Walking Dead star joins Superman & Lois as new Lex Luthor

Meet the new Lex.

By Sam Warner

25 Jan 2023

michael cudlitz at the paley center for media's 2018 paleyfest, september 2018

Getty Images

Superman & Lois has cast The Walking Dead star Michael Cudlitz as Lex Luthor.

The actor, who is well known for playing Abraham Ford in the zombie series, will play the supervillain in the upcoming third season of the DC show.

As confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, this version of Luthor is the visionary billionaire of LexCorp, though is known to the criminal underworld as a cruel psychopath unafraid to terrorise anyone that crosses his path.

In season 3, Luthor has been out of the public eye for a number of years, though is hellbent on re-emerging and enacting revenge on Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch), who he feels have wronged him.

As well as Cudlitz, season 3 is set to welcome Michael Bishop to the cast, who takes over the role of Jonathan Kent following the exit of star Jordan Elsass last year.

Season 3 will see Clark and Lois "now working at the Smallville Gazette together and enjoying small town life", though their "romantic bliss only shines a light on how isolating 'the secret' can be, as Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik) struggles to balance a new love interest and her friendship with Lois".

tyler hoechlin, superman and lois, season 2

The CW

"However, Lois' own work-life balance is put to the test when an undercover assignment reveals a deadly foe that promises to change the Kent family forever," the synopsis continues. "Superman would move heaven and earth for his family, but with a villain this merciless, even that might not be enough.

"Meanwhile, the Kent boys find themselves being pulled in opposite directions as Jordan (Alex Garfin) discovers what a superhero identity really means and Jonathan (Michael Bishop) searches for purpose beyond the football field."

Superman & Lois returns on Tuesday, March 14 on The CW in the US. The series airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.