The Good Citizens of Metropolis: The Casting Thread

[Vaibow]

One thing I’d like to see this take from The Batman is to avoid the origin and set up an already established Superman. Honestly, they could probably make him even further along than just Year Two, while they’re at it.

I’d say… Year Five with a mid/late-thirties actor in the role.

I like this idea too... and it was refreshing seeing this in the The Batman, you kinda want to know more... and we can via flashbacks later down the line.

I have been reading the golden age comics again and I really do think Clark in his twenties is about him finding his feet, going into journalism to expose corruption the right way, to spread information to the public but to also be ahead of the curve.

Also, I feel superman isn't a 24/7 job, Clark realizes he cannot be everywhere at once, he also knows his presence asks too many questions - it's like when he hears about injustice, he takes the law into his own hands

someone like this - still an urban legend, but people are aware fo him, they cannot explain him - media laugh it off but he's causing a stir.


Then when we see him, in his movie - we see the transition from this, to a more public figure - where he makes this crazy big rescue, agrees to work with STAR labs etc

I also like the idea of him not knowing his alien heritage, I want his dad to tell him later in life - maybe if he passed, it's a letter or recording.
just really grounds him.

Man of Steel feels completely hallow in terms of world building when there were plenty of opportunities. I know world building doesn't go on to improve the story or dramatically change the quality of the film, but I think there's something to be said for what it adds when it's done, as proven by Reeves.

Totally agree - they had so many opportunities as well! On the fishing trawler, 5 minutes extra, him chatting, we could have learnt more about him, how he is a nomad, how he gives fake names.
The pub scene - where he was living, how he interacted with others around him - what was his purpose - why did he give up so easy on that job - how was he handling the stress of staying low.
Getting access to the army - who was his hook up for the fake ID with high clearance, how did he learn that.

Honestly, MOS felt like it was a 4 hour movie condensed to half that and that one day this ultimate cut will be out... obviously it won't.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Superman - David Corenswet

Lois Lane - Alana Haim

Lex Luthor - Jonathan Groff

Perry White - Holt McCallany

Jonathan Kent - John Hawkes

 

[Boy Scout]

Glenn Howerton would make a fantastic Lex.

 

[Alien Anal]

Nick Hoult - Superman/Clark

Awkwafina - Lois Lane

Rufus Sewell - Lex luthor

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson - Ma and Pa


Maya Hawke - Lana Lang



Keith David - Perry White

 

[Boom]

I keep coming back to Hoult too.

 

[C Prometheus]

The Man of Tomorrow
Directed by Shaka King, Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Produced by J.J. Abrams
Cinematography by Sean Bobbitt, Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino

Clark Kent/Superman - Austin Butler
Lois Lane - Jessica Henwick
Ultra-Humanite - Stanley Tucci
Perry White - Charles S. Dutton
Jimmy Olsen -
Jonathan Kent -
Martha Kent -
Jor-El -
Lara-El -

Keep in mind that I'm basing this cast and crew around a general idea of what the film could be, based on the various rumors we've gotten both recently and a year ago. For instance, while it does sound like Abrams and Coates might have shifted away from cementing their lead star as deliberately being a "Black Superman," I doubt that they won't select a Black director for the film still.

With that in mind, Shaka King is the guy to look out for here. WB tend to love cultivating and keeping long term relationships with their directors, and King landed a Best Picture nominee for the studio last year with Judas and the Black Messiah. On top of that, with the emphasis from rumors that Coates and Abrams are looking back into the Golden Age era of Superman that was more of a Champion of the Oppressed, as opposed to the traditional Boy Scout, I think King's sensibilities would pair well with that direction.

Likewise, depending on the legitimacy of the casting rumors for Clark and Lois, Austin Butler and Jessica Henwick are both likely names to pop in the conversation too. Butler is seemingly set for critical acclaim for his turn as Elvis Presley. WB are clearly interested in Butler's future, as seen by his casting for a big role in Dune: Part 2. And while The Matrix Resurrections was a financial bomb, Henwick earned a fair bit of praise for her part in the film.

