Nicholas Hoult shares the prep & pressure behind his role as Lex Luthor in ‘Superman: Legacy’

[@earthgazertx]

I dont think people realize HOW SPECIAL this clip truly is... We would only hear about previous actors ie christian bale had a few words of wisdom for batfleck or battinson. but to see into the room as one actor who previously played a role that the other actor in the room is about to play and them two talk and share thoughts about said character etc, is so cool!!!

[@sidious187]

Never saw Hackman with Shea, or Spacey with Clancy so this is rad

[@TruColor]

I don't know anything about acting for the most part, but as a jazz musician for almost 50 years, I'm reminded of the what the late, great Charlie Parker once said - "You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail." Seems like that certainly applies here.

[@mydreaminorbit9297]

If Hoult can channel the Superman the Animated Series Lex. Where Lex in the presence of Superman is cool, calm, and, collected. Yet, deep inside Lex is burning with envy and jealousy over Superman. That would be the ideal base to build his version of Lex from.

[@burresseffects]

Agreed. I would also like to see the human side of Lex that sees Superman as an alien threat he feels he has to protect humanity from, like he was in Red Son.

[@henrypeters5291]

I think Jon O'Shea from Lois and Clark did that part the best, despite his comedic take on the character.

[@user-nv9vn8fm1d]

I bet this will be better

[@garystern2294]

Clancy Brown did an amazing job voice acting Lex Luthor.

[@EyePropsStudios]

Hoult will kill it.

[@jerelischable]

I won’t deny I’m extremely excited for another take on Superman. Please be one that gives hope

[@UnifiedaxxS]

Won't be as good as man of steel. No reason to keep holding out hope

[@mudiametokunboh2370]

@@UnifiedaxxSwhat the heck it will be amazing both can be cool excited for it so much

[@Powerhaus88]

@@UnifiedaxxS MoS is undoubtably the best for its non-comic-y realism.

[@UnifiedaxxS]

@Powerhaus88 exactly, I'm sure gunn's vision will go back to more campy superman. Not my thing usually

[@kangerer8886]

Gunn is a mega comic fan and he did phenomenal with the guardians of the galaxy especially the last film in particular, if anyone is capable of brining just to the DC films it’s definitely going to be Gunn

[@ngs2683]

This video is so nice. To see two actors who have played the same character having a conversation is quite special.

[@ThatOneGuyFromOhio]

DUDE Rosenbaum’s Lex had swagger and was cool, and the ultimate version of what every nerd wanted to be.

[@LordLemoncake]

Him as Lex will be very interesting, he can look very serious, i hope to see a great performance.

[@jingleballs9935]

Same

[@mattd6200]

he looks like they tried him out as Superman but settled for Lex.

[@miranda13c]

@@mattd6200Actually, Nicolas has spoken before about how much he wanted the role of Batman but lost out to Robert Pattinson. That isn’t surprising though considering the fact that SO many actors and actresses will always audition for major roles like that, especially with superhero films. They know just how great of an opportunity that is.

[@I-speak-U-shut-it]

​@@mattd6200This reminds of Tom Hiddleston when he auditioned as Thor but Kevin Feige saw the Loki in his audition. Tom was the only good thing about Thor. Hated Chris goofy Hemsworth!!! Seeing the similarities with Nic Hoults. I already know that we're going to see the best Lex to exist since Michael Rossenbum😈☕

[@tylermeinhold]

Hoult was kind of asking for advice, and Rosenbaum didn’t give him the greatest answer. I think Hoult was looking for more a direct answer than what he got

[@sparks564]

I noticed that, maybe Michael just didn't want to influence his performance too much so he could create his own vision of the character

[@calvinjluther]

It's fine.

[@jackblack9605]

I think his gist is to try to relate and humanise the character.

[@radicaladz]

​@sparks564 - as a former Drama student, I actually appreciate that Michael is extending that courtesy to Nicholas here, and being magnanimous and welcoming him to make his own mark on the role of Lex, because as Michael says himself, his own version of Lex is not his favourite, but as one of the people who played him longest, his opinion on what makes the character compelling is not without merit, and it's very easy for actors to get in their own head about how someone else would do it. There's a play on the West End at the moment called The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne starring Mark Gatiss and Johnny Flynn, which is about when John Gielgud directed Richard Burton as Hamlet, which is entirely about that disconnect when two actors, two of the greatest of their respective generations, are trying to tackle this role from completely different standpoints; history has shown there is no "right" way to play Hamlet, but most people who know the role all have very strong opinions about how *not* to play it.

[@soulysephiroth]

He does dance around that question. But it's fine. He clearly wants the dude to make it his own. But Hoult clearly admires his portrayal of the character.

