Bill Skarsgård is no stranger to comic book films, having had minor roles in Deadpool 2 and Eternals before being the lead in The Crow. However, he clears up a rumor that he auditioned for one of DC’s most famous villains. Skarsgård is in the spotlight following his incredible depiction of Count Orlock in Robert Eggers Nosferatu. Count Orlock is one of many iconic villains Skarsgård has become famous for, including Pennywise in It and Marquis Vincent de Gramont in John Wick – Chapter 4. This often means Skarsgård is often typecast by fans and linked to villains, and last year, he was rumored to be part of joining the DCU in James Gunn’s Superman.
During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast via The Playlist, Skarsgård addressed the rumor from 2023 that he and his brother Alexander Skarsgård were competing against one another for the role of Lex Luthor in Superman. “No, no. I was at home and there were rumors that me and Alex were competing. I was like, ‘No one’s called me!’ [Laughs]” Skarsgård said. “Never read for it. Never talked to James [Gunn].” Bill Skarsgård also revealed that he and his brother Alexander have never competed against one another for a part.
The rumors of Bill and Alexander Skarsgård being considered for Lex Luthor circulated in June 2023, just one day before the news broke that David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan had been cast as Superman and Lois Lane, respectively. Nicholas Hoult, who auditioned for Superman, was officially announced as playing Lex Luthor on November 20, 2023. Hoult currently co-stars opposite Skarsgård in Nosferatu, which just cast its shadow over the box office.
Bill Skarsgård Can Be More Than a Villain

Given Bill Skarsgård’s popularity, particularly as a villain, it certainly makes sense why fans want to see him play one of DC’s iconic antagonists. With It and It Chapter Two director Andy Muschietti directing The Brave and the Bold, some have been hoping to see Skarsgård cast as the DCU Joker. While Skarsgård would be a great pick, it also feels rather uninspired. The idea that he played one villainous clown in Pennywise and, therefore, should be another in The Joker is the same mindset that made fans think Bryan Cranston should play Lex Luthor just because he already played an evil bald man on Breaking Bad.

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Skarsgård can also play more than a villain, as the movie Barbarian used audiences’ expectations of the actor playing a villain to subvert expectations. Skarsgård could make for an excellent Wally West, whose version of The Flash was recently hinted at in Creature Commandos. While Skarsgård’s last foray into playing a superhero in The Crow turned out disastrous, there is still a chance he would want to play in the DCU sandbox, particularly as they embrace exciting directors like Mike Flanagan and Luca Guadagnino. Let’s just make sure he has a better role than he did in Eternals.

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Release Date

July 11, 2025

Cast

David Corenswet
, Rachel Brosnahan
, María Gabriela De Faría
, Edi Gathegi
, Nicholas Hoult
, Frank Grillo
, Nathan Fillion
, Milly Alcock
, Sara Sampaio
, Pruitt Taylor Vince
, Skyler Gisondo
, Anthony Carrigan
, Wendell Pierce
, Beck Bennett
, Sean Gunn

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