Let it sink in for a minute. There is a new Superman movie coming out in 2025.
Let’s say that again. There is a new Superman movie coming out in 2025.
Not a team-up movie, not a Superman cameo in another movie, a solo Superman movie, not substitutes (*cough* Shazam*cough*).
That’s a lot to get excited about right there, regardless of how many ups and downs took place to get us here. Whether you’re a Henry Cavill fan like myself, a Reeve purist, a Snyderphile, or whatever other path you took, we are finally getting what we want, a solo Superman on the big screen!
Yes, I know it may not be exactly what kind of Superman movie we want it to be, and I fully sympathize, as I’m a fan too. I know there’s a lot of details that we still don’t know, and quite frankly, it still remains to be seen if James Gunn, who will be writing, directing, and overseeing the entire DCU- the name of the shared DC Universe on screen- can pull it off. None of this changes the fact that there is still a lot to get excited about!!
Out of all the details that Gunn has shared up to this point, far and away what I’m most excited about is the casting of the main leads, which seems perfect!
Although the actors chosen for Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor seem to be a bit typecast, either based on their personalities or previous roles, they still provide me with a lot of hope for this movie. I’d like just to share a couple of thoughts about each of them with all of you.
David Corenswet
I honestly don’t have much to go on with David Corenswet, as I haven’t seen any of the tv shows he’s been in as of yet.
That said, I can go off of his appearance alone, which is pretty impressive already- 6’ 4”, dark hair and blue eyes, square jaw- all traits a man must have to play a character who is supposed to be a physical specimen (hence what the term “Man of Tomorrow” was supposed to refer to, by the way). He pretty much looks like a younger version of Henry Cavill, which is maybe what Gunn was going for.
After the casting was announced, a ton of hashtags and retweets started popping up of older posts where people had been fan casting Corenswet as Superman for years. Tweets and videos galore exist online if you’re interested, and believe me, they’re not that hard to find!
Is he going to be known as this generation’s Superman, and be remembered as the character for a long time? Cavill could have been, as I’ve said many times before, but never had material that was universally loved and could catapult him to that status. With David Corenswet, only time will tell, but I’m pulling for him!
Rachel Brosnahan
I used the word “typecast” earlier mainly for Rachel Brosnahan. Rachel has made her name most notably from the Amazon Prime show she starred in that just wrapped, in which she plays a sassy, in your face woman who bucks trends and loves cutting against the grain after being left by her husband.
Marv Wolfman once posed the question of why Superman would be interested in Lois Lane? His answer was NOT because she is very attractive, but because of her inner strength. While not exactly the His Girl Friday character of Lois Lane, her portrayal of Ms. Maisel demonstrates that Rachel Brosnahan clearly has what it take to portray a tough, female reporter who is as strong as Superman in her own way. One can see clearly where Gunn was going when she was cast.
Her chemistry with David Corenswet remains to be seen, but I have to believe they have screen tested for that already and cast the two of them with that in mind. I’m optimistic that she is going to be a great Lois!
Nicholas Hoult
This, by far, is the casting that I am most excited about.
There have been moments in the history of superhero movies where a certain hiring or casting has been pitch perfect, and evokes exactly the source material that is being drawn from.
When Robert Downey, Jr. was cast as Tony Stark, I as a fan immediately knew that an actor with a history of substance abuse and recovery meant that the director of the movie knew who Iron Man was in the comics. When Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker, the first image it evoked in my mind was the Joker’s wiry frame and curly locks from “The Killing Joke.” Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon screamed “Batman Year One,” and Shakespearean actor and director Kenneth Branagh worked perfectly to adapt Thor, with its Norse/Old English tinge.
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor looks, sounds, and most importantly feels like the Lex from the comics of the last 20 years, from which there have been some great stories!
There is a menace to Hoult’s look and voice, so much so that you can imagine him as a genuine threat to Superman. He seems dangerous, powerful, and brilliant. The present day Luthor in the comics is sort of a hybrid businessman/scientist, essentially the Wolfman/Byrne reboot but who went on a diet, with a dash of Silver Age mad scientist. Hoult’s casting evokes this immediately, and tells me as a fan that Gunn is familiar with the comics.
That list I mentioned earlier? You can add Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor to it.
As I said, there’s a lot about this movie that we still don’t know. I have doubts about certain things Gunn has posted, as well as his track record. I’m honestly not holding my breath about this being the best superhero movie of all time, but who knows? His casting, however, has not been a source of hesitation. Looking forward to seeing them in action!
Niko's Superman Page 