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

He's a great actor so I trust that he'll do a great job. I really liked him in the Menu and Fury Road to name a few.

[@davidg7643]

Not sure about him for lex tbh

[@AzulApe]

@@davidg7643weird I feel the exact opposite. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

[@miranda13c]

Nicholas Hoult definitely has the acting talent for this role, and looks the part. I’m excited for this movie. They REALLY nailed it with the casting of David Corenswet as Superman. Not only is David a talented actor, but visually he is PERFECT for the role.

[@El3ctr0Lun4]

@@miranda13cI disagree. He has a somewhat childish face, whereas Rosenbaum had a mature face even when he was younger. I’ve never seen Hoult play any role where he comes off as an imposing adult man, he always seems to have this kicked puppy naive face in every role he plays. Even in The Menu, where he’s a despicably evil character, his character is still a wimpy loser.

[@ballsman_69]

​​@@El3ctr0Lun4 except that's the whole character of Lex. Someone who thinks himself as the big deal, as "that guy", but deep down, he's an insecure loser, jealous that there's someone who actually is the big deal and with extremely broken abilities might i add. Him having a childish face adds to the character

[@theyearwas1473]

Smallville holds a small spot in my heart because it's the reason I ended up getting an article 15 for taking a week off when I got back from Iraq to watch through all the seasons.

[@davebirch2543]

I look forward to seeing Nick in this role. I've been a fan of his work since his time in Skins as Tony. I get the feeling Michael didn't want to colour Nick's idea of how to portray the character too much knowing that he'll nail it himself when the time comes.

[@miranda13c]

I’m really excited to see this new cast in these roles for Superman and how they approach these beloved and well known characters. I’m happy with the actors they have chosen. I think they will do a great job, too.

[@luisz222]

One of my favorite Lex portrayals besides michael rosenbaum and clancy brown were jon cryer and titus welliver. Titus Welliver only had a single episode on Titans but I think he absolutely killed it. That lex was calm, collected and experienced. You could tell that he’s been doing this for a long time and in that show he and superman had been fighting for 40 years.

[@El3ctr0Lun4]

I absolutely loathed Jon Cryer’s performance. He never managed to bring seriousness and gravitas to his role, instead his character came off as a middle aged used car salesman having a mid life crisis.

[@sangun123]

He’ll do better than eisenberg and that’s all that matters

[@jculver1674]

Not the highest bar to clear, but yeah.

[@alexanderandrew6535]

Eisenberg played more like the mad hatter 😂

[@majikman5140]

@@alexanderandrew6535I’d say him or Riddler

[@Maximus0623]

Agreed, but let’s set a higher bar. He could do better than Eisenberg and still be terrible. I think he’ll be great. Gunn knows how to cast.

[@MaestroDrake]

But better than Cudlitz?

[@babygiraffeman]

It's cool watching Holt just intake what is being told to him.

[@EyePropsStudios]

This is the greatest interview based on the Superman topic.

[@gregv2k]

Nicholas Hoult is a genius, can’t wait to see what he does with Luthor. It’s going to be righter than rain.

[@hanif-pl5hd]

rosenbaum the best lex at this point. i hope hoult will do great

[@savannah7375]

These two will be my favorite lexs

[@I-speak-U-shut-it]

I agree nice profile pic btw :)

[@candjim]

Going by his looks as well as acting ability, he could also play Superman.

[@jessemccann9711]

I'm sure he was in the running for superman before that corensfet guy was announced

[@Grendel2403]

Funnily enough, though he wasn't considered for Superman, he lost the Batman role to Robert Pattinson lol

[@TheOtherGuy021]

Actually he auditioned for Superman (as well as Batman that Rob got) James Gunn loved his audition for Superman and his range as an actor so much that he offered him Lex They just didn’t feel he was a good fit for Superman In a way this story is so Lex

[@Reidbynature]

It is always cool to hear Rosenbaum talk Lex with another actor who has portrayed him. Though I realise I must have never heard Hoult's real voice before which is a sort of eerie experience.

[@lesterguijarro3988]

Its very special that he asked about playing lex luthor

[@oxymoronman]

Lex and Clark are two sides of the same coin on how our fathers affect us and our drive in life. Lex has father issues and is insecure to the point where he intentionally, continously, picks a fight with a man named Superman. Meanwhile, Clark had not one, but two, great father figures that took care of his needs unlike Lex who was told to fend for himself and become worthy of attention. So you can imagine how much it triggers Lex to see Superman adored when he perceives himself to be more worthy of it based on all his insane accomplishments. They could have been best friends if Lex wasn't so insecure.

