Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman (2025), but the actor first auditioned for the title role. That rejection led to what DC Studios co-chair Peter Safran calls the definitive Lex Luthor for a new generation. Hoult’s path to the role reveals a deliberate creative pivot, a deep study of the character’s comic roots, and a performance that has divided critics while winning over fans.
The Casting Journey: From Superman Audition to Lex Luthor
Hoult secured his Superman audition by directly messaging James Gunn, a move he described as the first time he had ever done such a thing. In Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, Hoult recalled telling Gunn, “Hey, excited to see what you’re cooking up over there. If there’s ever anything that I could be, you know, around for, let me know”.
He entered the audition process wanting to experience working with Gunn and to try on the Superman suit, even though the lead role ultimately went to David Corenswet. During testing, Hoult read for the part that was never his to win.
Gunn later called Hoult with a different proposition. The director asked how Hoult would feel about playing Lex Luthor. Hoult’s response was immediate and telling. He recalled, “I cackled. I did, I evilly cackled down the phone to him”. The actor had already sensed during his first script read that Lex might be the better fit.
That instinct proved correct. Gunn explained the casting decision by noting that Hoult is a “more controlled” actor, while Corenswet is “a little bit more loose”. Chemistry testing with Lois Lane candidates also influenced the outcome. Hoult had better chemistry with one Lois hopeful, while Corenswet clicked with Rachel Brosnahan, who ultimately won the role.
Preparing to Play Superman’s Greatest Enemy
Hoult approached Lex Luthor with a clear intention: to make the villain feel like a real, credible threat rather than a cartoonish foil. He shaved his head for the role and worked with the makeup team to adjust his facial features based on comic book imagery. His goal was for Lex to feel like “as much alpha as possible”.
The actor drew from multiple sources. He watched Gene Hackman’s performances, calling him “one of my all-time faves,” and studied Michael Rosenbaum’s work on Smallville, the first Lex he ever saw on screen. He also consulted Rosenbaum directly, who Hoult said “really gave me a freedom and a confidence and a support that felt really lovely going into it”.
Hoult returned to the comics for deeper character work. He drew from Lex Luthor: Man of Steel by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, a story that explores Luthor’s psyche and his conviction that Superman’s alien power represents a threat to human achievement. He also listened to a biography of a tech billionaire to understand the mindset of a wealthy, driven figure who sees himself as the hero of his own story.Quick Bio: Nicholas Hoult
Why This Lex Luthor Feels Different
Hoult’s interpretation marked a return to the corporate mogul version of Lex Luthor shaped by writer and artist John Byrne in the 1986 mini-series The Man of Steel. Byrne reimagined Lex as a ruthless businessman hiding behind a façade of legitimacy, a shift that defined the character for modern audiences. Hoult’s Lex is cold, intelligent, and calculating, leaving behind the comic flair of Hackman and Kevin Spacey and the chaotic energy of Jesse Eisenberg.
Comparisons to Clancy Brown’s iconic voice work in Superman: The Animated Series have been frequent among critics. SlashFilm’s Devin Meenan praised Hoult for delivering a villain with real menace through calm intensity, never overplaying the role. The performance was also described by early viewers as “cold, charismatic, and menacing,” with one critic calling it “one of the best villains DC has EVER brought to the screen”.
Gunn himself framed Lex’s motivation as envy. He told Rolling Stone, “[Lex] is the world’s greatest man in so many ways… Then you got a guy who comes in who’s done nothing to deserve the ability to fly… That sort of obsession with being passed over is what drives Lex”. Hoult built his performance around that emotional core, portraying Lex as someone who believes his hard work and discipline have been rendered meaningless by Superman’s natural gifts.
Fan and Critical Response
Fan reaction to Hoult’s Lex Luthor has been overwhelmingly positive. On Reddit, one fan wrote, “He’s the best live-action Lex, and it’s not even close,” while another called him the “first truly comic-accurate Lex”. Many drew favorable comparisons to Rosenbaum’s Smallville performance, noting that Hoult’s take felt like the live-action version fans had been waiting for.
The praise extended to early press reactions. The Hollywood Handle wrote that Hoult delivered “a phenomenal Lex Luthor” and that the film “moves you by revealing the heart behind the cape”. Film critic Courtney Howard called Hoult “delightfully diabolical”.
Not every critic embraced the performance. Empire’s review argued that Luthor “lacks depth, portrayed simply as an abusive sociopath who’s targeting Superman out of spite”. FlickDirect’s critic went further, describing Hoult’s Lex as “a bratty, spoiled man-child throwing a tantrum” and calling the performance the film’s “biggest misfire”. These dissenting views highlight the challenge of reinventing a character with over eighty years of history.
What Comes Next for Hoult’s Lex Luthor
Hoult’s Lex Luthor will return in Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to Superman scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. The film will center on an unlikely alliance between Superman and Lex Luthor as they face Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. James Gunn has made clear that Lex remains central to the story, saying, “It’s a movie about Lex and Clark”.
Lex Luthor will finally wear his iconic green battle armor in the sequel, marking the first time the Warsuit has appeared in a live-action film. David Corenswet, who returns as Superman, highlighted the suit when discussing the sequel: “Not to mention all the crazy stuff. Nicholas Hoult in the warsuit!”. The Warsuit’s inclusion suggests Lex will take a more physical role in the conflict, moving beyond the corporate manipulation that defined his debut.
Peter Safran, DC Studios co-chair, has stated that Hoult is “the Lex Luthor for the next generation” and that he will be the version people think of when they think of the character. Safran also emphasized that Lex is “a very important character” in the broader DCU beyond just the Superman films, signaling that Hoult’s tenure as Superman’s greatest enemy has only just begun.Frequently Asked Questions About Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
Did Nicholas Hoult originally audition for Superman?
Yes. Hoult initially pursued the lead role of Superman and even tried on the suit during early testing. James Gunn ultimately cast David Corenswet as Superman because Corenswet had better chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan, while Hoult was deemed a better fit for Lex Luthor.
Why did James Gunn choose Hoult for Lex Luthor instead of Superman?
Gunn explained that Hoult is a “more controlled” actor, which didn’t match his vision for a looser Superman. However, that same controlled intensity made him perfect for a calculating Lex Luthor. During chemistry tests, Hoult clicked better with a different Lois Lane candidate, confirming he wasn’t the right Superman.
What did Hoult do to prepare for the role?
Hoult shaved his head and studied multiple sources, including Gene Hackman’s performances, Michael Rosenbaum’s work on Smallville, and the comic Lex Luthor: Man of Steel by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. He also listened to a tech billionaire biography to understand Lex’s mindset.
How has Hoult’s Lex Luthor been received?
Fan and critical reaction has been largely positive. Many fans called him the “best live-action Lex” and “first truly comic-accurate Lex” on Reddit. SlashFilm compared his performance to Clancy Brown’s iconic animated voice work. Some critics, however, found the portrayal lacking in depth.
Will Hoult return as Lex Luthor in future DC films?
Yes. Hoult will reprise the role in Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for July 9, 2027. The sequel will feature Lex in his iconic green Warsuit for the first time in live-action, and the story will center on an uneasy alliance between Superman and Lex against Brainiac.
