With Superman in full swing, director James Gunn and star Nicholas Hoult have revealed their inspirations on the upcoming DC film.
Gunn said he was asked by someone on the social media platform Threads what his inspirations – aside from the iconic Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner films – are for Superman. He elaborated further on Instagram, revealing several sources beyond the Reeve/Donner films and Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s graphic novel All-Star Superman which he has referenced numerous times. Among his inspirations are Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Kingdom Come – which is where the new S-sigil comes from, the Max Fleischer animated serials from the 1940s, Superman: The Animated Series, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Superman for All Seasons and more.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Lq_v8PoMl/?img_index=1
Hoult, meanwhile, was a guest on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast where the two Lex Luthors bonded over their shared role. Rosenbaum portrayed Lex on Smallville, chronicling Lex’s descent into villainy for seven of the series’ ten seasons before returning for a guest appearance in its series finale. Hoult actually revealed to Rosenbaum that his portrayal of Lex was the first Hoult had ever seen of the character and had a huge affect on him.
“I think the first ever Lex I saw was you… Since I’ve seen Richard Donner’s movies and all the other ones and kind of seen some of the other performances, but you’re like the one. I love [your portrayal], it’s the best …You inhabit him with such depth and charm. And then … that ability to switch, which makes him dangerous and formidable and a great opponent. I just loved what you did.”
2 Lex’s in one room!
Nicholas Hoult and his realness makes this one of our favorite interviews. Can’t wait for Round 2.
🧩🧩🧩𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙧 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣👉 https://t.co/avGbrCez66#insideofyoupodcast #nicholashoult #michaelrosenbaum #lexluthor @NicholasHoult pic.twitter.com/gneGYmE7Di
— Inside Of You Podcast with Michael Rosenbaum (@insideofyoupod) March 5, 2024
As for Hoult’s inspiration, he also pointed to All-Star Superman, particularly a moment where Lex Luthor is working out as a means to naturally gain strength and muscle as opposed to Superman just being given it through his Kryptonian heritage. “I have been working out,” he told Rosenbaum. “No, you know what, there’s that bit in All-Star Superman where he talks about his muscles being real and like hard work and all that. I kind of took that as a little bit of like fuel for the fire.”
Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.
Superman stars David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern/Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, María Gabriela De Faría as The Engineer and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.
Superman will be released on July 11th, 2025.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
