Nicholas Hoult Shares Awkward ‘Superman’ Audition Story

Nicholas Hoult felt quite uncomfortable when he had to try out for the role of Superman, all while David Corenswet was also auditioning on the very same day.

In the forthcoming Superman movie, the 35-year-old actor will portray Lex Luther, the archenemy of the Man of Steel. Initially, he had auditioned for the role of the Man of Steel and was optimistic about his chances to play Clark Kent. However, his positive outlook changed when he crossed paths with his future co-star off-set.

During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with stand-in host Diego Luna, Nicholas shared: “It’s quite embarrassing to admit this, but yes, I did try out for the role of Superman.

“I walked out of doing one of my audition scenes, and I was like, ‘Yeah, not bad. OK.’

As I turned the corner, I found myself surrounded by numerous shadows across the studio grounds, yet a single beam of sunlight pierced through. There, seated within that golden stream, was David, seemingly soaking up the sun’s energy, much like Superman gathering his powers.

As I approached to greet him, he rose from his seat, and I found myself remarking internally, “Wow, he’s nearly an inch taller than me. Check out his hair, his strong jawline.” Then, as he began to talk, I reached out to shake his hand and thought, “His hands are larger than mine too.” And when he spoke, I noticed that his voice had a deeper tone as well.

Nicholas instinctively recognized that David would be an ideal fit for the role of Superman, and was pleased if it was indeed him who landed the part.

In a flash of realization, as our palms met, I found myself uttering, “If only you were Superman,” in sheer admiration. It was a moment of pure, uncensored awe, a feeling that resonated deep within me – “You’re just right for it,” I exclaimed. Yet, the thought that crossed my mind next was as raw and unfiltered as the words themselves: “What the hell?

In the joint interview, David also admitted their meeting was “a bit weird.”

For a considerable period, I’d held Nick in high regard as an actor. The unexpected opportunity to encounter him, with us both portraying Clark Kent, suspended from cables, and performing this particular scene – it was quite unusual, to say the least.

“It was wonderful”

As a movie connoisseur, I couldn’t hide my glee upon discovering that the talented star of “The Great” was set to remain in our upcoming production, embodying my on-screen adversary.

When I learned he’d take on Lex Luthor, I couldn’t help but think, ‘This might just be the film’s highlight, for a hero’s intrigue hinges on their formidable foe.’ I had no doubt that he’d deliver something truly exceptional.

The Best Superhero Movie of Each Year of the 1990s

1990: Darkman

The movie “Darkman” often goes unnoticed when people compile lists ranking the greatest superhero films ever made. This could be due to the fact that the character originated on screen instead of being adapted from a comic book. Additionally, the main character, portrayed by a young Liam Neeson, is labeled as a “monster” with a grotesque appearance, which might contribute to its obscurity. However, Sam Raimi’s foray into this genre was highly successful, combining elements of horror, action, and comedy to create an incredibly appealing superhero concoction.

1991: The Rocketeer

Disney had high expectations for their comic-book adaptation “The Rocketeer,” originally from Dave Stevens’ indie series. Regrettably, the movie underperformed at the box office, despite positive feedback from critics. Had it been more successful, we might have seen further adventures of stunt pilot-turned-superhero Cliff Secord (played by Billy Campbell). The film’s lackluster performance halted any plans for a franchise. However, Disney later revived the concept as an animated series for kids, introducing a female version of the Rocketeer who turns out to be Cliff’s great-granddaughter. This series was well-received by children (my daughters adored it), but unfortunately, it was also short-lived; the show ended after just one season. Sadly, The Rocketeer has yet to find sustained success in any format.

1992: Batman Returns

In a nutshell, the last Tim Burton Batman film shares similarities with the final Christopher Nolan Batman: It’s peculiar, quirky, and complex. This version of Burton’s Batman adopted an “all-in” strategy for his original Batman, adding more villains, more gloom, more gothic structures, and more profound melodrama. Keaton’s Bruce Wayne, DeVito’s Penguin, and Pfeiffer’s Catwoman were portrayed as three lost souls, each scarred by their past and seeking personal tranquility and acceptance. Known for its peculiarity compared to typical blockbusters, it is still highly engaging, largely due to Keaton’s underestimated performance and Pfeiffer’s accurately acclaimed portrayal of a complex female superhero character. The fact that this Catwoman never received her own film while Halle Berry’s did remains one of the most significant regrets in Hollywood history.

