Superman's physique in the next film.

[Astrodust]

I prefer Superman to be an above average atheletic male. Not too tall and not a bodybuilder. Someone around 6'1" is perfect. Also I'd like for some of the goons to be bigger than Superman. What's the fun of beating up on little henchmen.

 

[Doc Samson]

Said it before, say it again, Superman needs to be athletic, nothing more nothing less. Around 6'4 is good, but he shouldn't be a bodybuilder like some of the artists depict him, he's not pumping iron after all. Stylistically, I understand it, especially in comics, to show strength and all that, but I'd prefer a build like Christopher Reeve over something more muscular

 

[Eze]

Sandow-esque.

Our society should stop idolizing drug addicts and aspire to be this.

 

[SatEL]

Captain America

Thor

The old Superman

Batman

 

[conan69]

Actually I think Superman should look like Russell Crowe in Gladiator, maybe with a bit more meat on the arms.

He should be "naturally large", but theres no reason or him to look like a bodybuilder or anything else. Building up your body is a result of your body adapting to the physical strains you put it through. Superman should bulk up a bit as a result of what he does,heavy lifting etc, but not too much.

If you have any friends who are carpenters, you can see what I mean. A bit of bulk from the lifting and such that they do, but thats it.

 

[bizbaz20]

Captain America

Oh wow, Evans has really buffed up lately.


Since Fantastic 4 I mean.



I think soon we will have a new wave of superbuff Superheroes.



And I don't think Superman should be any different.

 

[SuperMike335!!]

IMHO he should look as big and muscular as possible, without crossing the line into looking like a superheavyweight bodybuilder in a suit as Clark.

 

[storyteller]

Of course lets keep in mind that these guys are shirtless. Unless they are wearing something thin then its squeezed down. Hemsworth certainly doesn't look as big with the costume on but he is huge.

 

[Eze]

Of course lets keep in mind that these guys are shirtless. Unless they are wearing something thin then its squeezed down. Hemsworth certainly doesn't look as big with the costume on but he is huge.

If muscles are squeezed from costumes, enough to reduce the mass of limbs, then hands and faces begin to bloat and turn red. Sometimes second rate directors come up with excuses to rationalize bad ideas, like having the actor train in a pool when he should be lifting heavy weights (Routh), or maybe the actor in general is just too doughy to pull off that heroic physique and isn't motivated to train when the easy fix of foam muscles is there. (Maguire)

 

[batman44]

Actually I think Superman should look like Russell Crowe in Gladiator, maybe with a bit more meat on the arms.

He should be "naturally large", but theres no reason or him to look like a bodybuilder or anything else. Building up your body is a result of your body adapting to the physical strains you put it through. Superman should bulk up a bit as a result of what he does,heavy lifting etc, but not too much.

If you have any friends who are carpenters, you can see what I mean. A bit of bulk from the lifting and such that they do, but thats it.

This is what I had in mind, maybe a bit more cut than Crowe in Gladiator.

 

[ChickenScratch]

I think Superman should look impressive. He should look like a natural bodybuilder or even a builder from the pre-roid era. Guys like Clint Walker and Peter Lupus are great templates. I also think guys like Steve Reeves, Clancy Ross, Reg Park, Frank Zane, John Grimek, George Eiferman, Larry Scott, Serge Nubret would be good templates. I'm also pretty impressed that someone else here knows who Eugene Sandow is (big fan!).

4 Mr America winners dressed normal. Alan Stephan 1946, Clancy Ross 1945, George Eiferman 1948, Steve Reeves 1947. They look like regular dudes dressed up. http://classicphysiquebuilder.blogspot.com/2008/11/look-good-in-clothes-with-classic.html

 

[Young Superman]

Said it before, say it again, Superman needs to be athletic, nothing more nothing less. Around 6'4 is good, but he shouldn't be a bodybuilder like some of the artists depict him, he's not pumping iron after all. Stylistically, I understand it, especially in comics, to show strength and all that, but I'd prefer a build like Christopher Reeve over something more muscular

Agreed

 

[BH/HHH]

Reeve's build was perfect for Superman

 

[Doc Samson]

I think Superman should look impressive. He should look like a natural bodybuilder or even a builder from the pre-roid era. Guys like Clint Walker and Peter Lupus are great templates. I also think guys like Steve Reeves, Clancy Ross, Reg Park, Frank Zane, John Grimek, George Eiferman, Larry Scott, Serge Nubret would be good templates. I'm also pretty impressed that someone else here knows who Eugene Sandow is (big fan!).

