'He's Smart and Ruthless': Nicholas Hoult Reveals How Lex Luthor Could 'Outmaneuver' Superman

Given his character’s intelligence and ruthlessness, Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult believes he will be a match for the Man of Steel in DC Studio’s upcoming Superman. The James Gunn-directed big-screen kick-off to the nascent DCU will hit theaters this July.

Fans received an early Christmas present with the arrival of the long-awaited Superman trailer, which showcased several of the film’s main characters, including Hoult’s new iteration of the iconic megalomaniacal DC villain. In a general Q&A at the Warner Bros. lot following the trailer premiere, Hoult teased his portrayal of Lex Luthor. “The thing about this Lex, I think that was most exciting to me was being in a James Gunn universe,” he said. “Like you said, so emotionally raw and powerful, but huge in the scope of the world and what he’s creating.” Hoult discussed how the character would need to employ his wits to stay a step ahead of David Corenswet’s Superman, and the actor believes audiences will have empathy for Lex’s point of view if not his ruthless methods.

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“And I think, with this Lex, I mean, obviously, he’s smart and ruthless and has to outmaneuver Superman on certain levels, because he can’t match him in others,” the Lex Luthor actor explained. “But there’s also something about this character, hopefully, from my standpoint, where even though you perhaps don’t agree with his process, there’s an element where you can understand on some levels where he’s coming from and why perhaps what he’s pushing as his ideology is perhaps better for humanity,” Hoult continued.

Lex Luthor Will Be “Imposing” and “Dangerous” in Superman

In another recent interview, Hoult talked about his love for the process he and Gunn used in creating their “imposing” and “dangerous” incarnation of Lex Luthor. “We went back and forth on the energy behind certain scenes and the Lex in this movie, when you meet him and where he goes to. So it was really fun to create with him because he’s a director who pushed me in exciting ways,” he said.

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Hoult continued, “I was like, ‘Oh, this is exciting where he imagines this character being, and hopefully I can bring the energy that he wants to what he’s written on the page.’ Yeah, you do want him to be imposing and dangerous. That’s something about that character. Whenever you’re playing the villain, I suppose you want people to feel that they are dangerous.”

James Gunn’s Superman flies into theaters on July 11, 2025.

Source: Warner Bros.