James Gunn casts SNL alumnus Beck Bennett in SUPERMAN as Steve Lombard

James Gunn he added Saturday night live alum Beck Bennett to the cast of his next film Superman film and the director revealed that he will take on the role of Steve Lombard.

Steve Lombard was introduced Superman #264 in 1973, is a sports reporter and host for the Daily Planet known for his brash and often obnoxious personality.

Lombard often plays pranks on his colleagues, particularly Clark Kent, unaware of Kent’s alter ego as Superman. Despite his seemingly abrasive behavior, Lombard is described as a competent and kind-hearted journalist.

When it comes to Lombard, he has appeared in almost every Superman story published. Action Comics writer Martin Pasko explained the character’s popularity, saying, “Lombard is one of the few examples of a character that all of us Superman writers at the time wrote pretty much the same way – as opposed to, say, the way Lana La Lang seemed to be a completely different character when she appeared in Action on occasion.

“I think that’s because Lombard was one of the most well-drawn and thoughtfully designed (though not particularly complex) characters I’ve ever dealt with: the most clearly communicated idea I’ve ever heard from a publisher and the writer who co-created her: the idiot jock who unintentionally tries to break Superman’s cajónes.

“The audience waits for it, knowing that a hot foot with a match is not going to trump a hot foot with heat vision, or whatever. And I imagine the other Superman writers thought so too. That’s why Lombard has become, at least for me, one of the best examples of what, in sitcoms, we call the “gateway character.”

“That’s certainly what Ted Baxter was on TV: the character you knew you could ‘walk through’ a scene and get laughs just from his appearance. … The audience starts laughing when he introduces himself because he laughs at what he imagines will happen. They’re waiting for him.”

Michael Kelly he has already played in Lombard By Zack Snyder Man of Steel.

Superman will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”

Even Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman; Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane; Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor; Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern; Isabela Mercede as Hawkgirl; Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific; Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen; María Gabriela de Faría in the role of Angela Spica, aka The Engineer; Sara Sampaio, in the role of Eva Teschmacher; AND Terence Rosemore as Otis.

Superman will launch the cinematic portion of DC Studios’ Gods and Monsters: Part 1. The theatrical release is scheduled for July 11, 2025.