Nicholas Hoult had a surprising reaction to learning he was playing Lex Luthor instead of Superman in James Gunn's DC Universe. Before being cast to play one of DC's biggest villains, Hoult lost the role of Bruce Wayne in The Batman to Robert Pattinson and Clark Kent in Superman to Corenswet. However, it seems like it was always the actor's destiny to play Lex Luthor.
On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Nicholas Hoult explained why he laughed after being offered the Lex Luthor role in 2025's Superman.
According to the actor, while he auditioned first to play the DCU's Superman and even got to be one of the few stars to screen test for the role, Hoult always knew he would be a better fit for Lex Luthor. Upon receiving the offer to Superman's star-studded cast as Lex, Hoult laughed, as he felt when first reading the script that his perfect role in the film's story was as the villain. Check out the full quote below:
"It's funny, because when I first read the script, I reading it and there was a little inkling part of me that was like 'Oh, I think you would have fun playing Lex.'
And I kind of didn't say anything, and then when James [Gunn] called me to play Lex, I did kind of cackle — I think is how I'd describe it. I didn't say anything. I think he said, 'We want you to play Lex,' and I just laughed, because I think there was something in my instinct, when I first read the script, where I was like, 'I think that's more what I should be doing in this story."
What Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor Comments Mean
The Superman Movie Ended Up Making The Best Choice
While Hoult got far into the casting process for the DCU's Superman, meaning director James Gunn thought he was a fine candidate for the role, the actor believes that he was always a better fit for Lex Luthor. That reveal bodes well for the DC movie. It shows that Hoult has no issues regarding not being chosen to play Superman. Not only that, but when the actor first read the script, he already knew that he could do great as Lex Luthor, teasing that an exciting portrayal is on the way.
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In the same interview, Hoult commented on getting to play Lex Luthor. The actor went back to the comics and past live-action portrayals of the character to draw inspiration for his version of Lex. Speaking about his favorite comic book when preparing for the role, Hoult revealed it was Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. In that story, Luthor's motives for being against Superman are spotlighted and developed, which means the actor got a decent explanation of what makes his DC villain who he is from that story. Based on his comments, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor sounds very interesting.
Our Take On Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor Comments
The DCU Has The Perfect Superman & Lex Luthor
Nicholas Hoult is an excellent actor who could definitely have delivered a compelling performance as Superman. However, I think that David Corenswet was the ideal choice for the role. Some of the actor's past projects, such as The Politician and Hollywood, show how Corenswet can do great as both the clumsy Clark Kent and the confident Superman. As for Hoult, I feel his energy in projects like The Great and The Menu makes him perfect for a villain like Luthor. The actor can make Lex a despicable character who is hard to look away from in 2025's Superman.
Superman
- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Director
- James Gunn
- Writers
- James Gunn, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
- Producers
- Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran
- Franchise(s)
- DCU
Cast
Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El
Rachel BrosnahanLois Lane
Nicholas HoultLex Luthor
Edi GathegiMichael Holt / Mister Terrific
Superman: This film follows Clark Kent, a cub reporter in Metropolis, as he navigates the complexities of his dual identity, struggling to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing while embracing his role as Superman.
DC Movie Releases
Source: Happy Sad Confused
