Nicholas Hoult has praised James Gunn following the filmmaker’s exit from his leadership role at DC Studios. The actor shared his thoughts on their collaboration as the studio prepares for a new phase.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Hoult spoke about his admiration for Gunn and their relationship outside of work. He also talked about his friendship with producer Peter Safran. Hoult said, “James is, you know, one of my favorite collaborators. He’s an incredible creative, and he and Peter are, like, wonderful friends of mine as well.”
His comments come days after Gunn and Safran stepped down as co-heads of DC Studios after four years. Their departure will take effect on December 1, 2026, with former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham set to become the studio’s president and chief creative officer. However, the two filmmakers will continue working on projects already in development.
Hoult looks ahead to Man of Tomorrow after Superman success
Hoult first joined the DCU as Lex Luthor in Gunn’s Superman, which premiered in July 2025. The film featured David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. It grossed approximately $618.7 million worldwide and introduced audiences to the new DCU.
Gunn’s departure has raised questions about the studio’s future direction, particularly its upcoming projects. Nicholas Hoult will return as Luthor in Man of Tomorrow, the next Superman sequel. Gunn is writing and directing the sequel, which will follow Superman and Luthor as they form an unlikely alliance against Brainiac. Lars Eidinger will portray the iconic DC villain.
Hoult also shared his enthusiasm for the sequel, making it clear that he is proud of what the team has accomplished so far. He added, “I’m really proud of what we created with the first Superman movie, and I’m so excited for people to see Man of Tomorrow as well because I think we’ve made something really special. So I’m looking forward to that.”
Man of Tomorrow will arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.