From Sun-Kissed Audition to Supervillain Cackle: Nicholas Hoult’s Unconventional Journey to Becoming Lex Luthor
HOLLYWOOD, CA — June 30, 2025 — When Nicholas Hoult walked onto the Warner Bros. lot to audition for James Gunn’s Superman, he envisioned himself as the Man of Steel. He left knowing he’d met the real Superman—and discovered a far more intriguing destiny.
The Audition That Changed Everything
Hoult’s path to playing Lex Luthor began with a moment so cinematic it felt scripted. After a confident audition for Clark Kent, he rounded a corner to find competitor David Corenswet seated in a solitary ray of California sunshine—literally “charging up” like Superman absorbing solar energy.
“I walked over to say hello, and he stood up,” Hoult recalled on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “I thought, ‘Goddamn, he’s taller. Look at his hair, his jawline.’ Then he spoke, and his voice was deeper too. I shook his hand thinking, ‘I’d be happy if this guy was Superman. You’re perfect for it.’ But also… what the f*ck?”.
Corenswet, equally awed, later told Hoult: “A superhero is only as interesting as their villain.” When Gunn called Hoult to offer him Lex instead, Hoult’s reaction was visceral: “I let out an evil cackle. Instantly, I knew that was the character I was suited for”
Crafting a “Credible Threat”: Inside Hoult’s Lex Luthor
Gunn envisioned Lex as a “sorcerer of science”—a genius whose technology borders on magic. For Hoult, the challenge was making him feel like a “real, credible threat” to an alien god.
Psychological Layers
- Resentment as Fuel: Hoult mined Lex’s bitterness toward Superman’s innate power. “Lex believes humanity should adore him,” he explained. “Then this alien arrives, effortlessly eclipsing him”.
- Modern Tech Titans: He studied figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg but avoided imitation. “It’s an amalgamation,” he clarified. “Lex represents that obsessive, narcissistic drive”
Physical Transformation
- The Bald Truth: Hoult shaved his head for the first time since Mad Max: Fury Road, letting his 6-year-old son, Joaquin, wield the clippers. “My younger son loved slapping my head afterward,” he laughed.
- Alpha Physique: Inspired by the All-Star Superman comics, Hoult bulked up to emphasize Lex’s “hard-earned muscles”—a contrast to Superman’s supernatural strength
The Blonde Bombshell Interlude
Just weeks before Superman’s July 11 premiere, Hoult stunned fans by debuting platinum blonde hair on Kimmel. The look—crafted by celebrity groomer Jamie Taylor—was a sharp departure from his signature brown locks (and Lex’s chrome dome).
“🚨 Blonde now 🚨,” he declared on Instagram. Fans flooded Reddit with praise: “Why does Nick look FINE as a blonde?”. The timing? Strategic summer flair amid a grueling press tour.
Why Lex Luthor Fits Hoult’s “Weird Guy” Persona
In an interview with Empire, Hoult admitted he gravitates toward morally complex roles: “I explore how people condone their behavior. Lex is relentless, obsessive—there’s emotion pushing through all of it”.
Past roles foreshadowed this pivot:
- Bob Mathews in The Order (a real-life neo-Nazi).
- Nux in Mad Max (a self-destructive zealot).
- Tony Stonem in Skins (a manipulative teen).
“People tell me I’m the weird guy,” Hoult joked. “I don’t think I’m conventionally anything”.
What to Expect in Superman
Gunn’s film leans into DC’s fantastical roots, featuring:
- A giant kaiju battle in Metropolis.
- Heroes like Guy Gardner (Green Lantern) and Metamorpho.
- A kryptonite-powered Lex threatening Superman’s canine companion, Krypto.
Early footage hints at a fiery confrontation between Lex and Superman, with Corenswet noting: “Nick brings something special—their dynamic elevates the entire film”
Nicholas Hoult’s journey from Superman aspirant to Lex Luthor embodies Hollywood’s serendipity. His instinctive cackle wasn’t just joy—it was recognition. As he told Entertainment Weekly: “This ended up how it should have, if I’d listened to my gut”.
Superman releases July 11, 2025, starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult.