The Good Citizens of Metropolis: The Casting Thread

[Invader Joker]

I'm not sure I could buy Jon Hamm as a completely unassuming, farmboy reporter. But Luke Kleintak is not a bad choice.

 

[STARMAN]

I keep looking at it the other way around. It's a lot harder for me to buy some of these guys as Superman. I think lots of people can be dressed-down, do the unassuming shtick then having that majestic, Superman presence.

 

[David H.]

I'm not sure I could buy Jon Hamm as a completely unassuming, farmboy reporter.

Hamm should have played Superman like Drew Baird.

 

[Invader Joker]

There's a balance to be achieved. It's hard to cast Superman because you need to find an actor that'd be easily unassuming (as much as I like Cavill, no matfer how you dressed him he was always really noticeable) and also this ideal figure of superheroism.

You go too far on the Clark Kent direction, you get John Krasinski. You go too far on the Superman direction you get Armie Hammer (and Jon Hamm isn't that far off from that same type of mold especially if he were younger and in Superman shape)

It's the middle ground that's the ideal. A guy that I could believe could ridiculously shy around his co workers.

 

[STARMAN]

Balance is always the key. You're right about Krasinski. I don't get him as Superman at all. It also depends on what type of Clark they are portraying. Just how mild-mannered and so forth. You have Chris Reevess Clark but you also have George Reeves' Clark as well as others. Some obviously play up the shy awkwardness. Some do not. You also have noticeable as compared to believable.

 

[flickchick85]

Here’s where I state my unpopular opinion that Jon Hamm has never been, at any age, right for Superman. He has none of the warmth or wholesomeness I believe should be inherent to the character. He’s a good actor but naturally cold, intense and aloof (even when he’s doing comedy). He’s a Batman through and through, imo. So I don’t feel like looking for a young Jon Hamm is really barking up the right tree.

 

[STARMAN]

How dare you flickchick

 

[Invader Joker]

The thing with Clark Kent is that mild mannered or not, shy or not, he should be able to feel like "a normal dude" even though he's a superpowered alien. That's my problem with the Armie Hammer suggestion, and that was my problem with Cavill. No matter how you dress those two, there's a big disconnect because they don't feel like "normal people". They're ridiculously hot to the point they ALWAYS look like greek gods, they're tall, they're super imposing.

The appeal of Superman, at least from what I've seen is that the average person should feel able to easily identiy with him once he's Clark Kent. Hammer and Cavill have a presence that just screams "look at me. Admire me" all the time.

But likewise, he should also feel godlike and "perfect" once he's Superman. He should be able to transmit both the """average joe """ vibe and the "admire me" vibe.

It's a veery hard balance to achieve but not impossible. You just need an actor with versatile looks.

 

[STARMAN]

Superman is the most difficult to cast out of all the Superheroes. He has the most distinct look, doesn't wear a mask, and an alter ego with an opposite persona. It's one of the few where I need to buy in as soon as I see them. After one minute, I need to buy in a hundred percent. It's been done before. It can be done again. There's someone out there.

 

[Invader Joker]

It all goes back to the points addressed in this video. If you're gonna recast Cavill and reboot Superman so that the general audience falls in love with him again, it's important to cast an actor that can transmit what makes the character so special to begin with.

 

[STARMAN]

One of the many keys to Superman as an actor or as a character is what flickchick brought up: warmth.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Adam Driver as a Nic Cage esque Superman

You know you want it.

 

[batman44]

When I said young Jon Hamm, I really meant visually. He has this almost Joe Shuster Supeman art look to him (Shuster being one of my favorite Superman artists). Though I do think he would've done the role justice.

Warmth and approachableness are key factors for Superman imo.

 

[Asr]

The more I see of Asa Butterfield the more I see him as Superman—well, in about 7-10 years maybe since he's 22 right now and looks about 5 years younger than he is. His face really reminds me of Chris Reeve's and although he doesn't have the "middle America" vibe like Tom Welling did, I'd say it's close enough. Not a whole lot of videos on YT where he's speaking in an American accent, but this one sort of works:



He's in Sex Education on Netflix btw, will definitely have to check out that show now.

 

[Boom]

The problem I'm having with this thread is I have no idea when to expect a new Superman movie, and that's going to impact the candidates I'm looking at.

If we are at least five years out from a new movie, then we should probably be looking at guys in their 20's.

 

[David H.]

If we are at least five years out from a new movie, then we should probably be looking at guys in their 20's.

Timothee Chalament - Clark Kent / Superman
Matthew McConaughey - Jonathan Kent







Nolan approved.

 

[Eddie Dean]

casey affleck as old superman??????

 

[David H.]

... but Oscar Isaac can be Jor-El.

 

[Eddie Dean]

not michael stuhlbarg?

 

[Willi Berg]

Just going to put actor suggestions as I find them.

Jonah Hauer-King is British (sorry) but has done an American accent in movies. He is 23 (there might be time ):

 

[Vaibow]

Superman is the most difficult to cast out of all the Superheroes. He has the most distinct look, doesn't wear a mask, and an alter ego with an opposite persona. It's one of the few where I need to buy in as soon as I see them. After one minute, I need to buy in a hundred percent. It's been done before. It can be done again. There's someone out there.

I really love talking about superman for this very reason, he is difficult to nail down as there are three distinct traits that are very different in essence. Each interpretation has tackled it differently.
From my own experience, Reeve had 3 traits. Farm Clark the true self, Office Clark and Superman acts, extensions of the other.
Lois & Clark - office Clark real person, Superman an extension.
MOS - there wasn't really much to differentiate them - farm clark, superman very similar and office clark more.. hmmm, his look seems younger than his superman look and not as brooding.

For me, i feel that we should see Clark's true personality when in the planet and as Superman, not just when he is in smallville and by that i mean - when Clark is Superman, rescuing a kid or talking down a criminal with a gun - that's clark - you don't want to be acting in that situation. However, when in front of the public, say just after a big event and news reporters are there or talking to a mayor - the superman persona should be switched on and the audience should be aware that that is what it is. Same at the planet, when he is investigating, negotiating his day, that's clark, but like us all, with his 'work' head on. There are lighter moments and we see clark's softer, human side, just as when he reports on injustice - i feel 'lois and clark' cracked this really well.

I have felt that 'the office' was a good template for humour in the work place - now, ofcourse certain characters and acts are cartoonish, but the jim, ryan humour in particular are a good level. BJ Novak should def be involved for added help.

If he were 10 years younger, 10 inches taller, Paul Rudd would have been my left field choice.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Are these the cap auditions now? Whether he can convincingly wear a cap?

Penn is too short anyhow (not that there's anything wrong with that...)

I prefer my Superman in a beret!

 

[TheComicbookKid]

Ma Kent

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Pa Kent

David Harbour

Lois Lane

Auli'l Cravalho

General Lane

Cliff Curtis

 

[Vaibow]

interesting choices, i like the lane's, they look a good pairing...

I always felt lois lane could be a convincing asian/american name/character and Sonoya Mizuno would be great.

 

[Sawyer]

Ma Kent

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Reporting this.