Lex Luthor star shares comic inspiration for James Gunn’s Superman, and says he’s been working out to play the villain

Mar. 6, 2024

Nicholas Hoult has been busy preparing

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Nicholas Hoult is playing iconic villain Lex Luthorin the DCU’sSupermanreboot, and it seems like he’s been taking inspiration from many places.

Speaking on theInside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, theRenfieldstar said he’s been drawing particularly fromAll-Star Superman. The comic, which isa big inspiration for Gunn’s version of the Man of Steel as a whole, was written by Grant Morrison and features a whole host of villains, including Luthor.

“There’s that bit in All-Star Superman where he talks about his muscles being real and hard work and all that,” Hoult shared on the podcast. “I kind of took that as a little bit of fuel for the fire.” However, the actor was keen to point out that although he’s been working out, he doesn’t expect Luthor to have any shirtless scenes.

PerThe Hollywood Reporter, Hoult also shared that he’s taken inspiration from Michael Rosenbaum himself, who played the villain on Smallville. “The first ever Lex I saw was you,” he shared. “Yeah, I grew up, Smallville was on. That was the show I would watch and see my first iterations of Superman and Lex and all those stories. I’ve since seen Richard Donner’s movies and all the other ones and kind of seen some of the other performances but you’re like the one… It’s the best.”

Superman (formerly Superman: Legacy) is now filming andGunn recently shared a snap from the cast reading featuring a bald Hoult. The director also shareda first look at David Corenswet’s new suit, and while we can’t see much, it’s enough to get us very excited about what this version of Clark Kent’s story will entail.

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I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.

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