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Superman has been a key touchstone of American tradition for practically a century. Since his comedian creation in 1938, followers have adored the Man of Metal for his heroic pursuits throughout varied types of media. For many individuals internationally, Superman is most acknowledged for his storied historical past on the silver display screen. And with that in thoughts, it has been vital to search out the correct actor to steer the franchise, whether or not that is for particular person Superman movies or a complete collective shared universe of DC Comics characters.
Replace September 7, 2023: This text has been up to date by Torbjorn Frazier to replicate new additions to the pantheon of actors virtually chosen to play the Man of Metal on the massive display screen.
So, each time the Final Son of Krypton has wanted to be forged for a brand new iteration of the character, the casting search reaches far and broad, with there at all times being a listing of front-runners. Some are nice what-ifs, whereas others really feel like weird Mad Libs-esque decisions. Both method, the act of discovering the proper Superman can create anxiousness within the hearts of casting administrators. One of the best wager is to throw some kryptonite towards the wall and see what sticks. This checklist will cowl a set of names virtually forged as Superman however simply missed the reduce.
12 Nicolas Cage
Maybe probably the most well-known almost-Superman was Nicolas Cage. The wild-eyed actor with a propensity for madness was able to take over the half and redefine what it meant. Cage’s near-foray into the tremendous world is the stuff of legends. With images of a long-haired Cage donning the outfit, followers have been clamoring for greater than the transient footage on-line. The intent was for him to not solely be Superman however for his go well with to have a thoughts of its personal. The go well with in Superman Lives was virtually that of one other character. Demonstrating magical alien-like powers, it may conform and assist the hero out throughout his largest battles.
Although Nicolas Cage as Superman remained some of the recognizable “what if” eventualities in trendy Hollywood historical past, audiences had the chance to see this casting come to life in 2023. Through the predominately multiverse-hopping third act of The Flash, Cage made a shock cameo look because the Man of Metal. Whereas the hypothetical Superman Lives won’t ever actually see the sunshine of day, followers of the eccentric actor may have a minimum of this transient position to visualise what the movie may have appeared like.
11 Ben Affleck
Earlier than he was Batman, Ben Affleck virtually performed Superman. Kevin Smith wrote the script for Superman Lives, and on the time, he wrote the a part of Superman with Affleck in mind. The 2 had beforehand collaborated on Mallrats and Chasing Amy and have been about to begin work on Dogma. Whereas the studio ultimately went with Nicolas Cage, Affleck and Superman would stay related for years.
Affleck would play George Reeves within the movie Hollywoodland. George Reeves performed Superman within the widespread Adventures of Superman sequence earlier than his tragic dying. Affleck was then approached by Warner Bros. to direct Man of Metal, however he handed on it. He would then later be a part of the DCEU as Batman in Batman V. Superman: Daybreak of Justice, the place he fought Superman. It’s attention-grabbing to suppose there’s a multiverse on the market the place Affleck performed Superman as an alternative of Batman or one the place Superman and Batman struggle they usually each seem like Ben Affleck.
10 Will Smith
Will Smith was Warner Bros.’s best choice to play Superman within the 2000s and was even despatched a script to peruse in anticipation of the position. Ultimately, although, it didn’t work out. Why? In response to Smith, the script was all he wanted to see. In a 2008 interview with MTV, he defined, “The final Superman I bought provided, the script got here, and I used to be like, ‘There isn’t a method I am enjoying Superman!”
As a substitute of donning the cape with this iconic comedian e-book position, the actor wound up taking a number one position within the area of interest superhero movie Hancock in 2008 as an try and enter the world of that style. In the identical MTV interview, the actor spoke about how the extra grounded and darker tones of that movie have been extra up his alley as an actor than the final word pure hero. Smith finally although took a component within the larger DC Universe, granted as a shades-of-grey-based lead character in 2016’s Suicide Squad.
9 Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser was one other actor who was within the combine to tackle the position of Superman within the 2000s. Earlier than what finally turned Superman Returns, a script for a reboot of the character, titled Superman: Flyby, was written by J.J. Abrams and was lined as much as be one of many latest and largest reboots of the franchise but. And with that in thoughts, Fraser was thought-about to be a main front-runner earlier than the Abrams script was scrapped in lieu of a unique adaptation of Superman.
Fraser, for a time, was thought-about a stalwart of Hollywood earlier than the actor pale out of the limelight. Nonetheless, together with his newest profession resurgence, it’s not exhausting to know why he’d be seen as a possible Man of Metal. Although even with stated resurgence, the actor has nonetheless but to search out luck inside the DC Universe, with Fraser being a part of the finally scrapped Batgirl movie.
8 Robert Redford
The 1978 incarnation of Superman was recognized for its wide-ranging and eccentric roster of potential casting decisions. Whereas names like Burt Reynolds turned down the half, it was Robert Redford who turned heads as a candidate. Apparently, Redford rejected a big sum of cash for the position, however a potential run because the Man of Metal would have been a serious change within the trajectory of Redford himself, too. The considered the heartbreaking actor donning the go well with and flashing a smile could be sufficient to make Lois Lane soften. Based mostly on his physique of labor, it would be exhausting to see Redford in that sort of position. But when the actor finally determined to tackle the position of Superman, there is a good likelihood it could’ve been a memorable efficiency.