1993: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

In the time before “The LEGO Batman Movie,” the animated film “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” strongly argued that animation was the perfect format for Batman. This movie, produced by the team behind the famous “Batman: The Animated Series,” distilled what made that show exceptional – stunning visuals, smooth animations, iconic voice actors – into a nearly flawless 75-minute production. Unlike many Batman movies that are overly long and tiring, “MotP” is sleek and compact, much like a well-crafted 22-page comic book. The tragic love story between Bruce Wayne (voiced by Kevin Conroy, arguably the greatest Batman ever) and Andrea Beaumont (portrayed by Dana Delany) rivals the one between Bruce and Selina Kyle in “Batman Returns,” and the film’s central mystery carries a powerful impact (unless you spoil it by examining the movie’s action figures). Now over 30 years old, this film has aged gracefully, partly because the streamlined artwork from “TAS” – a fusion of Art Deco architecture and advanced technology – was intentionally timeless, even in 1993.

1994: The Mask

In today’s cinematic landscape, it seems like every few months brings a new blockbuster superhero film. Contrast this with the ’90s, where superheroes were often relegated to B-movies and adaptations of quirky indie comics, such as The Mask, a Dark Horse comic about an enchanted mask that grants its wearer extraordinary powers at the cost of their mental stability. Sadly, the original Stanley Ipkiss from the comics didn’t make it past the first Mask series.

The film adaptation softened the comic’s dark undertones and emphasized its whimsical protagonist, brilliantly portrayed by Jim Carrey. With his face capable of expressing a multitude of emotions even beneath layers of green makeup, The Mask’s special effects almost seemed superfluous due to Carrey’s captivating performance.

1995: Tank Girl

In the early 1990s, the initial release of “Batman” sparked a surge of superhero and comic book adaptations. However, by the late 1990s, many of these productions struggled at the box office, threatening to bring the entire genre to an end. One such failure was “Tank Girl,” based on a popular British comic series by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett. This film, released in 1995, starred Lori Petty as the title character who battles an evil corporation in a post-apocalyptic Australia. Initially, audiences found this peculiar production unappealing, but over time it has gained a dedicated fanbase. Today, “Tank Girl” is rightfully admired for its innovative visual style, dark humor, and a feminist narrative that was perhaps too avant-garde for its era.

1996: The Phantom

When The Phantom appears online (rarely), it’s often to mock Billy Zane’s purple costume, which mirrors the original Lee Falk comics, or its catchphrase “Slam evil!”. Although a superhero might need to combat evil sometimes, I don’t see an issue with this. Nevertheless, The Phantom showcases some impressive practical stunts and a charismatic performance by Zane as The Phantom, along with a young and stunningly beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones portraying an immoral pirate. I’m not particularly fond of the concluding laser battle between Zane and Treat Williams, which seems unnecessary, and the movie gives the impression of being truncated from a more complex narrative (or perhaps multiple stories by Falk). However, The Phantom has a horse and a wolf as his sidekicks, communicating through barks and growls in one scene. This surpasses anything Batman can do.

1997: Hercules

In the 1990s, particularly in the mid-’90s, there weren’t many excellent superhero movies to choose from. You wouldn’t have suggested ‘Batman & Robin’, would you? I didn’t either. Instead, let me propose ‘Hercules’. This film can be categorized as a Disney musical, an animated movie, or a contemporary retelling of the Greek legend – but fundamentally, it is a superhero story. John Musker, one of the co-directors, even referred to it as their “superhero movie”, something they wanted to create because they were both fans of comic books. It embodies most of the key elements of any great superhero narrative: Action, adventure, companions, humor, and James Woods portraying the ruler of the underworld.

1998: The Mask of Zorro

In this superhero movie prototype that sparked a trend, the storyline was modeled as a sequel to an unmade film, where the original Zorro (portrayed by Anthony Hopkins) passed his title and abilities to Antonio Banderas. Directed by Martin Campbell, who later made “Casino Royale”, the movie offered thrilling action scenes along with witty humor from Hopkins. Furthermore, Catherine Zeta-Jones made her big break in this film as the daughter of the first Zorro. Often overlooked, it remains one of the most enduring and undervalued blockbusters from the ’90s.

1999: The Matrix

Just like Hercules, The Matrix isn’t derived from a comic book, and it might not strictly fall under the category of a superhero movie due to its multifaceted genre (sci-fi, martial arts action). However, the film’s concluding scene suggests that the Wachowskis considered this film as the birth story for a new character they envisioned as a superhero – Neo (Keanu Reeves’ character). Interestingly, Neo maintains a secret identity much like Superman, with the only notable difference being that while Superman removes his glasses to save the world, Neo puts his on. (Although Neo wears sunglasses, the concept remains the same.)

2025-07-01 20:25