“Superman” director James Gunn won’t make the same mistake as Zack Snyder did with the interpretation of Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” where the villain’s long hair made him unrecognizable. Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor, like previous live-action iterations — including Gene Hackman in “Superman,” Kevin Spacey in “Superman Returns,” and Michael Rosenbaum in “Smallville” — will be going bald like his comic book counterpart, as seen in a “Superman” cast photo Gunn shared when production began.
Hoult has transformed his appearance for roles in the past. Most famously, he played Hank McCoy aka Beast in 20th Century Fox’s last X-Men trilogy, wearing prosthetics, blue makeup, and fur to portray the mutant hero. In George Miller’s critically acclaimed “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Hoult stars as the War Boy Nux, shaving his head, wearing numerous prosthetics, and having different body parts painted.
Working out and becoming jacked highlights the actor’s dedication to delivering the best performance, as adding muscle helps illustrate Lex’s complicated relationship with Superman. Audiences can see Hoult’s Luthor come to life on the big screen when Gunn’s “Superman” releases in theaters on July 11, 2025.
