Nicholas Hoult speaks on reimagining Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman; calls it “Driven, intelligent, and the epitome of what a man can be”

July 9, 2025 - 5:32 PM IST

Nicholas Hoult is stepping into the shoes of one of DC’s most iconic villains — Lex Luthor — in the upcoming 2025 film Superman, written and directed by James Gunn. The actor recently opened up about how the character’s new look was developed, revealing that his take on Lex goes beyond the traditional bald-headed villain trope to something more refined and visually calculated.

Nicholas Hoult speaks on reimagining Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman; calls it “Driven, intelligent, and the epitome of what a man can be”

“The makeup team were brilliant,” Hoult said in an interview. He credited makeup artists Mag Lowe and Alexei Dmitriew — with whom he previously worked on the X-Men films — for helping shape Lex’s visual identity. “I could go in and show them images from the comics and be like, ‘This is how I view Lex.’ They would do subtle bits of shading or play with parts of my face… making it slightly more from the comic.”

Costume designer Judianna Makovsky also played a pivotal role. According to Hoult, her designs contributed greatly to the character’s C-suite polish and commanding screen presence. “She’s brilliant in terms of drawing costumes that just make you feel like the character… while giving subtle nods in the color palette and little details that just make you feel more and more like Lex.”

Hoult also drew inspiration from comic book material, notably a scene in All-Star Superman where Lex is shown working out in prison, underscoring the character’s intense discipline and self-perception. “That’s also part of the psyche of the Lex that I wanted to portray,” he explained. “He’s highly intelligent and focused, but also trying to be the epitome of what a man can be physically. In his mind, if Superman didn’t have powers, he could hold his own in a fair fight.”

Hoult’s transformation as Lex Luthor aims to bring a more grounded, layered antagonist to the screen—one driven not only by intellect and ego but by a relentless pursuit of human perfection.

Set to release on July 11, 2025, Superman marks the beginning of a new chapter in the DC Universe. The film stars David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and features Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced in key roles. Produced by DC Studios, Troll Court Entertainment, and The Safran Company, Superman explores Clark Kent's efforts to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his life on Earth.

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