[@glennwelsh9784]

There's something surreal about seeing the next Lex picking the brain of a previous Lex about how they approach the role. I don't know what point in Lex's life that Nicholas will be portraying him, but Michael's Lex was much more of an origin story and an evolution of how he'd become the Lex from the comics. I don't imagine that Nicholas' Lex will have anywhere near as much time to develop as Michael did on account that we're comparing a 2-hour movie to a show that ran for a decade.

[@donovans6472]

i just saw nicholas hoult in The Order......and in renfield ...this guy is a real good actor.. ...can't wait to see him as lex......he's also in the new nosfarato vampire movie so i'll be watching that when it comes out.

[@megobatman6092]

Even though Hoult is getting in big movies, he is still underappreciated. He still gets guest starring roles. In Fury Road, he was the only actor who over delivered. Hardy was just there. Theron did a generic performance. Hoult made you care about Nux. Hoult will be the best actor in 'Superman'.

[@JamesEvans2023]

He's great, I still go back and watch his jack and the beanstalk movie.

[@giovannyc3886]

Funny how the interview is 9 months old and just now got some sort of teaser trailer 😂

[@cajjaca3705]

you're the best Lex of all time Michael

[@ytuser_3122]

I find it funny af how Hoult will play Superman’s arch nemesis as he was one of the finalists with David Corenswet, it’d be like if he played Joker in Matt Reeves’s Batman as he also was one of the finalists for Batman with Robert Pattinson

[@Maximus0623]

It is funny and it’s worked out well before. Cillian Murphy and Heath Ledger both auditioned to be Batman for Christopher Nolan. I’m expecting Gunn’s Superman movie to be great.

[@spongemaster]

​@@Maximus0623 there was also Tom Hiddleston who auditioned for Thor but ended up as Loki and Sebastian Stan who auditioned for Captain America but instead ended up playing Bucky Barnes.

[@Maximus0623]

@@spongemaster Good point. Two more examples that worked out well. Hopefully this one does too.

[@bettercallmaul5810]

It works well into the fact that Lex is jealous of Superman. He's the 2nd most "Super" man in the world.

[@Maximus0623]

@@bettercallmaul5810 good point. Hoult can use any natural jealousy for the character

[@jasoncoladonato1034]

He’s gonna crush it

[@grantwallace1882]

Really looking forward to seeing his performance.

[@marcelo78]

Hackman's performance is iconic. But I personally like Rosembaum's in Smallville and John Shea's in Lois & Clark the best. Forget about Jesse Eisenberg.

[@youtubeistryingtocensorme]

Hackman’s performance maybe iconic and he may have been perfect for the role but his Lex Luthor character was a joke that was more obsessed with real estate and more of a campy Lex Luthor that you couldn’t take seriously. Rosenbaum’s Luthor was the real deal.

[@Rockitsteady8513]

Jesse is generally good, but his lex is basically mark zuckerburg from “the social network”. As much praiseworthy oscar bait that movie was, i wasn’t into it. So i guess thats why i didnt care much for his role as lex.

[@craigsteven9665]

i remember seeing nicholas doing promo work as a kid for the film about a boy where he would do interviews alongside hugh grant. always seemed a nice kid. fingers crossed this is a big role for him

[@theblacksp1derman]

I still think MR played Lex perfectly. Played it as person who was initially a good person. But very slowly became jaded from all his fam and friends, esp Clark, that he could only trust himself in the end. To really believe if nobody had the balls to protect ppl from themselves, it would def be him

[@darrylderosas5709]

who is watching this after watching the Superman Trailer🤚

[@WHlSKYtx]

Hoult is the most talented actor to touch that role. He’ll do great

[@shenlonggohan]

Spacey and Hackman have 4 oscars between them. Are you dumb?

[@I-speak-U-shut-it]

​@@shenlonggohanWTF does that have to do with anything? Are you that dumb 😒

[@I-speak-U-shut-it]

Since we're on topic. Spacey is a horrible Lex and he's a boy toucher. He can burn in hell and Hackman played Lex like a Saturday morning cartoon character. Michael Rossenbum is the only actor that made Lex Luthor an Oscar award winning performance in Smallville😊 SOMEBODY SAAAAAAVE MEEEEE!

[@mahyar713]

Who’s here after the superman trailer?

[@WereSquatch]

He wasnt my first choice but I trust Gunn so Ill give him a chance. I think he wouldve been a better Scarecrow

[@blackmantis3130]

Who was?

[@nitroxide17]

Lex on Lex

[@NinjapowerMS]

Man I didn't even connect the fact that Rosenbaum voiced Wally west in Justice league animated series. Easily the best portrayal of Flash imo.

