for stories beyond Clark Kent alone.
Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
Skyler Gisondo plays Jimmy Olsen.
Jimmy is one of Superman mythology’s classic characters.
He works at the Daily Planet and is usually one of Clark and Lois’s closest friends.
Gisondo is known for films and shows including Booksmart, Licorice Pizza and Santa Clarita Diet.
His version of Jimmy brings youthful confidence and humor to the newspaper side of the film.
DC officially announced Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen before production.
Wendell Pierce as Perry White
Wendell Pierce plays Perry White.
Perry is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet.
In simple words, he is the boss.
Clark, Lois and Jimmy may chase stories, but Perry has to run the newsroom.
Pierce brings serious acting experience from productions including The Wire, Treme and Jack Ryan.
His casting gave the Daily Planet an experienced, authoritative center.
DC includes Pierce among the movie’s principal cast.
Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
Beck Bennett plays Daily Planet reporter Steve Lombard.
Fans of Saturday Night Live will probably recognize Bennett immediately.
Steve Lombard has traditionally been portrayed as confident, loud and sometimes irritating.
He gives the newsroom a different energy from Clark and Lois.
His presence also helps make the Daily Planet feel like an actual workplace rather than a building occupied by only three famous Superman characters.
Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
Mikaela Hoover plays Cat Grant.
Cat is another Daily Planet journalist with a long history in Superman comics.
She has appeared in several live-action adaptations before, including television versions of the Superman universe.
Hoover had previously worked with James Gunn on other projects, continuing Gunn’s habit of bringing familiar collaborators into new roles.
Together, Cat, Steve, Jimmy, Lois, Clark and Perry create a surprisingly full Daily Planet team.
Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher
Sara Sampaio plays Eve Teschmacher.
Eve is closely connected with Lex Luthor.
Longtime Superman movie fans may recognize the name from the Christopher Reeve-era films, where Valerie Perrine played a version of Miss Teschmacher.
Sampaio is also well known from the modeling world, particularly through her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
Her casting gives Hoult’s Lex another person inside his personal and professional circle.
DC confirmed Sampaio among the principal cast.
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent
Pruitt Taylor Vince plays Jonathan Kent, Clark’s adoptive father.
Jonathan is one of the most important people in Superman’s life.
Superman’s strength came from Krypton.
His values came largely from Kansas.
Jonathan and Martha Kent raised an alien child as their own son and taught him compassion, responsibility and humility.
DC’s official trailer discussion specifically highlighted Jonathan’s role as Clark’s moral foundation.
Vince brings a warmer, older presence to Pa Kent than some previous versions.
Neva Howell as Martha Kent
Neva Howell plays Martha Kent.
She is Clark’s adoptive mother.
Like Jonathan, Martha has no powers.
Yet she helped create the person Superman became.
One of Gunn’s major ideas is that Superman’s humanity is not simply a disguise.
Clark genuinely belongs to the Kent family.
DC gave viewers their first major official look at Howell’s Martha in the 2025 trailer and emphasized the character’s warm relationship with Clark.
Krypto the Superdog
One cast member does not need an actor’s face.
Krypto is Superman’s super-powered dog.
Yes, the dog flies.
Yes, he is incredibly strong.
And yes, he became one of the movie’s most talked-about characters.
Krypto comes from Superman comics and gives the movie a more playful side.
DC’s official movie page even lists Krypto among its highlighted characters alongside Superman, Lex Luthor and Lois Lane.
He also represents Gunn’s willingness to embrace comic-book ideas that older superhero movies might have considered too strange.
Who Is the Main Villain?
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is the central human villain.
But the story contains several threats and powerful characters around Superman.
That makes the movie larger than a simple:
“Superman fights Lex for two hours.”
Lex uses intelligence, technology and manipulation.
The superhero community creates its own tensions.
And Superman has to deal with a world that does not always agree with his idea of doing good simply because it is right.
That conflict is part of what makes Gunn’s version different.
Who Directed Superman Legacy?
James Gunn wrote and directed the movie.
Peter Safran produced alongside Gunn.
DC Studios had announced Gunn as writer and director back when the project was still officially called Superman: Legacy.
Gunn is the filmmaker behind Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.
His style mixes:
big action,
strange characters,
emotion,
humor,
and found-family relationships.
Those elements are easy to see throughout Superman.
When Was Superman Legacy Released?
The finished film, now titled Superman, opened internationally beginning July 9, 2025 and in U.S. theaters on July 11, 2025.
So by 2026, this is no longer an upcoming movie.