4 Mr America winners dressed normal. Alan Stephan 1946, Clancy Ross 1945, George Eiferman 1948, Steve Reeves 1947. They look like regular dudes dressed up. http://classicphysiquebuilder.blogspot.com/2008/11/look-good-in-clothes-with-classic.html

I feel that. My brother was a competitive bodybuilder while I was growing up so I have a huge amount of respect for what those guys go through, especially guys like Frank Zane & Flex Wheeler with ectomorphic structures who went on to build impressive physiques (Of course Flex went on to use steroids and become a mass monster, but he still retained classic symmetry) Guys like Bob Paris & Lee Labrada were always personal favs

 

[Young Superman]

Reeve's build was perfect for Superman

Agreed, my friend.

 

[Astrodust]

I think Superman should look impressive. He should look like a natural bodybuilder or even a builder from the pre-roid era. Guys like Clint Walker and Peter Lupus are great templates. I also think guys like Steve Reeves, Clancy Ross, Reg Park, Frank Zane, John Grimek, George Eiferman, Larry Scott, Serge Nubret would be good templates. I'm also pretty impressed that someone else here knows who Eugene Sandow is (big fan!).

4 Mr America winners dressed normal. Alan Stephan 1946, Clancy Ross 1945, George Eiferman 1948, Steve Reeves 1947. They look like regular dudes dressed up. http://classicphysiquebuilder.blogspot.com/2008/11/look-good-in-clothes-with-classic.html

I don't think Superman needs to look like a bodybuilder. Just someone who is athletic will do. Bodybuilders spend years to achieve that look. Looking for a strong actor who is already athletic and can get into even better shape in under a year is more realistic. Luckily a lot of actors do stay in shape. A strong actor who has charisma and can carry the screen is a first priority. If they are athletic the deal is done.

 

[ChickenScratch]

That's great that you have a differing opinion from mine. But to me an athletic person and Superman are different things. I'm an athletic person, so are most of my friends, I don't want Superman to look like us (and we are all very fit). This trying to ground him in some sort of reality seems to ignore the fact that Superman is an abstraction, he's the Greek Ideal. He's the same sort of aspirational and inspirational figure people would have told stories about and idolized like Hercules or Atlas. Sure you'll never be the ideal, but you do benefit from trying.

 

[SuperMike335!!]

I don't think Superman needs to look like a bodybuilder. Just someone who is athletic will do. Bodybuilders spend years to achieve that look. Looking for a strong actor who is already athletic and can get into even better shape in under a year is more realistic. Luckily a lot of actors do stay in shape. A strong actor who has charisma and can carry the screen is a first priority. If they are athletic the deal is done.

I think you are both talking about the same thing, but look at the word "bodybuilder" from two different meanings.

Nobody is claiming they should cast a bodybuilder.

In fact the term "bodybuilder" is way too vague.

Most people assume it is a steroid using monster who is 300 pounds of muscle at 5’10".

Really the term could also be used for anyone who engages in building their body.

In fact if you look as competitive bodybuilders, before the age of abusive steroid dosing started, "bodybuilders" were not much bigger than someone like Hugh Jackman, Chris Evans, or Chris Hemsworth.

If one defined the term as simply the act of building ones body to a certain muscular look, then all 3 could be described as bodybuilders, yet look far less massive than what one generally thinks of on hearing the term.

When chickenscratch says he thinks superman would have a "bodybuilder’s" build, he means the pre-steroid-abuse era look.

Generally, for an actor to strive for such look, they end up looking, well, like Chris Evans does right now. They would look big and muscular in tight clothing, but still be able to be hidden in a suit or normal clothing as Clark.

With a modern Superheavyweight competitive bodybuilder on the other hand, there is not way you could hide that as Clark, simply too big.

Hence why I like to be more specific, as the term can envoke different mental images for different people, then we argue apples vs. oranges.

I think Superman should look strong and muscular, as much as the actor can get, before crossing the line into looking overly huge as Clark.

 

[ChickenScratch]

This is why I specifically stated pre-roid era and even used the names of several bodybuilders from that era as examples.

 

[Eze]

I think Superman should look impressive. He should look like a natural bodybuilder or even a builder from the pre-roid era. Guys like Clint Walker and Peter Lupus are great templates. I also think guys like Steve Reeves, Clancy Ross, Reg Park, Frank Zane, John Grimek, George Eiferman, Larry Scott, Serge Nubret would be good templates. I'm also pretty impressed that someone else here knows who Eugene Sandow is (big fan!).

