Nicholas Hoult Is Lex Luthor for a New Era, Says DC Studios Co-President Peter Safran
DC Studios is aiming to reshape how we see Superman, and that includes reinventing Lex Luthor. In a recent DC Nation Spotlight interview, DC Studios co-chair Peter Safran opened up about the upcoming Superman film from James Gunn and why Nicholas Hoult was the perfect choice to play the Man of Steel’s iconic nemesis.
“He is the Lex Luthor for the next generation, for sure. He is who people will think of when they think of Lex,” Safran said. “Nick is an extraordinary actor. He has been doing this since he was five years old. I think he kind of knew Lex was the role of a lifetime for him, and he embraced it immediately.”
This new version of Superman isn’t going back to the beginning. There’s no origin story here. Instead, the film drops us into a world where superheroes, magic, and robots are already part of everyday life. Clark Kent has already been working at the Daily Planet, and his relationship with Lois Lane is just starting to heat up.
Safran explained, “When we enter the story, Clark has been a reporter at the Daily Planet for a little while, the early stages of his career. He and Lois have been dating for about three months.”
David Corenswet is suiting up as Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane. Hoult’s Lex Luthor will join a wide roster of characters from the DC Universe, including Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord.
Other additions include María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Milly Alcock making her debut as Supergirl.
Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.