7 Paul Newman
Thought of to be some of the acclaimed actors of the mid-to-late twentieth century, Redford’s frequent co-star Paul Newman virtually notched the accolade of showing in one other revered basic in 1978’s Superman. Newman was really approached to play any of the three male leads in Superman himself, the character’s father, Jor-El, and arch-nemesis Lex Luthor.
Although within the hypothetical that Paul Newman portrayed the Final Son of Krypton, it might be argued that his efficiency would’ve painted a brand new mild onto the franchise as an entire. Whereas Christopher Reeve was a relative unknown on the time of casting, the potential draw of a Superman moviemay’ve been absolutely the star energy that Newman had on the time of the movie’s launch. Paul Newman was round 30 years older than Reeves, which implies that the characterization of Clark Kent and Superman would’ve been most drastically totally different from what audiences noticed on the massive display screen.
6 Nick Nolte
Superman wanting slightly haggard? That’s what folks may have stated if Nick Nolte hadn’t tanked his personal audition and donned the cape for this 1978 half. In response to Nolte, the half was his to attempt for, however his enthusiasm simply wasn’t there. He knew earlier than the day was over that he didn’t need the position on his resume. Nolte finally would’ve solely signed on for a selected take on the character: “Oh, they have been all in favour of me, however I turned them off by saying that I might solely do it if I may play him as a schizophrenic. That is sabotage. It could have been very unusual to play that.”
Finally, based mostly on the kind of actor Nolte is and the attitude that will’ve pushed him in direction of the characters, it is in all probability for the perfect that he did not find yourself enjoying the purely heroic Superman. Nolte would be a part of one other DC Universe, the place he performed the villain of David Banner in Ang Lee’s Hulk.
5 D.J Cotrona
D.J. Cotrona was really forged as Superman. The actor was set to play the position in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal, which was set to introduce the Justice League on movie in 2009. Cotrona did a fancy dress take a look at and all the things, however the venture was ultimately scrapped because of the manufacturing delays from the 2007 to 2008 Author’s Strike and adjustments in capturing places from Australia to Canada.
The concept was that if Justice League: Mortal have been profitable, the assorted heroes could be spun off into their very own movies, and it seemingly that Cotrona would lead his personal Superman movie. Cotrona would later be a part of the DC Universe, enjoying the older Pedro in each Shazam! and Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The connection is particularly humorous as not solely is he a part of a superhero staff just like the Justice League, however through the Nineteen Forties, DC Comics sued the unique Shazam (then referred to as Captain Marvel) writer, Fawcett Comics, claiming the character was too much like Superman.
4 Joe Manganiello
Through the casting course of for the Zack Snyder-directed Man of Metal, Joe Manganiello was thought-about to be a main front-runner to grow to be the Superman to steer the then-newly forming DCEU. This reached the purpose the place the actor was having conferences with Zack Snyder himself and different producers connected to the movie. Although his casting finally by no means got here to be, and it seems that potential scheduling conflicts with the HBO sequence True Blood have been the primary impetus for it falling by.
Manganiello would’ve been probably the most bodily imposing actor to play Superman if he was forged, which might’ve introduced completely totally different instructions to the characterization of the Final Son of Krypton. Regardless of lacking out on enjoying Superman, the actor made transient appearances within the DCEU because the villainous Deathstroke.
3 Josh Harnett
Josh Harnett was thought-about for the position of Superman twice. The primary was when director Wolfgang Peterson was set to helm a Batman vs. Superman film in 2004, which notably was seeking to forged Christian Bale as Batman earlier than he would ultimately land the position in Batman Begins. Whereas that venture by no means went anyplace, ultimately, one other Superman movie written by J.J. Abrams and set to be directed by Brett Ratner entered improvement.
The film was referred to as Superman Flyby, and Harnett was once more one of many actors thought-about for the position. The movie didn’t come to move, however it’s attention-grabbing that two separate Superman initiatives within the early 2000s thought-about Harnett to play the position of Superman.
2 Chris Pratt
In what might be thought-about probably the most “out of the field” potential casting choice for Superman, Chris Pratt auditioned and was thought-about to play the Final Son of Krypton. This shocking audition selection is additional extrapolated by the notion that this was for 2006’s Superman Returns, which was nonetheless at a time when the actor was generally known as a comedic reduction determine earlier than turning into the buff motion star he’s as we speak.
If he finally was forged within the movie, the trajectory of his life as an actor more than likely would’ve been fairly totally different. Although from his perspective, a minimum of, Pratt has come to peace with not being forged as Superman due to what it meant for the journey of his profession path. And with the ample quantity of main man roles the star has acquired up to now decade, it is exhausting to argue that Pratt would’ve been higher suited to play the Man of Metal all the best way again in 2006.
1 Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult has had his fair proportion of shut calls with widespread movie roles lately. The younger actor notably was the runner-up to Robert Pattinson in enjoying the titular character in 2022’s The Batman. However extra lately, Hoult was extremely publicized to be one of many few finalists display screen testing for the position of Clark Kent within the upcoming Superman: Legacy, a movie meant to relaunch the DC Universe on the silver display screen.
However very like his time within the mixture of DC’s different culturally iconic superheroes, Hoult narrowly missed out on the half to David Corenswet. Although it will not be the tip of the street for Hoult in Superman: Legacy, because the actor has additionally been rumored in commerce publications to be within the combine to play the Man of Metal’s arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. And with the vary that Hoult has proven throughout his profession, it is not a shock that he could be in consideration for each the primary hero and villain of this larger universe.
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