
‘Superman' director James Gunn reveals why Nicholas Hoult lost Superman role: ‘He just didn't fit it'
In a recent interview with Jake's Takes, Superman director James Gunn shed light on one of the most debated casting decisions in the DC Universe—why Nicholas Hoult was not chosen to play the Man of Steel.
According to Gunn, the choice had less to do with talent and more to do with fit and on-screen chemistry.
'Most people [auditioning for Superman] weren't doing anything wrong,' Gunn said. 'They just didn't fit how I envisioned this Superman to be.'
Hoult, who was considered a frontrunner for the role, was praised by Gunn for his acting abilities. 'Some might say he's better than David in certain ways,' the director acknowledged, referring to David Corenswet, who ultimately landed the part. 'But he just didn't fit the role. That's why he didn't get that.'
Gunn elaborated on the nuances that defined his vision of Superman, describing Hoult's performance as 'more controlled,' whereas Corenswet brought a 'looser, more relaxed dynamic' that better aligned with the emotional tone of the film. This distinction became especially important during screen tests with actress Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane.
One of the key components of the audition process involved assessing the chemistry between potential Clarks and Loises.
Gunn explained, 'Nicholas had a really good chemistry with another Lois who was less controlled,' but Corenswet's energy, he said, 'meshed more naturally with Brosnahan's grounded take on Lois Lane.'
While Hoult didn't walk away with the red cape, he remains very much part of the DC Universe. He has been cast as Lex Luthor, Superman's iconic nemesis—an outcome that Gunn believes is ultimately more fitting.
'That's a role that suits him perfectly,' the director added, hinting at big things to come for Hoult's version of the legendary villain.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
9 hours ago
- Mint
‘Superman' director James Gunn reveals why Nicholas Hoult lost Superman role: ‘He just didn't fit it'
'Superman' is all set to fly into theatres on July 11. Before that the director and DC's head honcho, James Gunn sat down and explained why Nicholas Hoult did not get the role of the caped crusader. In a recent interview with Jake's Takes, Superman director James Gunn shed light on one of the most debated casting decisions in the DC Universe—why Nicholas Hoult was not chosen to play the Man of Steel. According to Gunn, the choice had less to do with talent and more to do with fit and on-screen chemistry. 'Most people [auditioning for Superman] weren't doing anything wrong,' Gunn said. 'They just didn't fit how I envisioned this Superman to be.' Hoult, who was considered a frontrunner for the role, was praised by Gunn for his acting abilities. 'Some might say he's better than David in certain ways,' the director acknowledged, referring to David Corenswet, who ultimately landed the part. 'But he just didn't fit the role. That's why he didn't get that.' Gunn elaborated on the nuances that defined his vision of Superman, describing Hoult's performance as 'more controlled,' whereas Corenswet brought a 'looser, more relaxed dynamic' that better aligned with the emotional tone of the film. This distinction became especially important during screen tests with actress Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane. One of the key components of the audition process involved assessing the chemistry between potential Clarks and Loises. Gunn explained, 'Nicholas had a really good chemistry with another Lois who was less controlled,' but Corenswet's energy, he said, 'meshed more naturally with Brosnahan's grounded take on Lois Lane.' While Hoult didn't walk away with the red cape, he remains very much part of the DC Universe. He has been cast as Lex Luthor, Superman's iconic nemesis—an outcome that Gunn believes is ultimately more fitting. 'That's a role that suits him perfectly,' the director added, hinting at big things to come for Hoult's version of the legendary villain.


Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
"He just didn't fit the role": James Gunn on why Nicholas Hoult wasn't cast as Superman
James Gunn, the head of DC Studios, shared why Nicholas Hoult wasn't cast as Superman in the superhero film James Gunn , the head of DC Studios, shared why Nicholas Hoult wasn't cast as Superman in the superhero film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gunn admitted that the Nosferatu star is "a great actor" but he merely "didn't fit the role" of Clark Kent. The 'Guardians of the Galaxy' director thought he was a bit too "controlled" for the part as opposed to David Corenswet . "You know, Nick Hoult auditioned for Superman. He's a great actor. I mean, some might say he's better than David in certain ways, but he just didn't fit the role, and that's why he didn't get that," Gunn said. "As much as you can transform yourself as a person, Nick was just more controlled," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gunn further shared that Hoult participated in chemistry tests with other actresses who were considered for the role of Lois Lane. "One of the things that we were also doing was mixing and matching Lois' and Clarks when we were auditioning them, and so I wanted to make sure that we had that chemistry right," he said. "And the truth is, Nick, who is a more controlled actor, had really good chemistry with another Lois that was less controlled, so they were opposites." Ultimately, he settled on casting Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois because of their opposite on-screen chemistry. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Gunn added, "David had better chemistry with Rachel [Brosnahan] because she's a very controlled actor, and David is a little bit more, you know, loose, and that creates a different type of dynamism on-screen," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hoult was in talks to star in the next Superman. However, he ultimately joined Gunn's new DC universe as villain Lex Luthor. Hoult and Corenswet recalled their encounter on set while auditioning for the film on the same day during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as per the outlet. "I walked out of doing one of my audition scenes, and I was like, 'Yeah, not bad. OK.' And I walked around the corner, and there were lots of shadows on the studio lot and then one ray of sunshine," Hoult said. "David had taken a seat in this ray of sunshine and was sitting there, charging up from the sun like Superman does, getting his power.... And in that moment, whilst we were shaking hands, I was like, 'I'd be happy if this guy was Superman. ' I was like, 'You're perfect for it'," as per The Hollywood Reporter.


Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Marshall Major V review: Iconic design, impressive battery
Rating: 3.5 / 5 'I wanna rock-n-roll all night, and party every day,' these words by Kiss prove to be the motto for Marshall's new Major V headphones that promise to go on for days and nights. Marshall has been a popular brand amongst both artists and music lovers for years. Major V is the latest iteration in the company's iconic headphone lineup. These box-shaped compact headphones carry forward Marshall's iconic rock ' n ' roll-inspired design language while promising 100+ hours of wireless playtime. The fifth generation of Marshall's Major headphones series also comes with improvements over its predecessor, like a longer battery life. But in a market flooded with mid-range audio options, can the Major V compensate for its Rs 14,000 price tag? We spent weeks putting these on-ear headphones through various everyday scenarios, and here's what we found. Design From the very first look, the Major V shows the familiar Marshall aesthetic with the black vinyl texture, the iconic script logo, and the metal accents that scream rock 'n' roll heritage. The squarish earcups connect to the headband with a wire and metal accents, which can be pulled to adjust the size of the headphones to fit different head sizes. The power button, as well as the 3.5 mm audio and USB-C charging ports, are placed on the right cup while the left one holds the customisable M-button. At just 186g, the Major V headphones feel lightweight, and the on-ear fit feels snug. During a Delhi Metro ride, the headphones didn't feel very bulky and we were able to wear them easily for a few hours, without any hiccup. The earcups have a leather touch and feel soft on the ears. However, after 2-3 hours of constant usage, we noticed signs of fatigue, which is not a deal breaker, as it is common with most headphones. After a 3-hour-long GTA Online session with friends, the ear pads began pressing uncomfortably. The fabric covering felt pleasant initially, but the clamping force became noticeable as our ears started sweating and aching. The sleek, foldable design of the headphones came in handy during a recent weekend trip as it didn't take up much space in the backpack. These headphones don't come with a carrying pouch, but their rugged build saves them from scratches. Audio Performance and Features The Major V's 40mm dynamic drivers deliver what Marshall calls their "signature sound," and it's immediately recognisable. When we listened to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," in default settings, the Major V delivered that classic Marshall amplifier rumble with punchy, guitar-focused and rock-oriented audio. In tracks with a lot of electric guitars and vocals, the tuning favours the mids. When we played Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' Freddie Mercury's voice came through very clearly, and Brian May's guitar sounded crisp and full of its original tone. The bass is there, but it's not as strong as the mid-range. Kendrick Lamar's 'They're Not Like Us' didn't have the same punch in your chest as bass-heavy headphones may produce. However, we could hear more of the small production details. The headphones' default setup suits genres like rock, folk and vocals more, but may disappoint fans of electronic music who want deeper bass and thumps. The M-button is also a real time-saver in everyday use. We set it to Spotify Tap, so a quick double-press started a new playlist instantly. This feature can be great for changing songs during a workout. The voice assistant feature also worked smoothly with both Google Assistant and Siri, even when there was background noise. The EQ presets on the M-button added useful options. We switched from the default Marshall tone to a balanced setting for Tyla's 'Water', and the headphones offered a better vibe. We also tried the headphones for gaming and found it easy to pinpoint the direction of footsteps. Engine sounds felt more immersive in racing games, and explosions and action scenes stood out during GTA Online. Battery Life and Connectivity The Major V delivers on its claim of over 100 hours of battery life. After days with video calls, music streaming, and GTA Online sessions, we didn't need to recharge them for two straight weeks. The wireless charging option is a nice bonus at this price. Bluetooth connectivity also stayed solid the whole time we tested them. Plus, with LE Audio support, the headphones remain ready for upcoming audio standards and enable Auracast audio sharing capabilities. Charging via USB-C that comes in the box takes about three hours for the battery to fully charge, which feels fair given how big the battery is. Just keep in mind that there's no fast-charge option for these headphones for situations where you need a quick boost before you're leaving the house. Verdict To sum it up, the Major V delivers the familiar Marshall sound in a durable, foldable design that easily lasts over 100 hours on a single charge. At Rs 14,000, it's a strong value for rock and guitar fans, with handy extras like a customisable M-button, wireless charging, and future-ready connectivity. While its on-ear fit and focused sound may not suit every audiophile, especially bass or EDM lovers, it's a reliable, long-lasting choice for those who prioritise longer battery life over precision. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now