Nicholas Hoult landed the role of Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman after initially auditioning to play the Man of Steel. The film is set to hit theaters this month, and it has driven plenty of fan discussion, especially around the casting of David Corenswet. So, why didn’t Hoult get the hero role? Gunn recently revealed the reasoning.
Here’s what James Gunn said about casting Nicholas Hoult.
James Gunn reveals why Nicholas Hoult is not Superman
In an interview with Jake’s Takes, James Gunn explained that casting Superman wasn’t just about talent, it was about chemistry and fit. “Most people [auditioning for Superman] weren’t doing anything wrong,” he said. “They just didn’t fit how I envisioned this Superman to be.”
Gunn praised Nicholas Hoult as a talented actor, even saying, “Some might say he’s better than David in certain ways, but he just didn’t fit the role. That’s why he didn’t get that.” He emphasized that Hoult’s energy didn’t match the kind of Superman the film needed.
Furthermore, the director described Hoult as “more controlled,” while Corenswet brought a looser, more relaxed dynamic that balanced better with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane.
One important part of the audition process involved pairing different actors to test chemistry between Clark and Lois. Gunn said, “Nicholas had a really good chemistry with another Lois who was less controlled,” whereas Corenswet’s ease meshed more naturally with Brosnahan’s grounded take on Lois Lane. This compatibility ultimately led to Corenswet donning the cape. Despite not landing the lead, Hoult found his place in the DC Universe as Lex Luthor, a role Gunn sees as a perfect fit.
Beyond casting, Superman kicks off a brand-new chapter for DC Studios. As the first film in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s reimagined DC Universe, it sets the tone for what’s to come. David Corenswet suits up as a younger, more hopeful Superman – one who’s still figuring out how to balance saving the world with being Clark Kent. Opposite him, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, who is cool, calculated, and dangerous.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.