I'll get back and edit in the rest of the core cast as I think up of possible picks. I might also change my pick for Perry, since it looks like Dutton hasn't been in anything in a few years. As the recent rumors specifically namedropped the Golden Age version of Ultra-Humanite as the film's current main antagonist, I'm not even going to bother thinking of a casting choice for Lex Luthor. They're too similar characters, so I doubt he'd be in the film if this is the case.

 

[Vaibow]

I just don't see Austin Butler as Superman - maybe I haven't seen him enough. Awkwafina would be a great Lana lang.
Hoult, I just don't think he has that look for me... I see it, in certain pictures but that's under controlled conditions, live action - different story.

I still like Miles Teller. His Clark would be very interesting... Look wise, he would be a great superman, clark. He has the acting chops to pull it all off.

 

[Gamma Goliath]

Eh teller looks less like superman than holt imo. Neither of them have the complete look of a traditional superman.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I have to see Teller in something where I don’t want to punch him in the face to know whether he would make a good Superman lol.

 

[Lithium]

On screen and off Miles Teller is definitely more of the Luthor type before Superman type lol.

 

[Vaibow]

horses for courses perhaps, but he and Aaron Taylor Johnson are my unorthodox picks.

Playing it safe, I would keep Cavill for a couple sequels and see it out with the DCEU.

 

[Boy Scout]

Teller would in no way make a good Superman.

 

[C Prometheus]

On screen and off Miles Teller is definitely more of the Luthor type before Superman type lol.

Teller would in no way make a good Superman.

Completely agreed. He's a talented actor, but his whole energy and vibe is off for Clark IMO. I do agree with @Lithium though in that it could be a suitable match for someone like Lex.

I just don't see Austin Butler as Superman - maybe I haven't seen him enough. Awkwafina would be a great Lana lang.
Hoult, I just don't think he has that look for me... I see it, in certain pictures but that's under controlled conditions, live action - different story.

I still like Miles Teller. His Clark would be very interesting... Look wise, he would be a great superman, clark. He has the acting chops to pull it all off.

Austin Butler is definitely an off-beat choice. I think he looks the part well enough, though he'd be a leaner Superman than we might typically like. But I don't know, there's a certain pensiveness to him that I've noticed in his interviews in the past few years that conveys a wisened and slightly nervous soul. And I think that speaks to a part of Clark as a man from Kansas, who has something innate about himself that he can't change.

I definitely agree that Hoult isn't the right pick for the job though. I feel bad saying that as I thought the same thing a few years ago when it came down to him and Robert Pattinson for Batman. There's definitely an air of "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" with him.

 

[Boy Scout]

I don’t like Hoult for Superman either. Not only have I never seen him demonstrate that he’d be in any way suitable for the role but he also just doesn’t quite look like Superman. If it were possible to cast him as Clark and another actor as Superman, I could get with it, but otherwise? Think I’ll pass.

 

[Vaibow]

I used to roll my eyes at Miles Teller movies, he just seemed a *****ebag... lumped him into the same kinda role as Shia Labeouf.

Then I saw a recent interview with him and he was really likeable - maybe he was trying hard for the promo, but he seemed very likeable as I say and I thought about it - he def looks the part - he looks like a really good Clark Kent - I have been reading a lot of the golden age superman, that aggressive nature he had, that's how I kinda envisage this Superman, rawer, fewer powers etc - to align with the Reeves verse.

 

[Alien Anal]

Although I'm not set on Hoult I like him for his weird look but also the ability to blend in. He has a strange unique face but with glasses and daggy hair he looks like nothing special. He is also far taller that I ever imagined.

 

[jetage]

Hoult isn't a top choice, but he is a far better choice than Butler or Teller. Someone at Warner's noticed something in him if he finished second in the Batman choice. He does have a charm and wholesomeness others don't possess.

Like some other candidates I would be ok with him, though he could surprise. Though I was excited by the choice of Cavill, only to be disappointed

 

[C Prometheus]

Hoult isn't a top choice, but he is a far better choice than Butler or Teller. Someone at Warner's noticed something in him if he finished second in the Batman choice. He does have a charm and wholesomeness others don't possess.

