Superman: Man of Steel Gets Sucker Punched

Share on Facebook posted 10-05-10 by Max Tedaldi

Despite all the rumors that Superman: Man of Steel was going to be directed by Christopher Nolan’s younger brother Jonathan, the project is movie forward with Zack Snyder firmly behind the helm.

The screenplay is already essentially finished (David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan aggressively attacked writing duties) and Synder is planning on moving on to the project as soon as his latest film Sucker Punch finishes post-production. Synder said in a recent interview with Deadline.com, “I’ve been a big fan of the character for a long time, he’s definitely the king of all superheroes, he’s the one. It’s early yet, but I can tell you that what David (Goyer) and Chris (Nolan) have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern. I’ve always felt he was kind of awesome. I’ll finish ‘Sucker Punch‘ and get right at it.”

Synder overcame a directing short-list that included, Tony Scott, Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebesman, Duncan Jones, Darren Aronofsky, and the aforementioned Jonathan Nolan. I’m definitely looking forward to Snyder getting his 300/Watchmen mits on a superhero who is essentially the opposite of the supes he has taken on in the past: Perfect! With Zod set to be the villain in the new film, the next question that naturally arises is the biggest of all . . .

Who Should Play Superman?

Superman is a notoriously difficult character to portray on the big screen. The actor who takes up the mantle as the “Man of Steel” not only has to look the part, but has to essentially play two characters. Superman is the stoic “everything is going to be alright now that I’m here (I’m invulnerable after all)” superhero of all superheroes, and Clark Kent is the bumbling, awkward, bespectacled writer for the Daily Planet. So which actors could handle the role of the everyone’s favorite Kryptonian? With a few restrictions this list becomes surprisingly short. I began with dark-haired actors under the age of 50 who could actually act (I know that hair can be easily changed on set, but for some reason I think that it is integral for the actor to have naturally dark hair). Next, I gave my list a height requirement of 6 ft (who wants to see a Superman who isn’t physically intimidating?) and the list practically made itself. Assuming that director Zack Snyder doesn’t go with a virtual unknown, here is 30ninjas list of potential Kal-Els.

Zachary Levi

If the rumors are true, Levi is one of the actors who has screen-tested for the new film, according to a source at Warner Bros. Levi has accrued a substantial amount of geek cred for his role as Chuck Bartowski on the hit show Chuck. Anyone who has seen Levi in Chuck knows that the guy could handle Clark Kent duties probably better than anyone else on this list. His comedic timing and overwhelming geekdom would make him a perfect fit to play opposite Lois Lane’s domineering wit. Check out the included pic! The guy reeks of Kentness. But would Levi be believable as Superman? That is the question I’m sure WB execs are asking.

Height: 6′ 4″
TL;DR: Clark Kent? Check. Superman? That’s debatable.

Robert Pattinson

Any Hollywood shortlist for a huge blockbuster is going to include Pattinson and the huge box-office numbers his loyal base of Twi-hards represent. But in recent interviews Pattinson seemed less than enthused about his overwhelming celebrity, so I find it difficult to imagine him signing up for another big budget franchise. Expect Pattinson to go the indie route for the next couple years to limit his over-exposure.

Height: 6′ 1″
TL;DR: Pattinson’s probably done with franchises.

Nicholas Hoult

Yes, it’s that kid from About a Boy, but Nicholas Hoult has recently made a much more action-based name for himself. He is hardly recognizable as the armored beefcake Eusebios in Clash of the Titans, and we know that he’s got the acting chops from his emotional role in Tom Ford’s A Single Man. Hoult’s recent casting as Hank “Beast” McCoy in X-Men: First Class not only means that he’ll be buff by the time Superman starts filming, but he’ll be on the geek superhero radar as well. He’s only 20 years-old, so depending on whether Superman is a sequel or a reboot Hoult could be at the top or bottom of the list

Height: 6′ 4″
TL;DR: He’s all grown up but could still be a little young.

Nathan Fillion

A self-professed comic book nerd and every fanboy’s hero, Nathan Fillion has been ready for a silver screen superhero role ever since he starred as Captain ‘Mal’ Reynolds in Joss Whedon’s Firefly. He’s got the look, he’s got the hair, he’s got the passion, and he’s even got the built-in fandom, but Fillion may not be a big enough star to carry a franchise on his own.

