Summary
- Nicholas Hoult missed out on roles like Superman and Batman but secured the part of Lex Luthor.
- He auditioned for both Superman and Batman, losing out to actors such as Robert Pattinson.
- Other stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski have also missed out on iconic superhero roles.
Superman is set to soar into theaters in just a few months, but one of its cast members, Nicholas Hoult, is still reflecting on his missed opportunities during the casting process overseen by director James Gunn.
The Superman casting wrapped up in mid-2023, with David Corenswet stepping in as the Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Hoult portraying Lex Luthor, all transitioning from the previous DCEU actors, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, and Jesse Eisenberg. The trailer featuring these new portrayals garnered a staggering 250 million views within the first 24 hours, marking it as the most-watched trailer in DC history. Hoult’s casting as Luthor has received accolades from Gunn, who described him as a comic-accurate Lex, perfectly equipped to hold his own against the Superhero. However, Gunn evidently did not envision him as the iconic Kal-El clad in his signature blue and red suit.
Nicholas Hoult’s Casting Snub: Superman and Batman
A Near Miss
In his quest for the role of Superman, Hoult auditioned but ultimately secured the part of Lex Luthor. Notably, he also vied for the role of Batman in Matt Reeves’ upcoming film but lost to Robert Pattinson, a fellow British actor. During a recent presentation at CinemaCon, the trio of actors—Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult—were asked to express which other DC characters they’d like to portray. While Corenswet chose Batman and Brosnahan amusingly opted for Lex Luthor, Hoult delivered a poignant confession:
“Well, I auditioned for Batman and Superman, and I didn’t get either of them.”
Having previously portrayed Hank McCoy (Beast) in the X-Men franchise, Hoult is no stranger to the superhero genre. Despite his extensive experience and a physique that aligns well with both characters, the reasons behind the casting decisions remain a topic of discussion. For example, Gunn’s vision of Superman included someone who embodies warmth—qualities that some argue Hoult physically reflects. Therefore, he joins a list of actors who narrowly missed out on transformative roles.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s past is marked by his near-casting as Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, which was ultimately handed to Tobey Maguire due to reported back problems. Gyllenhaal also missed the opportunity to portray Batman in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, losing the role to Christian Bale. Similarly, Emily Blunt was a frontrunner for the Black Widow role in Iron Man 2, but scheduling conflicts thwarted her chances. In a similar vein, John Krasinski was nearly cast as Captain America, ultimately yielding the role to Chris Evans—though Krasinski did find another opportunity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a multiverse version of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
This leaves fans wondering: would Nicholas Hoult have redefined Clark Kent in his own way? While we may never know, all eyes are on the upcoming Superman film, with hopes that it brings the promised thrilling elementsDirector Gunn and Warner Bros. hinted at, especially following positive feedback from early screenings.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter/X