The Greatest Criminal Mind of Our Time: Nicholas Hoult IS Lex Luthor

[Kane52630]

Love the choice even if he wasn't my favorite pick.

 

[Karelia]

Rosenbaum was a really great Lex, imo.

I like thia casting! He can definitely rock the bald look too. I was hoping for a more physically intimidating Lex, but it's all good!

 

[Invader Joker]

I can see that, but I also suspect Gunn is going for a very particular preening unhinged narcissist quality. There’s a bunch of commonalities between the Skarsbrothers and Hoult. Morrison’s Luthor where he’s a serious character but also a source of comedy from the depths of his narcissism and delusion feels closest to what Gunn would go for and the actors up for it.

I mean yeah, but in terms of public perception, him becoming president and being hyper-respected in Metropolis, Luthor having that sort of gravitas usually helps to sell the character a lot especially as someone immensely powerful. In the plot of this movie especially if the reports of him trying to mediate the conflict with a foreign power are true. Tho, then again, looking at the way some of the real life figures that Lex is most comparable to behave... I guess we'll see.

 

[Kane52630]

I had to dig up my old post where I put the bald filter on him.

 

[C Prometheus]

I can see that, but I also suspect Gunn is going for a very particular preening unhinged narcissist quality. There’s a bunch of commonalities between the Skarsbrothers and Hoult. Morrison’s Luthor where he’s a serious character but also a source of comedy from the depths of his narcissism and delusion feels closest to what Gunn would go for and the actors up for it.

Yep, any time I have personally imagined Hoult in the role of Lex, this particular moment popped up in my head.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I had to dig up my old post where I put the bald filter on him.

To me, he is smiling and happy in this picture. IMO, Lex luthor should be frowning and evil. Totally miscast.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I mean yeah, but in terms of public perception, him becoming president and being hyper-respected in Metropolis, Luthor having that sort of gravitas usually helps to sell the character a lot especially as someone immensely powerful. In the plot of this movie especially if the reports of him trying to mediate the conflict with a foreign power are true. Tho, then again, looking at the way some of the real life figures that Lex is most comparable to behave... I guess we'll see.

Yeah, people like Lex IRL are wildly less charismatic than Hoult is. Hoult at his nastiest and most weasely has twice the charisma of, I dunno, Musk or Zuckerberg or anyone in Silicon Valley who presumably a modern take on Luthor is gonna be influenced by.

 

[Frodo]

Wow .
Well , i've always liked him going back to when I first saw him in X Men First Class a decade ago.

He wouldn't have been my first choice for Lex either, but the guy is a good actor , so I'll give him a chance.

Congrats Mr. Hoult .

Lets hope he's not a spastic kid, or a guy who seduces senior citizen women for their fortune.

 

[Sawyer]

Goddamn internet gaslighting me into thinking it would be Glenn Howerton.

Hoult should be good though. The fact that he could’ve been Batman feels appropriate.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Goddamn internet gaslighting me into thinking it would be Glenn Howerton.

Hoult should be good though. The fact that he could’ve been Batman feels appropriate.

As the resident Hoult fan even I was still initially kinda bummed it wasn't Howerton.

 

[Bran The Man]

I like Nicholas Hoult as Lex. He gives off more of a Lex vibe to me than Superman.

The classy guy who ALWAYS has to be the smartest guy in the room and makes sure people know it.

The guy who is the consummate professional and gentleman in public and keeps his true intentions behind the scenes.

 

[Stringer]

Good actor but bleh.

 

[DCDAVE]

Straight out the comics.

 

[GreenKToo]

I'm just kinda whatever on it. Maybe he'll do great.

 

[Boom]

Goddamn internet gaslighting me into thinking it would be Glenn Howerton.

Hoult should be good though. The fact that he could’ve been Batman feels appropriate.

I want Howerton for SOMETHING, man.

 

[SupermansPal]

While I can see the appeal of Lex being a nepo baby because it makes his hatred for Superman deliciously hypocritical, I still maintain that self-made Lex is the best version of the character.

 

[Boom]

People keep using manips of Hoult when he was much younger and still has a boyishness about him.

Check him at the Renfield premiere. Dude's face is practically carved and he looks much more his age.

 

[Invader Joker]

Hoult's look is perfectly fine and I actually quite like it, it's the question of whether he can pull off Luthor's calm, collected demeanor in a convincing and interesting way that's the sticking point for me, especially as I doubt this will be another zany Lex with how Gunn explicitly said he hated that take. It's a bit against type for him. I'm not ruling out entirely he could end up being good or even great, but I'll /really/ need to see it to get an idea. I just hope he gives Luthor a great performance that makes him stick out as more than just "generic evil businessman" or "eccentric genius" which is the trap his character could very easily fall into. I hope him and Gunn do their best to showcase why he's at the top of DC villains lists next to Joker. We haven't had a portrayal that fully showcased why he's such a good character.

 

[KalEllie9]

I think he pairs better with his respective CK & LL than Eisenberg did, all due respect to Eisenberg. I would have preferred an older heavyweight for Lex but more I imagine this casting playing out the more hyped I get. Give me a confirmation of Brainiac and I’ll allow myself the space to hope ill end up loving this version more than Superman Returns or Man of Steel.

 

[BobJM]

I think Hoult’s casting is Gunn & Safran looking ahead too. If they get Luthor right, he’s a character that could easily follow a similar trajectory as Loki in Gunn & Safran’s DCU—villain turned anti-hero (and, in Luthor’s case, hopefully back into a super villain).

Hoult’s more of a name than Hiddleston was, absolutely. But I don’t think he’s necessarily a household name.

 

[CaptainWagner]

Definitely a good casting. Interesting to see what Gunn does with the character. Like others have said, we've never really gotten a definitive big screen Luther. I really hope he doesn't wind up too bogged down in "21st Century Tech Billionaire" comparisons.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

Ah, so, they went with Hoult after all? I kind of assumed it'd be him based on the most recent DCEUleaks report. Though not my top pick, he's still a decent choice for Luthor.

 

[Stringer]

I've seen Hoult play conniving, arrogant, smart, and smarmy extremely well, but I've yet to see him play icy or threatening. I think he's capable, I just haven't seen it so far.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

I wonder if we are going to get something like this for Hoult's Lex?

 

[Invader Joker]

I wonder if we are going to get something like this for Hoult's Lex?

Not sure I've ever seen Hoult play that cold. I think his Lex is gonna be somewhat of a charmer, I just really hope he keeps the coldness and intimidation that characterizes the character in the comics. We're long overdue for a take like that on-screen.