Height: 6′ 1½”
TL;DR: He’s a fanboy’s dream but may not be a big enough star.

Matthew Fox

The Series Finale of Lost has come and gone and Fox has professed that he is done with TV. Who knows how true this will turn out to be, but a role as Superman would certainly make everyone forget that he ever starred in a 90′s family drama with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Fox may be too cerebral to take on Superman/Clark Kent duties but the guy proved that he can do action as Jack “I’m the fucking leader of this island” Shephard. Fox looks trustworthy but does he look all-powerful?

Height: 6′ 2″
TL;DR: Fox is a leader, but may be too brainy.

Jon Hamm

Is there anyone alive who wouldn’t want to see Don Draper tell Lois Lane to fetch him a pack of Lucky’s and a bottle of Whiskey while he tore her reality asunder? Hamm as Donald Draper is essentially playing the Superman of 1960′s advertising in AMC’s Mad Men, so we know that he can do the whole save the world thing. He was also brilliant and goofy as a guest star on 30 Rock and SNL so we know that he can do the whole “aren’t I so awkward I couldn’t possibly be Superman” Clark Kent thing. Hamm’s potential for nabbing the role seems to be completely dependent on whether they go with an origin story or a sequel, because he certainly can’t play a Smallville era Superman

Height: 6′ 0½”
TL;DR: Draper’s got to be a favorite, but he’s probably too old for an origin story.

Henry Cavill

Cavill was Esquire’s 2006 Unluckiest Man in Hollywood, and with good reason. Cavill was a runner up for Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Begins, for Superman/Clark Kent in Superman Returns, and James Bond in Casino Royale. Cavill was even Stephanie Meyer’s choice to play Edward Cullen in Twilight but by the time the film went into production Cavill was 25 and no longer looked like a 17 year-old. Now could be the moment when Cavill finally makes the transition to superhero leading man. Cavill has recently had a starring role as Charles Brandon in The Tudors and in 2011 he will play Theseus in The Immortals opposite Kellan Lutz and Mickey Rourke. Is Cavill’s luck about to change?

Height: 6′ 1″
TL;DR: He’s been so close so many times.

Tom Welling

Tom Welling has portrayed the live-action version of Superman for more years than any other actor. For the last 10 years Welling has played the the young Man of Steel in his rise from small town farm boy to big city reporter on Smallville. Some might claim that this makes Welling’s portrayal the most successful of all time. However, a look at his big-screen credits tell a different story. Cheaper by the Dozen, The Fog, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 are not the most stellar films to have on your filmography, and I’ve got to believe that producers will either go with a virtual unknown or someone with a more reputable film pedigree.

Height: 6′ 3″
TL;DR: The transition from TV to film hasn’t been a smooth one.

Eric Bana

Played a superhero in 2003 as Bruce Banner, but with Hulk being rebooted twice since then (latest reports have Mark Ruffalo being considered as the next Green Machine) I’m sure most people have forgotten that he was ever exposed to gamma radiation in the first place. Bana has proven his place as an A-list actor with his roles in Munich and Chopper, but he has yet to have a starring role in a massive blockbuster. Still, if Bana wants to be considered for “Commander El” he’s got to steer clear of romantic fare like The Time Traveler’s Wife to up his cred. Bana did play a pretty convincing villain in the Star Trek reboot and this could be his chance to convincingly play the other side of the superhero spectrum.

Height: 6′ 2½”
TL;DR: Could be too The Time Traveler’s Wifey

Daniel Cudmore

Cudmore is easily the tallest on the list at 6′ 8″ and that should be enough to get him considered for the part. Minor roles in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand as Colossus and in Twilight as Felix have kept him on the fantasy radar, but there are probably too many question marks for Cudmore to get cast. But, Cudmore is 6 foot friggin’ 8 inches tall and if WB is going to go with the “Kryptonians evolved on a gravity heavy world for a million years more than humans” back story than Cudmore could find himself at the top of the list.

Height: 6′ friggen’ 8″
TL;DR: He’s 6′ feet friggen’ 8 inches tall!

Brandon Routh

Been there done that. Routh was great in Superman Returns, but the film failed to be the box-office hulk-smash it was supposed to be, and I’m sure WB will look to take the franchise in another direction. Routh did prove that he could play both sides of Clark Kent/Superman but being recast in the next film may be a stretch.

Height: 6′ 3″
TL;DR: One and done.