Jason Momoa did not want to bulk up for Supergirl. Momoa has built a career around playing larger-than-life characters. From playing Aquaman to Conan the Barbarian, the actor has often transformed his physique for the big screen. However, he took a very different approach to his role as Lobo in Supergirl.
Jason Momoa had a reason not to bulk up for ‘Supergirl’
The actor recently revealed that he had no intention of bulking up to match the comic book antihero’s massive frame. Instead, the production relied on prosthetics to create Lobo’s exaggerated look.
“I didn’t have to do shit!” Jason Momoa joked while discussing the role with Men’s Journal. The actor explained that even he has limits when it comes to bulking up. While fans often associate him with intense training and superhero physiques, he felt Lobo’s comic-book proportions pushed things too far.
“There was no way” he could realistically get that big, Momoa said. More importantly, he admitted he had no desire to try. “I don’t want to walk around like that,” he explained. “I can’t fit in a suit, can’t even fit through a doorway. I’m big enough.”
That doesn’t mean Momoa ignored fitness altogether. The actor has spent years building a physique that combines weight training, outdoor activities, and his long-standing passion for rock climbing. He has also followed role-specific workout plans throughout his career.
For Aquaman, Momoa trained with renowned coach Mark Twight, who previously worked on films such as 300 and Man of Steel. Twight reportedly designed workouts around Momoa’s climbing background and focused on muscle groups that needed extra attention.
Still, the actor believes some comic book physiques simply work better with movie magic. “But I want him to look that way,” Momoa said of Lobo. “You want him to have that size.”
The comments offered a rare glimpse into the practical side of superhero filmmaking. While audiences often expect actors to undergo dramatic physical transformations, studios sometimes rely on visual effects and prosthetics to bring larger-than-life characters to the screen.
For Momoa, that meant skipping the extreme bulk-up phase and focusing instead on bringing Lobo’s personality to life. As he sees it, if even Momoa thinks a character is too big, it might be time to let Hollywood handle the heavy lifting.
