Nicholas Hoult surpasses 'Superman' lead David Corenswet: Here's how

Nicholas Hoult surprised fans with his paycheck for James Gunn's Superman despite not playing the titular hero.

As per a report by Matthew Belloni for Puck News, Hoult earned about $2 million as the villain Lex Luthor, while his co-stars, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, made just $750,000 each.

This strategy used by DC mirrors Marvel’s early days, investing in rising talent instead of A-listers so that the stars grow with the franchise. For instance, Marvel paid Robert Downey Jr. $500,000 for Iron Man (2008) and $4.5 million to the supporting actor, Terrence Howard.

According to Belloni, director James Gunn has “a knack for finding people who become huge stars.”

The pay gap is not entirely shocking. Hoult, 35, is a proven star, having played Hank McCoy in the X-Men franchise and delivering a standout performance in Nosferatu alongside Lily-Rose Depp.

Notably, with two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy award, Hoult’s reputation in the industry justified the higher salary.

Still, Corenswet’s $750,000 salary tops Henry Cavill’s $300,000 for Man of Steel (2013). Both Brosnahan and Corenswet are expected to earn more as the film makes more at the box office.

Superman is already a hit, earning $55 million on opening day and projected to make $115 million on the weekend.