Nicholas Hoult, known for his roles in films like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘X-Men: First Class’, recently shared a candid account of his experience auditioning for the role of Batman in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman.’
The actor talked about the moment he learned about Robert Pattinson getting the role of Batman and it wasn’t pretty. Hoult claimed that he was very disappointed by the news. However, he made it clear that he loved Pattinson’s performance as the caped crusader.
Nicholas Hoult Praises Robert Pattinson’s Batman Despite His Personal Loss
While on the HappySadPodcast, Nicholas Hoult, revealed that he was devastated to learn that Robert Pattinson had been cast in the iconic role. It hurt especially bad since the actor was scheduled to audition for it the following week. “It was an emotional blow,” Hoult admitted.
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“Your imagination doesn’t know, but you’re aware on a practical level: ‘I know I’m auditioning against Rob,'” Hoult explained. “And Rob is fantastic in that movie. That was the right decision.” Moreover, the actor also discussed the unique challenges of auditioning for high-profile roles in the age of social media.
With casting rumors circulating online before official announcements, actors often find themselves in a state of uncertainty and anticipation. “I remember a week before we did the Batman test, I was driving in my car and I had the radio on and they were talking on the radio about how Rob was going to be the new Batman,” Hoult recalled.
“And I was like, ‘It’s not confirmed yet! I’m auditioning next weekend. I was like, give me a chance,’” he added. Despite the disappointment, Nicholas ultimately accepted the decision and recognized the talent of Robert Pattinson. Additionally, He has since moved on to other projects, including his current role as Lex Luthor in James Gunn‘s upcoming Superman film.
Nicholas Hoult Thanked James Gunn For Wanting Him In The DCU
Nicholas Hoult’s journey to becoming Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s ‘Superman: Legacy’ was a unique one. After the disappointment of missing out on the Batman role, Hoult was initially considered for the titular role of Superman.
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However, Gunn and his team eventually decided that Hoult’s talents would be better suited for the iconic villain. “James Gunn is such a fantastic director and I was so excited by what he was building at DC,” Hoult shared. Moreover, going through ‘the Batman‘s auditioning process came in handy for Hoult as he didn’t have to go through it again.
“When we spoke, because they knew I had been through [the Batman] process, they didn’t want me to necessarily have to go through that again. That was very kind of them. There was an element of them being like, ‘We like you as an actor. We want you to be in this world,’” he explained. While it may have been disappointing to miss out on the role of Batman, his casting as Lex Luthor might be an even more perfect match.