Nicholas Hoult is taking on the iconic role first made famous by Gene Hackman in an all new cast for the much anticipated DC Comics’ movie Superman, released in UK cinemas in July
It has been almost 50 years since Christopher Reeve took on the iconic role of Superman and made the world believe a man can fly.
But next month, a new generation will embark on the Man of Steel’s latest adventures, when director James Gunn’s reboot of the superhero saga hits cinemas, as part of a new era from the DC Comics universe.
Rising star David Corenswet is donning the famous red cape for the eagerly awaited fantasy movie, which follows Superman’s journey to reconcile his alien Krypton heritage with his adoptive human family on Earth.
Cast as Superman’s arch enemy Lex Luthor – a role made famous by the late Gene Hackman in the original 1978 movie – for British actor Nicholas Hoult, this is the chance to join Hollywood’s elite.
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Nicholas, 35, has starred in hit movies Mad Max: Fury Road, X Men: Apocalypse, Tolkien and last year’s Oscar nominated gothic vampire hit Nosferatu.
But, after being hooked on the Superman origins TV series Smallville growing up, he feels he was destined to play Lex Luthor.
He says: “Back in 2001 when Smallville came out I was 11 or 12.
“Since then I have seen the Superman movies.”
James Gunn’s new movie takes inspiration from the 12 issue All-Star Superman fantasy comic books.
And Nicholas could not wait to replicate the bald headed Luthor from the comics, saying: “At one time I was thinking of letting my two boys shave it for me.
“I have shaved my head before for Mad Max: Fury Road. That was in-fact the last time I shaved it.”
Nicholas also grabbed the chance to “buff up” after noticing that Luthor was as muscular as Superman in the DC comics.
He says: “There’s that bit in All-Star Superman where he (Superman) talks about his muscles being real and hard work and all that. I kind of took that as a little bit of fuel for the fire.
“I do try and exercise most days. I boxed for quite a few years.”
An actor since he was three, when he appeared as Bobby in the 1996 movie Intimate Relations, starring Dame Julie Walters and Rupert Graves, a few years later Nicholas was spotted by the famous London-based Sylvia Young Theatre Agency.
His sister Rosanna and brother James were also interested in acting and he would tag along if they went to classes.
“One time, my older sister went to meet someone from Sylvia Young and they were like, ‘Well, we will represent all your kids’. So that was kind of it,” he says.
And, in 2002, aged 11, his life changed forever when he got his movie breakthrough, starring alongside Hugh Grant in the hit film About A Boy.
At first, Nicholas was reluctant to take the part, fearing his schooling would suffer. But his role as lonely schoolboy Marcus thrilled critics and helped make the movie almost £100 million at the box office.
“Doing About A Boy when I was 11, that was a big step up for me,” he says, admitting he did not expect his success to continue – especially as everyone around him warned how often child actors became troubled.
“I felt as if I would like to continue doing it, but I also had a little bit of hesitancy, because it was like ‘I don’t know if this will work’, he says.
But About A Boy was lauded by critics and, just five years later, Nicholas was cast as the lead in the hit teenage drama Skins.
The ground-breaking E4 series, which followed a group of sixth formers in Bristol, was perhaps the first of its kind to tackle issues such as mental illness, depression, eating disorders and sexuality.
And it gave Nicholas his first glimpse into the good and bad aspects of celebrity.
“I remember sitting inside a car outside Marylebone station in London. At one point, people just stood outside the car watching me,” he says.
“I remember just feeling that it was scary and I was like, ‘I don’t know about this’”.
He feared that he would spend his life being watched.
Today, Nicholas is certainly one of Britain’s most watched stars.
Since Skins, he has appeared alongside Colin Firth in fashion designer Tom Ford’s 2009 movie A Single Man, as well as appearing in the X Men film series Deadpool 2 and in the Golden Globe nominated TV comedy drama series The Great.
Recently, he appeared in a music video for The Rolling Stones and he’s provided voiceovers for children’s movies such as Watership Down and The Garfield Movie.
Nicholas says his love of acting is inherited from his distant aunt, Dame Anna Neagle, who was voted the most popular actress in Britain back in 1949.
He says: “She was a great, great aunt somehow removed. We never met. I’m not entirely fully sure how we’re connected, but that is what I’ve been told. I don’t know if it’s (acting) in my blood.
“Acting wasn’t something that I woke up one morning and did on my own accord. I was doing it and I enjoyed it and carried on.”
Outside work, Nicholas shares his life with his two sons and Californian model wife Bryan Holly.
Last November, he revealed to the world that they had secretly married, having dated since 2016.
He also has a new love – for racing Ferraris.
He says: “The fastest I drove was at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. I think we hit about 170mph on the back straight there.
“Weirdly, I was trying not to glance down because traveling at that speed you don’t really want to glance down too long, because you might miss something.
“Going in the straight line fast isn’t the worrying bit. It’s going around the corners fast, which is more scary, because that’s when things can go wrong.”
Nicholas, who has now graduated from Ferrari’s Corso Pilota driving school, says his hobby means he has to reassure film studio bosses that he is not putting himself at risk.
And he has received legal contracts from worried movie execs.
He says: “Sometimes I sign them, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I’m like, ’Well, what’s the risk here?’”
Another thrill Nicholas enjoys is ice baths.
He says: “I do love my cold plunge pool. I’ve got up to about two and a half minutes now. It is all about breathing. If you put your hands in it is a game changer.
“I try to do it most days. The first minute is the toughest because that’s when your body is like shocked. But once you go past the minute, you’re kind of almost numb to it.
“I see the benefits as it releases adrenaline. Also, mentally, I feel this kind of sharpness and clarity and all that sort of thing.
“There was one day when I got in and I glanced at the clock, sat there a bit longer then glanced again. Then I realised the hand on the clock had jammed. I had no idea how long I’d been in there!”
Once his Superman journey is over, Nicholas’ next planned movie, in 2026, How To Rob A Bank, will reunite him with his Mad Max co-star Zoe Kravitz – daughter of rock star Lenny.
Delighted with his career progress, Nicholas – whose heroes include Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Clint Eastwood and Anthony Hopkins – feels he is finally improving as an actor.
“The 30s for an actor are hopefully when the roles get really good and interesting and whatever,” he says.
“If I could go back 10 years and look now to this, I’d be thrilled.”
* Superman is released in UK cinemas Friday, July 11.
