Superman Fans Rejoice as James Gunn Shares Backstory About Lex Luthor's Ties to Mr. Handsome

DC Studios co-CEO and Superman Director James Gunn has pulled backmost the curtain connected the backstory down Lex Luthor’s elusive henchman, Mr. Handsome.

The comic publication bigwig spilled the beans, alongside a assemblage of behind-the-scenes pictures, successful a station shared connected societal media. It comes with much details astir 1 of Superman’s much mysterious characters arsenic fans proceed to excavation into each easter ovum packed into the archetypal large DCU movie.

pic.twitter.com/GHV8XjcKmv

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 29, 2025

Of the many, galore characters filling the caller Man of Steel movie’s two-hour runtime, Gunn says Mr. Handsome conscionable mightiness beryllium his favorite. That’s not due to the fact that of the Lex Luthor sidekick’s memorable look oregon his quiescent demeanor but due to the fact that of his touching beginnings.

“Lex created Mr. Handsome successful a Petri crockery erstwhile helium was 12 - helium was trying to marque a human. He didn't travel retired truthful well, but helium conscionable mightiness beryllium the lone 1 successful the satellite Lex has immoderate existent sentiment for, arsenic evidenced by the photograph connected his desk.”

Warning! Light spoilers for Superman follow.

Viewers took a liking to Mr. Handsome erstwhile helium archetypal appeared arsenic Lex Luthor’s personal, pocket-dimension chauffeur a bully chunk of the mode into the film. He’s a grey, fleshy carnal that doesn’t mutter truthful overmuch arsenic a connection passim the film, and he’s besides intolerable not to announcement acknowledgment to his sanction and look. In the weeks since the film’s premiere, he’s breached distant arsenic 1 of the characters audiences person astir hoped to spot much from.

As Gunn clarifies, Mr. Handsome is played by Trevor Newlin, who is known for showing up successful films arsenic different unusual creatures. His resume includes the likes of Smile 2’s hideous Monstrosity, for example, arsenic good arsenic Alien: Romulus’ Xenomorph.

Lex keeping a representation of Mr. Handsome connected his table (and not his girlfriend) is sidesplitting maine 😭 https://t.co/kXWxQO6g5q

— The Green Kasey 🎃 (@RawbertBeef) July 29, 2025

Fans person speculated that this Mr. Handsome whitethorn person immoderate ties to different Mister Handsome seen successful erstwhile DC storylines, but Gunn’s comments each but corroborate that the Superman ferryman stands unsocial arsenic a unsocial entity successful the DCU. At the precise least, we’re not definite Lex has ever kept specified an endearing photograph of different being connected his table rather similar this until now.

Mr. Handsome was nary uncertainty the standout for fans and the Superman unit down the scenes, but DC die-hards are acold from done erstwhile it comes to uncovering different details hidden successful the caller DC movie. Last week, Gunn shared an unobscured look astatine the History of Metahumans mural tucked distant wrong Superman’s Hall of Justice. It includes a archetypal look astatine galore of the classical DC heroes who mightiness play a relation successful the DCU.

For more, you tin work our 8/10 Superman review. The David Corenswet-led superhero movie has managed to operation supra contention astatine the container bureau since its premiere July 11. You tin besides larn much astir each past leader included successful that Hall of Justice mural.

Image courtesy of James Gunn.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance contributor with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).