[@LReese-nu3ur]

I love Mike for the Indiana shirt. Thanx for supporting Us Working Men and Hoosier State. 219/317 citizen here btw. Thank U

[@norpatrick]

Hoult is such a good actor.

[@arsalmir3162]

George Miller was gonna do Justice League Mortal, Nicholas Hoult played in his movie and now he's gonna be in a Superman movie.

[@superboyprime515]

Lex talking to Lex about being Lex,cool :)

[@sharebear421]

He was great in the order

[@redpillanimations]

Michael will always be the best Lex enough said

[@eleegs]

Hoult’s performance in Mad Max really impressed me in regards to his versatility. I didn’t think he fit well as Beast/ McCoy as his portrayal was a little too reserved in my opinion. His The Menu performance was outstanding and I still have great memories of his childhood role with Hugh Grant. I am eager to see what he brings to the role in Gunn’s version

[@patricedrake544]

Such an honor that Nicholas Halt watched you are a child for the first lux Luther ❤

[@ForceMaximus84]

I know it’s a coincidence, but I like how Nicholas is sitting in front of the Superman ‘78 poster with Gene Hackman’s name sitting on his left. It’s like legacies calling or something.

[@mayh3094]

Good clip!

[@liferiot]

It's crazy that he could play Superman as well.

[@ioannispaxinos5171]

Picking an actor who could easily play Superman to play Lex Luthor is genius. It kind of points toward the fact that heroes and villains are a product of circumstance and that it could easily have been the other way around, like in Red Son.

[@KreativeDevices]

🔥 Another good one

[@DrasticSkuba]

I really hope he brings us a good version of the character. He's a very strong actor, but I am finding it hard in my head to see him as Lex. That doubt might be a good thing though. I am hopeful

[@jbtwofour]

Without seeing the new Superman movie, I feel Nicholas Hoult will be a MUCH better Lex Luthor than Jesse Eisenberg.

[@ManLikeBetty]

The sly shot fired at the supergirl lex 😂 Deffo over the top, although I do love Alan from Two & a Half Men

[@MonolithStudiosMelbourne]

I thought it was a stab at Jesse

[@simonjack9699]

The Lex multiverse ❤

[@jonetaniratutokarua3457]

I like what you guys said about ripping the script paper and throwing it away once done with the audition. Done and dusted. Put the past behind ya. It's a good lesson.

[@kamdan2011]

Bryan Singer said that he would have cast Hoult if he had gone with a reboot of Superman instead of going the “vague sequel” route.

[@logiclanguagelearningFrench]

As superman ?

[@kamdan2011]

@ Yes.

[@shaikshaiful1070]

This could totally start the Lex-Verse as well... It would be very interesting to see what happens when Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor meets Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor.

[@OGJohnMarston]

Honestly looks so good as Lex it’s crazy. The boi looks solid bald.

[@otaikagetsu9340]

Lex interview Lex ... i luv it ...

[@trintenm8551]

Hoult is a good actor. I am interested to see how he plays this. What throws me off is James Gunn said that this movie is going to be a 'experienced' Superman, meaning that Lex has had time to rise to his position as well... why not get Clancy Brown (Lex's Voice from the animated series). He understands the character, and is a good screen actor too. He can definitely be affable or incredibly intense.

[@ForceMaximus84]

Probably because Clancy Brown is significantly older than when he played Luthor in the series.

[@pinkmothstudio4449]

Nicholas Hoult 😍😍

[@lindamawdsley6130]

It will be interesting to see what he does with the character but I do like the way Michael played Lex as it was a slow build up with many emotional disappointments that led to his eventual need for revenge🙃

[@joncarroll2040]

The Legion of Luthor

[@Guilhermemezari]

We know Gunn offered the part to Cooper in a way "giving full control" of the construction of the character to him. Trusting his potential. With Hoult I think this changed completely I don't think at least in the first movie Lex will be prominent In the plot. He has gravitas. And what I think we'll see is not.much talking more of a silent somewhat "menacing" figure. Either that or the classic and dangerous "weird Gunn" type character but still silent for sure.

[@El3ctr0Lun4]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hoult bring gravitas in any of his roles.

[@Guilhermemezari]

@@El3ctr0Lun4 I meant that Lex has gravitas.

[@RiseBeneath]

That's cool man I live 5 hours from Newburgh in place called Goshen. In Northern Indiana.

