James Gunn Reveals Why Nicholas Hoult Lost the Superman Role: "They Were Opposites"
In James Gunn's Superman, Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor. However, the actor also auditioned for the role of the protagonist. Here's why Gunn thought Hoult wasn't right for the part.
On July 11, James Gunn's Superman will finally hit theaters. Together with another head of DC Studios, Peter Safran, Gunn intends to reboot the comic book movie universe and redeem it in the eyes of fans.
David Corenswet, star of the horror movie Pearl and the miniseries Hollywood, will play the new Superman.
Nicholas Hoult Lost to David Corenswet Because of Chemistry With Lois Lane
Nicholas Hoult, who was eventually cast as Lex Luthor, also auditioned for the lead role. In a recent interview on Jake's Takes, James Gunn revealed why the role ultimately went to Corenswet:
“One of the things that we were also doing was mixing and matching Lois' and Clarks when we were auditioning them, and so I wanted to make sure that we had that chemistry right. And the truth is, Nick, who is a more controlled actor, had really good chemistry with another Lois that was less controlled, so they were opposites.”
And we must say a special thank you to James Gunn for this. The chemistry between Lois and Clark is one of the most important aspects of the Superman story, and not all of the directors managed to cast actors who had that tension.
However, even in the promotional photos and videos, it's clear that David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan got that chemistry.
What Will James Gunn's 'Superman' Be About?
The upcoming Superman movie will not be just another superhero origin story – the film will not focus on Kal-El's journey to Earth, his upbringing on the Kent farm, and his growth.
However, the producers decided to focus on Clark Kent's life in Metropolis, his job at the Daily Planet, his relationship with Lois, and his search for balance between his human side and Kryptonian origin.
Superman will adhere to the traditions of the superhero genre – Clark Kent is a man of high moral values and a classic protagonist in blue tights who is ready to protect the world from evil.
Superman draws inspiration from the DC All-Star Superman comics, in which Superman faces death and undertakes twelve heroic feats in hopes of bringing peace to Earth.
Choosing such an unconventional comic book for the first Superman film adaptation confirms Gunn's earlier statements that he would take new approaches to beloved DC characters.
