Zack Snyder Reveals Why He Thinks Lex Luthor Can’t Kill Superman

Despite Superman and Lex Luthor having a rivalry made for the ages, filmmaker Zack Snyder believes the evil genius can never kill Superman.

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The rivalry between Superman and Lex Luthor has always been a tale that has consistently been referenced and inspired many similar tales in fiction. And despite just equaling a match, the evil genius proves to be for the Man of Steel, filmmaker Zack Snyder claimed that he could never kill Superman. In a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said:

The problem with Superman is that you have to give him credible threats, and the two credible threats are Darkseid and Doomsday. Everyone else is a problem that he has to work out. At the end of the day, Superman will defeat Lex Luthor, there’s no two ways about. It’s fine, its cool, it creates drama, but there’s no way you’re gonna kill Superman, that’s impossible.

This bold claim can be interpreted in a way that diminishes the threat of the evil genius to an amazingly low degree. But at the same time, it’s also true that in DC‘s history, Luthor was never the one to directly destroy Superman, as his powers and weaknesses lie somewhere else.

Factors That Lead to Lex Luthor Never Killing Superman Directly

In any iteration of a Superman story, it’s never the case that Lex Luthor has managed to kill the superhero directly, and probably he may never be able to, considering the legacy of the character. This is related to a small number of major factors that add to Luthor never actually killing Superman in the comics or any iteration of him in media.

The biggest factor that hinders Luthor from eliminating the Kryptonian has to do with his ego, which is even bigger than his bank account. Killing Superman with a simple method, like kryptonite poisoning or a sniper shot, would feel like a cheap victory to him.

Thus, to justify his superiority complex and ego, he needs the Man of Steel to admit his defeat to give him the satisfaction. Every time, this is what leads to him being unable to pull the trigger, metaphorically and literally, on the Man of Steel.

And in relation to this, the elaborate plans and schemes that he makes often lead to him overcomplicating things with many cracks that can be exploited by anyone. This leads to him not factoring in unexpected variables that Superman and his allies always find with Luthor’s goals.

And lastly, the very existence of Superman is what makes Lex Luthor, kind of like Batman and Joker’s existence. With his wish to prove himself as humanity’s champion and the greatest mind, being a rival like Superman is what gives him purpose, where the Kryptonian death will make him hollow and miserable, to never be satisfied with the achievement of his ultimate goal.

Why Lex Luthor Is Still Superman’s Biggest Arch Nemesis

Credits: DC Comics Credits: DC Comics Credits: DC Comics Credits: DC Comics Credits: DC Comics Credits: DC Comics

Despite Lex Luthor always being unable to get the job done when it comes down to it, there isn’t anyone who can deny that Lex Luthor is probably the greatest, most important nemesis of the Man of Steel.

While it may also be his biggest weakness, Luthor’s mind is also what makes him the most terrifying. His schemes and plans, while having chinks in them, can lead to devastating consequences, making him a multilayered, complex character that Superman always has to be on his toes around, as he is just too pure to comprehend the depths to which Luthor’s intellect can dive.

At the same time, unlike the god-like beings of destruction that are Darkseid and similar characters, Lex Luthor doesn’t show his power outright, as every threat that the Kryptonian faces targets him in most cases. And as seen in 2025’s Superman, Luthor hits him where he’s the most vulnerable, where his strength is rendered useless.

And lastly, unlike the Man of Steel’s moral integrity and code of conduct, Luthor possesses none of those when it comes to achieving his goals, meaning no limits that he will not cross, or no one he will never hurt. This is what makes him the perfect arch-nemesis for Superman at the end of the day.

Here’s an overview of Lex Luthor.

What are your thoughts on Lex Luthor as a character? Tell us in the comments below.

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