[@macdividinz2789]

Where the fucc do all these British actors come from? U watch their movies and they sound regular then see them in interviews and it’s like “are u bloody joking me you bloke”

[@bletheringfool]

You should get John Shea on and have multi lex discussions

[@NtanielCarlin]

I think Rosenbaum tried avoiding giving advice about Lex because Gunn is his friend, and even more so, doesn’t want to push against a version of the character that he is unaware of. It’s clear no one, including Rosenbaum, has read the script for the new film except for the cast. Plus, if you notice most actors that have played a previous incarnation of the same characters often avoid philosophical or character advice, it’s usually always practical stuff like “Make sure you can sit or piss in that suit, etc…” I have always found that interesting. Has there been an example or a great story, where an actor gave deep advice to another actor that played the same character? I’m interested *EDIT: Spelling

[@Phil-pb9be]

Was anyone okay with Eisenberg? I understood it as a more modern take of on a billionaire, genius, mad scientist. He was calculated, yet unhinged. He just needed to be bald….Lex Luthor is a bald character.

[@Nick64266]

Funny I never actually watched Smallville but I knew it had Lex Luthor in it. And I just realized this guy played him 😂

[@savannah7375]

He rocked the bald look imo

[@dannybohyhere]

Why didn't Gunn just write Lionel Luther into the new movie and cast Rosenbaum to play Lex's Dad! Lionel could have been an opposite of the Smallville version and actually a decent guy who wonders why his Son is turning out the way he is! he then gets killed as collateral of one of Superman's early fights and motivates Lex more to hate him.

[@chanceharper4676]

I'm happy for another take on Superman and the characters. I'm such a DC fan that I'll take every single live action adaptation I can get and Gunn does incredibly well at comic book movies. He's a fan and does the Canon justice. Yes I miss Henry, but I also accept he isn't superman anymore. Plus Snyder turned him into a broody murderer and I just hate that

[@lilchaos4792]

He's soooo handsome and formidable actor

[@Lovlee33161]

Like if you here after that glorious trailer.

[@Warren-G-Harding]

2LEX2FURIOUS

[@Strider1122]

Lex Wars!!!

[@riglodawnstar41]

He was amazing in The Great.

[@chanceharper4676]

I'm happy with Gunns movies and his cast choices. He isn't doing DEI and gender/race swapping bullshit. I'm excited for this guys Lex

[@oneluv1981]

I was gonna say before he mentioned it that he was the best Lex Luther. The only thing I didn't like was that he wasn't in the last season. He was but he wasn't.

[@Missmagazinebura]

I loved smallville

[@omegaswiper]

If Lex wants love he will give everyone in the world the superpowers of Superman through Lexcorp the way Jobs gave us iPhones. Its like Yellowjacket in Antman.

[@MinorityGamerReport]

He did that in a comic before. Didn’t end well.

[@zNowly]

From playing tony in skins to this wow

[@gh0stm0nst3r6]

The injustice arc of Lex is my favorite take on the character.

[@G0ddEityawesome]

If you can’t be superman then be his enemy

[@Patrick-wl6pw]

I see lex

[@murrynathan]

He really looks like Terry McGinnis.

[@r4yv1]

I've never realized that before, yeah you're right

[@Elidrys]

He is way better as Lex Luther than Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg was so so so wrong for Lex. I have every confidence that Nicholas Hoult will give a nuanced interesting dark powerful take on the character. He should be played like a dark Tony Stark. Cool, collected, thoughtful, and complex. A business man and inventor who sees an alien with god like powers and wants to empower himself and humanity. Never weak or insecure, but elements of jealousy and fear, driving him to challenge the superman and try to rival him in power.

[@davebrown3371]

I hope he channels Lex from Superman the Animated Series and maybe Kevin Spacey's version

[@AlphaProto]

He just has to act like he is the smartest guy in the room no matter what.

[@Effective_tool_of_Satan]

Nicholas has even the eyebrows to play Lex.

[@MervinP]

How I wish Michael Rosenbaum was casted in Superman as one of the villains? He was great and excellent as Lex Luthor.

[@MH-zg5yw]

NIcholas Hoult was GOOD in Renfield. The movie was fun.

[@jmsflora279]

Too bad they won't have a Lionel Luthor in the movie.

[@gumtreekoala987]

No one cares about him.

[@Notturnoir]

@@gumtreekoala987actually everyone loves john glover

[@1newbert]

Best Luther is Clancy Brown.

[@knightzix_01]

To me the best version of lex was the animated Series version that guy was The Worse You Know the one This LEX used to play Wally west the flash

[@dollarsaurus01]

You can’t make a Tomlette without breaking a few Greggs- oh wait wrong guy

[@henrypeters5291]

*Let's play it really over the top and big and goofy and huh* BvS flashbacks intensify.

[@luhole]

One should never despair if you're a weird looking kid, because wowie Nicholas Hoult is attractive now...