Like some other candidates I would be ok with him, though he could surprise. Though I was excited by the choice of Cavill, only to be disappointed

I respectfully disagree, but of course that's all subjective.

Also keep in mind that Austin Butler beat out Miles Teller, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harry Styles and Ansel Elgort for the lead role for WB's upcoming Elvis movie. Early buzz for that film indicates that Butler nailed it as Elvis. After that, Butler has been cast as Feyd-Rautha for Dune: Part Two, which is another high profile Warner Bros project.

Butler's actually landing high profile roles for Warner Bros movies and he's beating out other big names we've thrown around in the conversation lately to get said-roles. He might not end up being the next Superman, but make no mistake- WB are more than likely going to cast him for a big role in a DC project soon enough.

 

[C Prometheus]

I have been reading a lot of the golden age superman, that aggressive nature he had, that's how I kinda envisage this Superman, rawer, fewer powers etc - to align with the Reeves verse.

This right here is a big reason why I keep coming back to Shaka King as a very likely candidate for who ends up directing the film, provided the rumors of this film drawing heavy inspiration from the Golden Age Superman comics.




King's work on Judas and the Black Messiah has a very palpable anger and rawness to it with its social commentary and craftsmanship. If the idea here is to make a Superman film that's more of a critical darling that also draws back on the original Siegel and Shuster comics and their own social commentaries with Superman acting as the Champion of the Oppressed, I find it hard to argue that Shaka King isn't a strong candidate for the job.

Provided he's interested, of course.

 

[Vaibow]

This right here is a big reason why I keep coming back to Shaka King as a very likely candidate for who ends up directing the film, provided the rumors of this film drawing heavy inspiration from the Golden Age Superman comics.




King's work on Judas and the Black Messiah has a very palpable anger and rawness to it with its social commentary and craftsmanship. If the idea here is to make a Superman film that's more of a critical darling that also draws back on the original Siegel and Shuster comics and their own social commentaries with Superman acting as the Champion of the Oppressed, I find it hard to argue that Shaka King isn't a strong candidate for the job.

Provided he's interested, of course.

Spot on and nice input, I will check those movies out.

This is why left field choices are the way to go as I don't feel we will have a typical superman movie. We will have a 'super' man in more ways than one. No more tights.

We will have a man seeing oppression all around him, incidents ignored, corruption, he realises he can be that voice, that law enforcement - it's not quite punisher, equalizer, but someone that sees injustice and does something about it, because he can.

If you stick it in 2022, you can very well relate that to what we see in inner cities, it's brutal. But I feel it's so importance to keep an aspect of superman, the innocence, the hope he brings.. that's what cuts him above other heroes - you see him and a kid smiles, a parent knows they are safe.. a corrupt businessman, he knows it's game over.

Clark also being in the media, having ears to the ground is a huge part of his recce.

That's why I feel Miles Teller, but I get that's just me. I saw a few months back, a young African American bloke on this thread, he had an amazing body, but also looked charming in the office attire - off all the pics, he looked great in all 3 personas - just haven't seen his work.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Would Jason Bateman make a good Lex Luthor? I’ve been binging Ozark and I can’t get the idea out of my head now that it’s there.

 

[Boy Scout]

Superman - Jay Ellis

Lois Lane - Yvonne Orji or Jameela Jamil

The Ultra-Humanite - Bill Hader or Mark Hamill or Michael Kelly

Lex Luthor - Glenn Howerton or Sterling K. Brown

Perry White - Colman Domingo or Dennis Haysbert or Peter Dinklage

Jor-El - Blair Underwood

 

[Boom]

Jason Bateman as Lex Luthor is a very interesting idea. Unconventional choice but I can see it.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Jason Bateman as Lex Luthor is a very interesting idea. Unconventional choice but I can see it.

Yeah, I never would have pictured it a few years ago when he was primarily known for comedic roles but after seeing him as a brilliant, calculating money launderer in Ozark, I started to picture him in the role.

 

[Boom]

He's exceptional in his brief appearance in The Outsider.