Hoult's muscling in on supervillain role

IT has been almost 50 years since Christopher Reeve took on the iconic role of Superman and made the world believe a man can fly.

- BY CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

But next month, a new generation will embark on the Man of Steel's latest adventures, when director James Gunn's reboot of the superhero saga hits cinemas, as part of a new era from the DC Comics universe.

Rising star David Corenswet is wearing the famous red cape for the eagerly awaited fantasy movie, which follows Superman's journey to reconcile his alien Krypton heritage with his adoptive human family on Earth.

Cast as Superman's arch-enemy Lex Luthor - a role made famous by the late Gene Hackman in the original 1978 movie - for British actor Nicholas Hoult, this is the chance to join Hollywood's elite.

Nicholas, 35, has starred in hit movies Mad Max: Fury Road, X Men: Apocalypse, Tolkien and last year's Oscar-nominated gothic vampire hit Nosferatu.

But, after being hooked on the Superman origins TV series Smallville growing up, he feels he was destined to play Lex Luthor.