That matters because many older articles still say:
“Superman: Legacy will be released…”
That information was written before the film came out.
Today, the film has already launched the theatrical side of the new DCU.
Is There a Superman Sequel?
Yes.
The follow-up is titled Man of Tomorrow and is scheduled for July 9, 2027.
DC announced the project in September 2025, confirming that David Corenswet would continue as Superman and Nicholas Hoult would return as Lex Luthor.
By 2026, the project had advanced much further.
Recent reporting says filming has wrapped, with several actors from Superman returning.
That makes the original cast even more important because many of these actors were not hired for only one movie.
Which Superman Cast Members Are Returning?
Current reporting on Man of Tomorrow confirms returns for:
David Corenswet as Superman,
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor,
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane,
Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen,
Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher,
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl,
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner,
and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific.
Milly Alcock’s Supergirl is also part of the continuing DCU.
So the casting choices made for Superman Legacy are already spreading into the larger franchise.
Why This Cast Matters So Much
Every new Superman actor faces enormous pressure.
David Corenswet gets compared with:
Christopher Reeve,
Henry Cavill,
Brandon Routh,
and every television Superman.
Rachel Brosnahan enters a role previously played by generations of actresses.
Nicholas Hoult takes on a villain audiences have seen in many different forms.
But James Gunn also took a bigger risk.
He introduced Mister Terrific.
Guy Gardner.
Hawkgirl.
Metamorpho.
The Engineer.
And a full Daily Planet staff.
That means the movie had to introduce a new Superman while simultaneously making audiences believe an entire superhero universe already existed.
That is a much harder casting job than simply finding one man who looks good in a cape.
Final Thoughts
The cast of Superman Legacy became the foundation of James Gunn’s new live-action DC Universe.
David Corenswet leads the movie as Clark Kent and Superman, Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult brings a new version of Lex Luthor to the screen. DC surrounded them with Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho and María Gabriela de Faría’s Engineer.
The Daily Planet received its own strong group too.
Skyler Gisondo became Jimmy Olsen.
Wendell Pierce became Perry White.
Beck Bennett played Steve Lombard.
Mikaela Hoover played Cat Grant.
And Superman’s human family included Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent and Neva Howell as Martha Kent.
The other big thing to remember is the title.
Superman: Legacy does not remain the official title.
James Gunn shortened it to Superman when production began in February 2024, and the finished movie reached theaters in July 2025.
By 2026, many members of that cast are already continuing into Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for 2027.
So this was not simply the cast of one Superman movie.
It was the group James Gunn chose to help build an entire new DC world.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cast of Superman Legacy
Who plays Superman in Superman Legacy?
David Corenswet plays Clark Kent and Superman. He replaced Henry Cavill as the Superman of the new DC Universe, which is a separate continuity from the previous DCEU.
Who plays Lois Lane?
Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane.
Who plays Lex Luthor?
Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor, Superman’s primary human enemy.
Is Superman Legacy still the movie’s title?
No. James Gunn changed the title from Superman: Legacy to simply Superman when filming began in February 2024.
When did Superman come out?
The film opened internationally beginning July 9, 2025 and in U.S. theaters on July 11, 2025.
Who plays Green Lantern in Superman?
Nathan Fillion plays Green Lantern Guy Gardner.
Does Nathan Fillion play Hal Jordan?
No. His character is Guy Gardner, a different member of the Green Lantern Corps.
Who plays Hawkgirl?
Isabela Merced plays Hawkgirl.
Who plays Mister Terrific?
Edi Gathegi plays Michael Holt, also known as Mister Terrific.
Who plays Metamorpho?
Anthony Carrigan plays Rex Mason, better known as Metamorpho.
Who plays Jimmy Olsen?
Skyler Gisondo plays Daily Planet photographer and reporter Jimmy Olsen.
Who plays Perry White?
Wendell Pierce plays Daily Planet editor Perry White.
Who plays Superman’s father Jonathan Kent?
Pruitt Taylor Vince plays Jonathan “Pa” Kent.
Who plays Martha Kent?
Neva Howell plays Martha “Ma” Kent.
Who plays The Engineer?
María Gabriela de Faría plays Angela Spica, also known as The Engineer.
Is Krypto in Superman?
Yes. Krypto the Superdog appears and is one of the film’s major supporting characters.
Who directed Superman Legacy?
James Gunn wrote and directed the movie, with Peter Safran and Gunn producing.
Is there a sequel to Superman?
Yes. Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for July 9, 2027, with David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult and several other actors from Superman returning.
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