Nicholas Hoult might be taking on the role of Superman’s greatest foe in James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman movie but his journey to becoming Lex Luthor had an unexpected start. The British actor originally auditioned for the role of Superman himself hoping to wear the iconic cape as Clark Kent aka Kal-El. However deep down he sensed that his true calling in this film might be something darker.
In a recent conversation with Entertainment Weekly Hoult shared how even while reading the Superman script his instincts quietly suggested a different path. “There was a tiny voice inside of me whispering maybe you’d be great as Lex,” he recalled. At the time he brushed it off to stay focused on the Superman audition but the idea never fully left him.
After his audition the 35-year-old actor felt a quiet certainty that someone else would be chosen for the Man of Steel. That feeling intensified when he saw David Corenswet who was also being considered for the role sitting peacefully in a beam of sunlight. “It felt symbolic,” Nicholas explained. “He was glowing like Superman charging up in the sun. I looked at him and just thought wow that’s Superman.”
As it turned out Corenswet landed the lead role but Hoult’s gut instinct was right about one thing—James Gunn soon reached out and offered him the role of Lex Luthor instead. The moment he received the call Hoult couldn’t help but laugh in what he described as a “villainous cackle.” As he re-read the script he realized all the emotions he felt earlier made sense. “I thought yes this is the character I was meant to play,” he said.
Taking on Lex Luthor Hoult wanted to bring a version of the villain that felt both dangerous and grounded. “Superman is incredibly strong and nearly impossible to defeat. So Lex has to be someone who genuinely feels threatening,” he said. James Gunn imagined Lex as a genius of science so advanced it almost appears magical—a concept Hoult found intriguing.
Lex Luthor’s inner conflict according to Hoult is his belief that he earned everything he has through hard work yet he’s constantly overshadowed by a powerful alien who seems to get admiration effortlessly. This sense of injustice is what makes Lex’s villainy feel personal and real.
To fully commit to the role Hoult even shaved his head again reminiscent of his Mad Max: Fury Road transformation—this time letting his young son participate in the makeover. “My son loved slapping my bald head afterward,” he laughed.
Hoult’s Lex Luthor promises to be a unique and compelling addition to the DC Universe with his blend of intellect bitterness and ambition. As anticipation builds for James Gunn’s Superman film fans can expect a Lex Luthor who brings more than just menace—he brings depth and danger in equal measure.
