New report reveals theSupermancast’s salaries. Rebooting the Superman franchise for theDCU,James Gunn’sSupermanintroduces a packed castof characters from all over the DC universe, from big names like Lex Luthor and the Man of Steel himself to less popular heroes like Metamorpho. Every actor leaves their signature in their portrayal, setting up an extensive arc for their DCU characters in future installments.
As reported byPuck News,Superman star David Corenswet and Lois Lane actor Rachel Brosnahan were both paid $750,000 each forSuperman, while Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult was paid $2 million.All three actors are reportedly eligible for bonuses depending ofSuperman’s box office performance. However, the exact amount for these bonuses is unknown.
What The Superman Actor Salary Report Means For The DCU Movie
It Makes Sense For Superman’s Nicholas Hoult To Have The Highest Salary
Traditionally, actor salaries depend on each actor’s popularity and filmography, not their screentime.While David Corenswet is undeniablySuperman’s main star and the face ofthe DCU’s first chapter, and even though his career had already been on the rise prior toSuperman, few of Corenswet’s previous movie and TV projects were as prominent as his DCU debut role. Meanwhile, Nicholas Hoult’s roles in theX-Menfranchise,Mad Max,Nosferatu, andThe Menuhad already made him an A-list star beforehand.
Something similar happened in the MCU. In its early days, stars like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and even Robert Downey Jr. were paid relatively modest salaries. For instance, Downey was reportedly paid $500,000 for his starring role inIron Man(viaBusiness Insider), whereas James Rhodes actor Terrence Howard was reportedly paid $4.5 million (Business Insider). Almost two decades later,Downey is receiving a paycheck of around $500 millionjust forAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars.
David Corenswet Will Likely Become A Top-Grossing Star After Superman
Image via Warner Bros.
While David Corenswet’sSupermanpayday may seem small, future DCU appearances will likely multiply his earnings. Like Henry Cavill before him,Corenswet is poised to become the face of DCon the big screen, meaning higher salaries and prestige roles outside the superhero genre are almost inevitable. Even his salary for future cameos and supporting roles may eventually tower above hisSupermanearnings.
Other superhero actors like Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt were once relatively unknown, but their careers skyrocketed after joining the MCU. Thanks to their Marvel roles, Hemsworth and Pratt now rank among Hollywood’s highest-paid stars. If Superman succeeds and the DCU builds sustained momentum,Superman’s David Corenswet will likely follow a similar trajectory, and other DCU stars may follow suit.
