The search for the perfect Superman for James Gunn’s upcoming film, Superman: Legacy, is in full swing. This highly anticipated movie is set to be the first chapter of DC Studios under the Gunn and Peter Safran regime, and the casting decisions are crucial. The list of potential actors for the roles of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and even Lex Luthor is being narrowed down, with some names already surfacing as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
David Corenswet, who played the ill-fated projectionist in Pearl opposite Mia Goth, is among the top contenders to play Kent/Superman. According to multiple sources, he has advanced to the screen test stage that is expected to take place after Memorial Day or early June. Although two other potential candidates are also in the mix, their identities remain unknown.
Other actors who have been considered for the role of Kent include Jacob Elordi, who gained popularity as the villain on HBO’s Euphoria, as well as British actors Tom Brittney and Andrew Richardson. However, sources say that Elordi did not submit himself for consideration, and it is unclear if Brittney and Richardson will advance to the testing stage.
In the search for Lois Lane, several talented actresses have been considered, including Emma Mackey, Rachel Brosnahan, Phoebe Dynevor, and Samara Weaving. It is not clear who will move on to the testing stage, but one source has reported that Brosnahan delivered an “outstanding” audition. However, at 32, she may be considered too old for what Gunn is hoping to achieve, which is a look at Metropolis heroics through 20-something characters.
Although some of these actors may not be screen testing and have only been considered, the studio and filmmakers are nowhere near a decision. One role that seems to have only one person earmarked is the classic villain Lex Luthor, with Nicholas Hoult being tipped to play the bald-headed evil genius. Hoult has been linked to Legacy for several weeks, and some have even theorized that he was up for Superman. However, sources say that the studio has loved Hoult since Fury Road, the 2015 action classic from George Miller.
While the main characters of Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor are important, the movie is expected to introduce several established DC heroes in the setting. Superman: Legacy is the first film under the Gunn-Safran regime at DC, making the casting decisions of particular note. Superman holds a special place in Gunn’s heart, as he told The Hollywood Reporter in an April cover story that he completely relates to Superman because he’s an outsider who feels like an alien, but also the ultimate insider because he’s Superman.
The economic stakes for DC are high, with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav betting big on the new superhero strategy. He has called DC the biggest value creation opportunity for the company.
WBD has cleared the DC decks for 2022 and early 2023, shelving Batgirl indefinitely and releasing Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods to mixed results at the box office. Still to come are Blue Beetle, which was moved to an August theatrical release, and the highly anticipated Flash movie, which has already received positive feedback from exhibitors at CinemaCon. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, due out in December, is the final DC film made by the previous regime.
