Nicholas Hoult, that totally not Superman-looking guy, actually auditioned for the role of Superman! Yeah, you heard that right! But instead of getting the red cape and flying around with laser vision, he’s now Lex Luthor. Plot twist, am I right?
So why did Nicholas—who’s basically super at acting (no pun intended)—not get the part? Enter James Gunn, the wizard of casting, who has ALL the reasons. And they’re as wild as a Tesla in space.
Gunn says, “Casting isn’t just about choosing who’s best, it’s about matching vibes, y’know? Most people auditioning for Superman did a great job, they just weren’t the vibe I was looking for.” And apparently, Nicholas Hoult’s vibe wasn’t “Superman” enough. James said, “Some might argue Nicholas is better than David in some ways. I’m talking like extra crispy acting skills, but he just wasn’t the guy for Kal-El.”
Now hold up. It gets spicier. Gunn spills the tea on the whole Lois & Clark chemistry vibe thing. They basically tried a “matchmaking” test, and guess what? Nicholas, the cool-headed actor, had insane chemistry with a Lois who was a bit more chaotic. A whole yin and yang situation. But David Corenswet, the actual Superman, had better “flow” with Rachel Brosnahan, who’s like the human version of a spreadsheet—super controlled.
So yeah, David and Rachel had the magic that James was after. And Nicholas? He went full-on villain mode and got cast as Lex Luthor—because who doesn’t love a little opposites attract drama? Looks like James Gunn wanted that chaos versus control vibe more than the whole “save the world” thing.
So there you have it. Nicholas Hoult didn’t become Superman because his vibe was just a little too orderly for a caped hero. But hey, being the supervillain isn’t half bad—just ask every villain ever. 😎
#SupermanWho #LexLuthorVibes #JamesGunnKnowsBest
