Nicholas Hoult has suddenly turned into a baddie – in both senses of the word. The actor is embodying the Oxford Dictionary definition by taking on the role of Lex Luthor, one of the comic book world's most iconic antagonists, in director James Gunn's new Superman film.

When it comes to iconic superhero rivalries, few are as sharply defined as Superman and Lex Luthor. It’s strength versus smarts, godlike alien power versus human paranoia, and hope versus control. Nic

While Jon Cryer and Michael Cudlitz have recently played versions of Lex Luthor in The CW series Supergirl and Superman & Lois, respectively, Hoult recalled growing up with Hackman’s Luthor and Rosenbaum’s Lex as “the first Lex that I was more aware of.”