The casting for James Gunn’s new Superman movie has everyone talking, but a recent report reveals something even more interesting than who plays what role: who got paid what. It turns out that Nicholas Hoult, who plays the supervillain Lex Luthor, received a much higher salary than the actors stepping into the iconic shoes of Superman and Lois Lane.
According to a report from Puck News, Hoult, 35, pocketed a cool $2 million for his role as the bald baddie. Meanwhile, his co-stars David Corenswet (Clark Kent/Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) each earned $750,000. That means Hoult made more than double their combined pay.
Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet in “Superman” Courtesy Jessica Miglio / Warner Bros; Courtesy Everett Collection
So, why the big difference? Hoult isn’t new to the world of comic book films. He played Dr. Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, in four X-Men movies for 20th Century Fox before Disney took over the company. Beyond superheroes, the British actor has a strong career, with two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination to his name. This experience likely boosted his earning power.
Brosnahan, 34, also brings serious star power to Superman. She’s a well-known TV name, having won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her leading role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Critics loved her performance in the 2020 indie film I’m Your Woman. She also had a supporting part in Mark Wahlberg’s 2016 thriller Patriots Day. Plus, she lent her voice to the 2019 animated spy comedy Spies in Disguise, which featured stars like Will Smith and Tom Holland.
Corenswet, 32, has a background in television too. He worked with American Horror Story co-creator Ryan Murphy on Netflix shows like The Politician and Hollywood. More recently, he grabbed supporting roles in the disaster film Twisters and the Hulu romantic comedy The Greatest Hits, both released in 2024.
This isn’t the first time the actor playing Superman hasn’t been the highest paid. Back in the 1978 Superman film, Christopher Reeve earned $250,000, which was fair for someone who was mostly known for a daytime soap opera called Love of Life. Gene Hackman, who played Lex Luthor in that movie, made $2 million, according to Yahoo Entertainment. He even got more prominent billing than Reeve.
Maria Schell and Marlon Brando in “Superman” Courtesy Warner Brothers; Courtesy Everett Collection
But the biggest winner in 1978 was Marlon Brando. He played Jor-El, Superman’s father, appearing for only about 10 minutes on screen. Entertainment Weekly reported that Brando earned $3.7 million for just 12 days of work. He also got nearly 12% of the movie’s gross earnings. In total, Brando took home $19 million for his small role in that pioneering superhero film.
Regardless of the paychecks, Corenswet seems to be enjoying his new role. He recently made his red-carpet debut as Superman at the movie’s premiere in Hollywood, with his wife, Julia Best Warner, by his side.
Corenswet shared with People magazine in June 2025 that the news of his wife’s pregnancy with their first child came just two days after he learned he would screen-test for Superman. "For the first few months of her pregnancy, as is common, we weren’t telling anyone," he recalled. "We had these two massive secrets just between the two of us. And that was intense." Their baby, whose name they haven’t shared, was born in early 2024.
Superman is now playing in theaters everywhere.