Jason Momoa Breaks Silence on Skipping His Usual Muscle-Building Transformation for ‘Supergirl’
Jason Momoa is known for going all-in when preparing for major roles, but the actor decided to take a different path for his upcoming DC appearance as Lobo in Supergirl. Instead of spending months trying to build an even larger body, Momoa admitted that the character’s extreme comic book size was simply too unrealistic to achieve naturally.
The actor recently explained his decision during an interview with Men’s Journal, saying that he chose not to chase Lobo’s massive comic appearance through physical training. According to Momoa, the film’s production team used prosthetics and other movie techniques to create the intimidating look fans expect from the character.
“I didn’t have to do shit!” Momoa joked while talking about his transformation for the role. The actor explained that while he has pushed his body to impressive limits for previous projects, Lobo’s exaggerated size was something different.
Momoa said there was no realistic way for him to become as huge as the comic version of the character. “There was no way” he could reach that level, and he also made it clear that he did not want to maintain a body that large in everyday life.
“I don’t want to walk around like that,” Momoa said. “I can’t fit in a suit, can’t even fit through a doorway. I’m big enough.”
The decision marks a change from some of Momoa’s earlier roles. The actor became famous for playing physically demanding characters, including Aquaman in the DC films and Conan in Conan the Barbarian. Those roles required intense training and major changes to his physique.
However, Momoa explained that his approach to fitness has always been about balance. Outside of traditional workouts, the actor has a long history with activities like rock climbing, which has helped shape his athletic build. For his role as Aquaman, he worked with trainer Mark Twight, who was also known for preparing actors for films like 300 and Man of Steel.
Even though Momoa avoided extreme bulking, he still wanted Lobo to look as powerful as possible. He explained that the goal was not to make the character smaller but to use filmmaking tools to achieve the right comic book appearance.
“But I want him to look that way,” Momoa said. “You want him to have that size.”
His comments highlight how superhero movies often combine real training with visual effects, makeup, and practical effects to create characters that are impossible to fully recreate in real life.
In Supergirl, Momoa plays Lobo, a famous alien bounty hunter from DC Comics. The film stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, who travels across the galaxy on a dangerous mission driven by revenge. The cast also includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and David Corenswet.
Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, Supergirl is part of the new DC Universe created by DC Studios leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran. The movie is inspired by the comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely.
The film was developed after Gunn and Safran reshaped DC’s movie plans, with Alcock being chosen to introduce the new version of Supergirl after her appearance in Superman. Production took place in England and Scotland throughout 2025.
Supergirl premiered in Brooklyn on June 22, before its worldwide theatrical release. While reviews have been mixed, many viewers have praised Milly Alcock’s performance and are especially interested in seeing Momoa’s take on the fan-favorite Lobo.
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