“That Was Just Infectious”: Superman’s Nicholas Hoult Opens Up About Playing The DCU’s Lex Luthor & Working With James Gunn

Nicholas Hoult, who is set to play Lex Luthor in the new DCUSuperman (2025) movie has shared what it was like to work on set with James Gunn and star in the upcoming film. Ahead of the DCU’s theatrical debut, the details of the upcoming story have been kept largely under wraps, but there have been no shortage of casting announcements for Superman. And since the film has wrapped, and the stars are now busy with promoting other projects ahead of Superman’s release in 2025, snippets of information are beginning to filter through.

Hoult is set to have a huge year ahead of him with prominent roles in Juror #2 from director Clint Eastwood, Nosferatu from director Robert Eggers, and Superman from director James Gunn. In an interview with Deadline discussing these varied projects, Hoult offered some insight about his time filming Superman, and what it was like to be there at the genesis of the DCU with the visionary director and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn.

“I think that James Gunn has just had such a singular voice and vision in terms of the movies he crafts. And that was what was so exciting to be on set – him and all his team around him, they really gel, and there’s an excitement to creating with them, and that was something that was just infectious to be around. So I loved the experience, and as a fan I’m just so excited to see what they’ve made, because I think it could be really special.”

The DCU Is Already Setting Up To Be Very Different To The DCEU

Obviously, the world of superhero movies has become a behemoth in recent years with the rise of the MCU. The DCU is Warner Bros. answer to that mega franchise, and by bringing in a former director from Marvel Studios, who was initially being set up to lead the galactic side of the MCU in a similar way to how Kevin Feige spearheaded the entire MCU, WB is in good hands. Hoult’s comments confirm that Gunn was the right choice for this task, with his overarching vision bleeding through to this film.

In addition, it seems as though the rest of the crew working on the film has a similar buzz in terms of feeling like they are a part of something much larger. Of course, with a character as big as Superman, whose history in comics and film stretches back all the way to 1938, it’s easy to recognize the legacy and weight of this story. However, rather than feeling burdened by it, the team behind the DCU seem to be invigorated.

Hoult’s comments don’t offer much in the way of actual description of details or characters from the film, but that is to be expected for the superhero genre. Instead, it offers a glimpse at the kind of hope and spirit on set, which could be a reflection of the story. Gunn’s Superman is set to be a much brighter and more hopeful version of the hero than what appeared in the DCEU, bringing the character back to his roots of being a symbol for truth, justice, and the American way.

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