Nicholas Hoult is ready to take the Superman villain Lex Luthor in the megalomaniac direction like in comics, making him already better than DCEU.

James Gunn’s Superman teaser is out and Nicholas Hoult looks fantastic as Lex Luthor in it. He is the latest actor to step into the role after Jesse Eisenberg’s version in the DCEU. The teaser already gives off a feeling that this version of the iconic Superman villain is better than Eisenberg’s. The earlier portrayal was an unorthodox take on the character that few seemed to resonate with.

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in a still from Superman | Credits: DC Studios/WB Pictures

Eisenberg’s villain focused more on his personal trauma and Snyder was busy making him relevant to today’s volatile political climate. However, Gunn’s comic-accurate Lex Luthor is back as his megalomaniacal self and Hoult perfectly captures the essence of the character. Interestingly, Hoult was passed on for the role of Superman.

Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is already better than Jesse Eisenberg’s take

Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

After the launch event of the Superman teaser, Nicholas Hoult shared that Lex Luthor will use everything at his disposal to match up to Superman (via ComicBook.com). It means that the character, much like his comic-book counterpart, is set to become the megalomaniac. It is exactly what fans need from the character and what Jesse Eisenberg couldn’t give to it in Batman v Superman.

About the scope of the character in James Gunn‘s DCU, Hoult shared that Lex Luthor is a character that’s “so emotionally raw and powerful, but huge in the scope of the world and what he’s creating.” Hoult shared that his Lex needs to be ruthless and needs to outmatch Superman on several levels. He shared with ComicBook.com:

And I think with this Lex, I mean, obviously he’s smart and ruthless and he has to outmaneuver Superman on certain levels because he can’t match him in others.

Hoult shared that Gunn’s character has some elements that would make you understand the villain on some levels. He shared that he could understand where Lex Luthor was coming from and why his ideology could be better for humanity. Hoult shared:

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’s casting was confirmed in November 2023, with Gunn telling DC fans at the time that Hoult’s Lex would be “different from anything you’ve seen before and will never forget” (via @jamesgunn/Instagram). Hoult’s shaved head look went viral a few months back. In the teaser, he looks menacing as the villain.

Nicholas Hoult reveals the comic-book inspiration for his character

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman | Credits: DC Studios/WB Pictures

Nicholas Hoult also shared his comic inspirations for the character. Earlier, Hoult shared with the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he took inspiration from all the previous interpretations of the character and the comics and used it to build Lex Luthor.

Hoult specifically pointed out some of his comic inspirations like All-Star Superman, Birthright, and Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. Speaking about the lattermost, Hoult shared that he found himself picking it up again and again as it contained a lot that resonated with him. Hoult shared:

There’s so many and James [Gunn] has already spoken about quite a few that influence obviously the overall film and All-Star Superman, and there’s little things that you draw from each, Birthright and all those all those comics. But the one that I really rang…and I read a lot, but the one that I found myself picking up again a lot was Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. There was a lot in that just resonated with me.

James Gunn’s Superman will kick off things on the live-action side of things for the DCU. Fans can expect Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor to make appearances in further DCU movies as well.

Superman will hit the theaters on July 11, 2025.