4 Mr America winners dressed normal. Alan Stephan 1946, Clancy Ross 1945, George Eiferman 1948, Steve Reeves 1947. They look like regular dudes dressed up. http://classicphysiquebuilder.blogspot.com/2008/11/look-good-in-clothes-with-classic.html

This is exactly what Superman should aspire to be, couldn't agree more ChickenScratch. Sandow not only looked good, he was freakishly strong just like all these guys.

 

[Lone]

If muscles are squeezed from costumes, enough to reduce the mass of limbs, then hands and faces begin to bloat and turn red. Sometimes second rate directors come up with excuses to rationalize bad ideas, like having the actor train in a pool when he should be lifting heavy weights (Routh), or maybe the actor in general is just too doughy to pull off that heroic physique and isn't motivated to train when the easy fix of foam muscles is there. (Maguire)

Routh was actually bigger than what he ended up looking like in SR. He was told to get smaller in order to fit the costume. Somebody needs to post that pic of him working out for SR.

The whole pool thing was to simulate zero gravity and allow Routh to get a feel for the movements one would make while flying.

And unless the next actor literally has a body carved from marble, foam muscles will definitely be used. No matter how built or cut a guy is, you put some skin tight fabric on him and he's gonna lose some definition and mass.

 

[Eze]

Definition, yes, mass, no, displaced mass has to go somewhere. My favorite example of what is appropriate, is Chris Evans as Johnny Storm. A little definition sculpting is ok, but still in wicked shape underneath. No padding so large it's a prosthetic for any major muscle groups.

 

[Amelia]

Earth One costume and physique would be fine by me.

I agree.

Earth One Sups’s had a real modern feel to him. He has a average built/look, a bit taller than the average man but not like a hulking leviathan. Also I love how they updated his hair. A modern man today would never put gris in his hair and have a curly. That style by default is a very retro/dated look.

The only problem i personally have with suit is the underwear since no sane person one today would willing wear it and it detracts from the overall real and modern feel of the costume.

 

[elgaz]

Whether you agree with casting him or not, Joe Manganiello's physique is pretty much close to what I'd like to see the next Superman actor have. As Supermike has pointed out before, he's obviously a big, muscular, broad and very well defined guy - he has the perfect frame for wearing a skintight Superman costume.

But put him in a suit and you don't get a sense of that at all, he hides the physique very well in clothes. Put slightly oversized clothes on him and the effect would be even more exaggerated for playing Clark Kent.

It's hard to find a pic of him in something tight fitting that shows off his frame well like the Superman costume would, but here's an idea -

Or on the other hand, put him in a suit or something baggy and you don't get any idea of his muscle definition underneath.

Sorry for the Manganiello pictures overload! But out of all the contenders often mentioned for Superman, he's one of the few (asides from perhaps Routh or Welling, if they had a little more gymn time) who comes with what I consider to be the perfect Superman body shape and needs little or no gymn work. He's also a perfect example of why I think the next Superman actor has to be at least 6"3 - no matter how much gymn time a guy like Jon Hamm puts in, he will never have the frame or stature of someone like Manganiello. And to me, Superman is this god-like being who has to look impressive on screen.

Yes, we know Superman doesn't really need muscle mass as all his strength comes from his cellular structure and his absorption of solar energy.................... but that to me doesn't say we should simply settle for an average looking actor. We're ignoring the fact that in most incarnations of the Superman mythos, Krypton was described as a planet with a huge gravity pull - this in theory should have forced the Kryptonian physiologies to evolve into strong and muscular forms to withstand this. And asides from this, the Kryptonians - in many incarnations - have also been written as having gone through aeons of genetic advancement and evolution. Simply put, Kal-El should already be an Adonis in terms of physique regardless of whether he's under a yellow sun or a red one - his Kryptonian body and metabolism is simply at the pinnacle of efficiency, developing muscle naturally and keeping fat at a bare minimum.

Anyway, that's my reasoning for why I'd like to see a muscular looking Superman ever though we know he's never done any gymn time!

 

[Eze]

Lithe, supple, swimmer's physique. Tried that with SR already, no thanks. Superman is a strongman, who lifts heavy things, his physique should reflect weightlifting.

The guy in the right (Sandow) is a weightlifter, Arnold is a bodybuilder. The weightlifter trains for strength, by lifting heavy while the bodybuilder trains for muscle volume, using higher reps that promote fluid retention. Weightlifters maintain natural proportions from doing compound exercises, while bodybuilders don't because they isolate individual muscle groups.

Fortunately Snyder's a gym rat who knows the difference.