NICHOLAS HOULT has been doing the rounds on red carpets across the globe to promote upcoming film Superman. And he’s done it while sporting a noticeably different look than that of the character he plays. Where Superman’s arch-nemesis is all traditional suits and a clean-shaved dome, Hoult has been rocking peroxide-blond hair and sleeveless shirts – the latter of which has revealed that the actor’s biceps are looking sharper and more toned than ever.
Hoult’s star is rising. 2024 saw him appear in Nosferatu, The Order, Juror No. 2 and The Garfield Movie, demonstrating his range and laying the groundwork for a rise into A-lister territory, beginning with his role in Superman.
Hoult has everything it takes to be one of the biggest names in Hollywood – including a willingness to undergo a physical transformation, should the role require it. In the past, he packed on some muscle for his role as Beast in the X-Men films. Then he slimmed down to play Nux in Mad Max Fury Road.
Considering his newly shredded physique, it would now appear that Hoult envisions his future roles requiring a little more brawn. So, how has the actor managed to pack on the muscle? His PT has the answer.
How Nicholas Hoult trains
Hoult’s personal trainer George Ashwell previously took Men’s Health UK through the process of shaping his client’s physique. To transform Hoult – who is naturally quite slight of frame – into the imposing mutant scientist Beast, Ashwell imposed a regime of functional lifting with an emphasis on building muscle while remaining mobile.
For Mad Max Fury Road, Hoult needed to look lean, like he was accustomed to skipping meals. But at the same time, he needed to look like a fighter, someone willing to get into a scuffle over food. With filming taking place in the isolated Namibian desert for an extended period of time, Hoult was left without any real equipment to train with, meaning he had to get creative.
“Nick always knew how to skip but he really taught himself how to skip properly for the role,” Ashwell told Men’s Health UK. “They were filming in the desert and didn’t have access to a lot of stuff so he would start his day with up to 40-minutes straight skipping, and got really good at it.”
Nicholas Hoult’s go-to full body workout
Recently, Hoult’s training focus has changed. He’s no longer trying to achieve a slimmed-down look, but is settling into a more natural physique that accentuates what are crucial for landing big roles in the film industry: his biceps.
To do so, Ashwell has implemented a regime that prioritises functional strength and mobility. Below is a sample of Hoult’s routine, detailing a high-energy, full body workout the actor does weekly.
6-8 rounds of:
Battle ropes – 1 min
Dumbbell bench press – 20 reps
Weighted lateral lunges – 20 reps
TRX rows – 8 wide reps and 8 narrow reps
Commando planks – 10 reps per arm
