Beck Bennett has been cast, and will be playing Daily Planet sports columnist Steve Lombard. This role is in the long awaited Superman reboot by director James Gunn. The film is set to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025. It famously stars David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Even though Lombard has a dirty, self-centered, obnoxious personality, he’s irresistible. He vows to bring a funny but toughening element to the character.
In the past, actor Michael Kelly has played Lombard in Zack Snyder’s 2013 film “Man of Steel.” However, Bennett’s interpretation aims to explore deeper into the character’s history and nuances. Perhaps the least known name at the Daily Planet, Steve Lombard is definitely not one to miss in causing a ruckus. His shenanigans as a mischief maker who likes to go after Clark Kent bring an entertaining edge to the narrative.
Bennett shared his excitement for coming into this position and the universe creative direction spearheaded by Gunn. “I’ve always enjoyed playing these kinds of characters, but to play it in the context of Superman, it’s a character that exists and then to have James Gunn writing him and be in charge of directing it – I trust him so much to get it right,” Bennett stated.
Gunn’s vision for Lombard sounds like it would do justice to his portrayal, making the character more relatable, without sacrificing his cocky charm. That’s just the sort of thing you can look forward to, Bennett went on. “I would say, with anything that James [Gunn] does, he took that concept of the character and made it even more fun and relatable.”
Steve Lombard’s character has often been portrayed as a smarmy jerk to reporters in the Daily Planet’s bullpen. Pictures via Warner Bros. However, he’s never not been a comedic star — it’s thanks to his exchanges with Clark Kent that truly stole the show. That overconfidence frequently makes Lombard the butt of his own gags, giving audiences unexpected laugh-out-loud moments.
Bennett met the challenge whole-hog, reading up on Lombard’s history and character craters in the original role to get a feel for it. “He’s a character where, when you see him, you know what to expect, you know he’s going to be overly confident and then kind of fall flat on his face and get embarrassed,” Bennett explained. “It’s really fun to play a character who is so cocky and just always ends up getting his comeuppance.”
This reboot will also bring us a new interpretation of Lombard’s character, which makes sense with Gunn’s vision for the new direction of the Superman franchise. In the Daily Planet newsroom, Lombard will join a dynamic cohort of artists and activists. He’ll be performing alongside some beloved regulars—and a whole new cast of unexpected debutants.
With the release date fast approaching, excitement continues to mount as to how Bennett’s interpretation will play across with fans. The combination of Gunn’s direction and Bennett’s commitment to bringing Lombard to life sets high expectations for this upcoming film.
“I would love to play him again and again, yeah, definitely,” Bennett remarked about his hopes for future opportunities within the Superman universe. And, too, just getting to work with the creative team and the cast… it was such an empowering and just fun group to work with. We realize everyone enjoys having a seat at this table.