Nicholas Hoult teases fans what to expect from his version of Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman. While Hoult auditioned for the role of the lead Kryptonian, he ended up being cast as the Man of Steel’s arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. Numerous actors have played Lex Luthor, from Gene Hackman in the original Christopher Reeve Superman movies to Jessie Eissenberg in the DCEU, and most notably Michael Rosenbaum on Smallville. With so many versions of the iconic villain out there, Hoult’s Luthor will need to stand out, and the actor understands that.
At the AFI Fest, Hoult briefly spoke with Deadline, and they asked him about his role as Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s new DCU. He said it is a little early to talk about it, but praised the director’s vision for both Superman and the DC Universe. Hoult noted that he is a fan of both Superman and Lex Luthor, saying that they’ve done something special with the property. He said:
“I think it’s a little too early to say what’s different about my Lex Luthor. You know I just loved working with James Gunn. I think he’s an incredible director and has such a great sense of that world, that story, those characters. I just put my trust in him. I’m a fan of Superman and Lex Luthor as a character, so hopefully we’ve done something special with it that people enjoy,”
Hoult’s comments about what he and the rest of the crew of Superman have developed certainly line up with what audiences have seen so far. From a featured image of Krypto the Superdog to various DC heroes occupying the same movie as Superman, this will be drastically different from any previous adaptation as it looks to embrace more comic book elements than ever before. That likely means fans could see Lex Luthor suited up in his iconic power armor he does in the comics, which none of his live-action interpretations have worn. Hoult’s Luthor might not just be an intellectual match for Superman, but also a physical opponent who can go toe to toe with him.
First Look at Lex Luthor in Superman May Be Coming Soon
Superman is about nine months away from hitting theaters, but the film’s marketing will likely pick up soon. Gunn teased that he is working on a trailer, and fans will likely see it in December in time for CCXP in Brazil. That event will take place from December 5 to December 8, 2024, which happens to kick off the same day Creature Commandos debuts on Max. That way, the Superman trailer could also be ready to debut in theaters alongside Warner Bros.’ big holiday release, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. That would be fitting, as the first full-length trailer for Man of Steel debuted in 2012 before the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The trailer for Superman will likely show the first look at Hoult’s Lex Luthor, revealing what will set him apart from his predecessors.
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While Hoult is no stranger to superhero franchises, having played Hank McCoy/Beast in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix, this will be a different type of role for him. With Luthor being one of the biggest villains in DC history, Hoult’s version of the character will likely be a significant player in James Gunn’s DCU moving forward. It’s safe to say Superman has become one of the most anticipated superhero movies of 2025.
- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Cast
- David Corenswet , Rachel Brosnahan , María Gabriela De Faría , Edi Gathegi , Nicholas Hoult , Frank Grillo , Nathan Fillion , Milly Alcock , Sara Sampaio , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Skyler Gisondo , Anthony Carrigan , Wendell Pierce , Beck Bennett , Sean Gunn
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures