You cannot effectively recount a Superman tale without including his arch-enemy, Lex Luthor. Nicholas Hoult is set to portray Luthor in the upcoming 2025 film “Superman,” although this character has been a staple in movie history for quite some time. To get up to speed on Lex Luthor and Superman before the new release, take a look at Looper’s recap video.

Luthor stands as the most renowned adversary in Superman’s lineup of villains, and several actors have made a memorable impression with their portrayals. During the era when Christopher Reeve donned the cape, Gene Hackman brought Luthor to life on the big screen. In the 2006 film “Superman Returns,” Kevin Spacey assumed the role. Michael Rosenbaum portrayed Lex for years on the TV series “Smallville.” The character recently appeared in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” played by Jesse Eisenberg. Although this movie grossed nearly $900 million globally, some critics weren’t fond of Eisenberg’s lively interpretation. Each portrayal of Lex Luthor varies, but fans generally agree he should be portrayed as a composed and strategic businessman.

Both movie lovers and comic enthusiasts have high hopes for Lex Luthor’s depiction in James Gunn’s new “Superman” film. They’re eager for a version closer to the spirit of the original comics, and current insights suggest they’re likely to get just that.

The plot of the upcoming “Superman” movie is a mystery, but we’ve already gotten some clues about Lex Luthor’s evil plan. The “Superman” trailer, and Lex’s entire character history, has clued us in that, not surprisingly, he’s once again plotting against Supes and — as in the comics — harbors a deep hatred for the last son of Krypton. A clip from the movie shared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” also hinted that the new scheme might involve Krypto the Superdog, while reminding us of the real reason Superman should be afraid of Lex.

Aside from the trailer, we’ve also gotten hints about the movie from early reactions online. Posts started making the rounds on June 25 after fans were shown the first 30 minutes of the film at a promotional event in Brazil. The people who saw the footage said it was incredible, making Superman fans across the world even more excited for the movie. Currently “Superman” is tracking to have an opening weekend between $90 and $125 million, which wouldn’t be a bad way for the new DC Universe to take off. Don’t forget to check out Looper’s video above to catch up on Lex Luthor’s long history before “Superman” arrives on July 11.