I’m so excited to see one DC Universe actor play their perfect role after previously being in the running for Superman and Batman. With the DC Universe timeline just starting to kick off, the subject of castings is a topic of focus for fans in a major way. With so many big DC roles up for grabs, seeing who gets to play what is naturally a fascinating subject.

This can be especially true when it comes to actors who already have history in the superhero genre, which plenty of DCU actors can already boast. In fact, one DCU actor’s role is all the more exciting to note given both the roles they have previously played in the superhero genre’s history, and those they just missed out on.

Nicholas Hoult Auditioned For Batman & Superman Roles

The DC Universe’s Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult is now firmly locked in as the Superman movie villain, but things almost went very differently. In the build-up to Hoult netting the DCU role, the actor also tried out for both Superman and Batman, though others would end up taking both of these roles.

Hoult has spoken multiple times about initially auditioning for the DCU’s Superman role, and meeting David Corenswet on-set in an interaction that left him feeling as though the latter would be a stellar Superman. It seems Hoult wasn’t alone in this mindset, since Corenswet would later go on to be confirmed as the newest live-action Superman casting.

While his DCU Superman audition would lead to him getting the role of Lex Luthor, Hoult also tried out for The Batman‘s Dark Knight beforehand, as the actor discussed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Hoult even mentions that his audition came after some had begun to state Robert Pattinson had already gotten the role, despite this evidently not being the case at the time.

Ultimately, this path still led to a major superhero movie role with Lex Luthor, but it’s interesting to note the trajectory that things took. This is doubly true given it currently appears Hoult is set to very much nail the role of the iconic decades-old DC villain, especially given the actor’s on-screen history.

I Think Nicholas Hoult Could Have Worked As Batman Or Superman – But He’s A Better Lex Luthor

Over the years, Nicholas Hoult has effectively played, among other roles, a kind-hearted scientist with a bestial form, the zombie lead of a rom-com, and a deeply troubled King Peter III of Russia. As such, I think Nicholas Hoult’s acting history demonstrates effectively that he has the kind of range that would have made him work as Batman or Superman.

However, it’s arguable that there’s a little more room for the actor to demonstrate his talents at making characters that could have more easily totally lost audiences work – as well as making audiences invested in characters almost despite themselves – when it comes to Luthor. As such, it seems like this is a perfect role in many ways.

It’s worth stating that the likes of Juror #2 have proved the actor’s capacity for grounded performances. However, roles like Tyler Ledford in The Menu, Peter III in The Great, or even further back with 2015’s Kill Your Friends show Hoult’s striking talents at taking an unlikable character, and somehow giving them charm.

Given the matter of how audiences find Lex Luthor will play a big role in defining their reception to Superman, this particular skill seems this could be crucial for the DCU movie. Indeed, from what we’ve seen of the film so far in terms of previews, it already appears Hoult’s casting will be key here in more ways than one.

Superman’s Previews Have Already Shown How Good Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor Is Set To Be

With Superman now close on the horizon, we’ve gotten plenty of glimpses at the DCU’s Lex Luthor, and they universally paint a hopeful picture of what’s to come with the character’s role in the story. Superman‘s Luthor appears just as egotistical and smug as his conventional comic counterparts, but in a way that makes for undeniably compelling viewing.

Whether it’s telling Superman his dog is ugly or waltzing into the Fortress of Solitude in black sunglᴀsses and a fur-lined coat, Nicholas Hoult’s Lex seems to balance feeling like an adaptation of the comic source material with being his own distinct take on the character. This is promising for Superman itself, but also for far more than just that.

Given Luthor is likely a long-term figure in the DC Universe, this bodes well for after Superman, too, since it opens up the potential for the character to have a continual impact on the franchise as it grows and changes. Ultimately, letting the franchise have a long-term antagonist who is played effectively opens up a lot of story avenues and ways for the DCU to flesh out its world.

While I’ll always be curious about what Nicholas Hoult’s Superman and Batman would have been like – especially since I think he could have done either justice – the fact we get to live in a world where the actor plays one of the most iconic DC villains of all time in the DC Universe is perhaps an even bigger win. However, we can only definitely know this after Superman itself releases.