MOVIE NEWS – Before Nicholas Hoult steps into Lex Luthor’s shoes for DC’s Superman this summer, he was best known as Beast in the Fox-era X-Men movies—a fan-favorite among Marvel loyalists. With the mutant squad coming back for Avengers: Doomsday, speculation was wild about Hoult’s potential return. But Marvel fans might want to temper their hopes.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Superman star Nicholas Hoult addressed the much-discussed X-Men comeback in Avengers: Doomsday. Hoult, who played Beast in X-Men: First Class and its sequels, was asked if he’d reprise the beloved role. He flatly answered “No”, then shared how Kelsey Grammer’s classic take on Beast was the version he grew up with, and expressed excitement about seeing the original X-Men back together.
“Kelsey was a great Beast. He was the Beast I saw as a kid, alongside the other actors they’re bringing back—Patrick, Ian, James, and all of them. Those were the X-Men I grew up watching. I’m genuinely excited to see what Marvel does with it. It’ll be fun to see how they fold those characters into the MCU.”

After Grammer’s comic-accurate Beast appeared in The Marvels’ post-credits, fans were convinced the MCU would keep pulling from the Fox timeline. And sure, with the multiverse in play, anything is possible. But Hoult’s blunt denial is a letdown—unless, of course, he’s just keeping secrets like so many superhero actors before him. As it stands, the confirmed Avengers: Doomsday X-Men lineup includes Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Channing Tatum (Gambit), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops). Marvel’s next event movie is going all-in on the original X-Men icons.

Why Nicholas Hoult Didn’t Get to Play Superman

In a separate interview with Jake’s Takes, Superman director James Gunn discussed his search for the perfect Man of Steel. Hoult was a finalist for the role, but Gunn revealed he just didn’t fit the creative vision for Kal-El.
“A lot of casting comes down to who’s the right fit for the character. Nobody did anything wrong—Nicholas is a fantastic actor, and some might say he’s even better than David in some ways, but he just didn’t fit the Superman I pictured. That’s really why he didn’t get it.”

Gunn added that Hoult’s style is more controlled, while David Corenswet brings a looser, more dynamic presence—perfect for pairing with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. “Nicholas had great chemistry with a different Lois, but David and Rachel had the dynamic I was looking for.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly, Variety