Jason Momoa Discusses Skipping His Usual Muscle-Building for ‘Supergirl’
Jason Momoa is recognized for his intense preparation for significant roles, but he has chosen a different approach for his upcoming portrayal of Lobo in ‘Supergirl’. Instead of dedicating months to building an even more muscular physique, Momoa acknowledged that the character’s exaggerated comic book size is unrealistic to achieve naturally.
In a recent interview with Men’s Journal, the actor shared his reasoning, stating that he opted not to pursue Lobo’s massive comic appearance through rigorous physical training. Momoa revealed that the film’s production team utilized prosthetics and various cinematic techniques to create the imposing look that fans anticipate from the character.
“I didn’t have to do shit!” Momoa humorously remarked regarding his transformation for the role. He elaborated that while he has pushed his body to impressive limits for past projects, Lobo’s exaggerated size posed a different challenge.
Momoa expressed that there was no feasible way for him to attain the same size as the comic version of Lobo. “There was no way” he could reach that level, and he emphasized that he did not wish to maintain such a large physique in his daily life.
“I don’t want to walk around like that,” Momoa stated. “I can’t fit in a suit, can’t even fit through a doorway. I’m big enough.”
This decision marks a departure from some of Momoa’s previous roles. The actor gained fame for portraying physically demanding characters, such as Aquaman in the DC films and Conan in ‘Conan the Barbarian’. These roles necessitated intense training and significant changes to his physique.
However, Momoa clarified that his fitness philosophy has always focused on balance. Beyond traditional workouts, he has a longstanding passion for activities like rock climbing, which have contributed to his athletic build. For his role as Aquaman, he collaborated with trainer Mark Twight, who is also known for preparing actors for films like ‘300’ and ‘Man of Steel’.
Although Momoa avoided extreme bulking, he still aimed for Lobo to appear as powerful as possible. He noted that the objective was not to downsize the character but to leverage filmmaking tools to achieve the desired comic book aesthetic.
“But I want him to look that way,” Momoa remarked. “You want him to have that size.”
His insights underscore how superhero films often blend real training with visual effects, makeup, and practical effects to create characters that are impossible to fully replicate in reality.
In ‘Supergirl’, Momoa plays Lobo, a notorious alien bounty hunter from DC Comics. The film features Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, who embarks on a perilous mission across the galaxy fueled by revenge. The cast also includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and David Corenswet.
Directed by Craig Gillespie and penned by Ana Nogueira, ‘Supergirl’ is part of the new DC Universe established by DC Studios leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran. The movie draws inspiration from the comic series ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ by Tom King and Bilquis Evely.
The film was developed following Gunn and Safran’s reimagining of DC’s cinematic plans, with Alcock selected to introduce the new iteration of Supergirl after her appearance in Superman. Filming took place in England and Scotland throughout 2025.
‘Supergirl’ premiered in Brooklyn on June 22, ahead of its global theatrical release. While reviews have been mixed, many viewers have praised Milly Alcock’s performance and are particularly eager to see Momoa’s interpretation of the beloved Lobo.
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