As we learned yesterday, Henry Cavill is leaving the DC Comics Universe. Cavill will no longer play Superman after the studio drove their lucrative DCU franchises into the ground. As many have noted, Wonder Woman is the only part of the universe that works at this point, and Superman and Batman are just not getting the job done. I have little hope for Aquaman either, by the way. Even though it will probably be a few years before Warner Bros makes another stand-alone Batman or Superman movie, there are already a lot of conversations about who will get cast in those two iconic roles (The Batfleck is no more – Ben Affleck quietly shuffled out of the DCU a while ago). Well, here’s one rumor:
This has been in the wind for some time, but Henry Cavill will not be reprising his role as Superman in Warner Bros.’ DC films as others from Justice League such as Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa move forward on their respective superhero features Wonder Woman 1984 and Aquaman.
The word has been out that Warner Bros. has been mulling a completely different direction with its Superman canon for some time, even considering casting Michael B. Jordan in the role down the road. But at the present moment a Supergirl movie is the studio’s priority as Deadline exclusively broke back in August.
Michael B. Jordan as Superman??? OMG. That would be such a bold choice, and also… it wouldn’t be bold, it would be completely understandable. Ideally, they want to cast an American actor who is clean-cut, has a nice smile, has abs of steel, and is able to sell “truth, justice and the American way.” Michael B. Jordan could do that. He could do that really well.
As for the rumors about Batman, Jon Hamm is throwing his hat into the ring:
Jon Hamm has interest in playing Batman — as long as the script is good. Talking to Graham Bensinger in an interview for his series In Depth that was posted Wednesday, the Mad Men star said he has always been a comic book fan and, yes, had given some thought to playing the Caped Crusader. But, there are some conditions.
“It depends on the script, what the story is,” Hamm told Bensinger. “I am a huge comic book fan, always have been. I have read comic books since I was nine or younger. And I am pretty knowledgeable about a lot of them. And I like the genre, and I like when they are done well.”
Saying he loved Black Panther and that he watches FX’s Legion, Hamm said he has yet to have any official conversation about perhaps playing Batman, but “I’d probably fit the suit. I’d have to work out a lot, which I don’t love. But, I am sure there is an interesting version of that being out there. And if they wanted to tap me on the shoulder and ask me to do it: why not?”
Bensinger said there had been murmers among fans for years who believed Hamm would make a great Bruce Wayne/Batman. Hamm said he was aware.
“I have had rumors about that since probably season one of Mad Men,” he said. “I have never had a conversation with anyone about it, literally. And I’ve sat in the room with all these guys. I have never been offered anything. I think the Internet wants what it wants. But, I mean, a lot of people have to sign off on that, obviously not just the Internet.”
I’ve been over Jon Hamm for a few years now, ever since we learned about his abusive-hazing frat boy past. But if you’re capable of putting his history to one side, sure, he wouldn’t be the worst Batman. He has the voice for it. But put Michael B. Jordan in Superman’s cape and I’d be able to watch just about anything Warner Bros tries to give me.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Meh….no thanks. Michael B Jordan is busy making very interesting choices as an actor, I’d hate to see him spend a few years consumed by this.
And to be honest if they want to make the story of an illegal alien (literally) finding his place in America more timely, the choice is obvious: It should be a Latino actor.
Ohhhhhh…..I like the cut of your jib Mia. But what Latino actor because the ones I am thinking of feel aged out.
Can’t say I have anyone in particular in mind. I actually think Superman benefits from being played by unknown/lesser-known. That’s in contrast to Batman who seems suited for known stars. I’m not sure why? Maybe it’s the full face mask or something. Anyway that’s my long winded way of saying I would root for an unknown.
Oscar Issac?
Yes, I love that idea!
ETA: and Oscar Isaac in all the things!
Oh god I feel like such a bitch bringing this up because I do love Oscar. I do…but he’s so short! Like…REALLY short. Tiny. There’s nothing wrong with that, but he’s totally the wrong physical type for Superman.
I like this idea! What about the actor who played Gus in The Strain? Miguel Gomez. He is YUM.
As much as I like Michael that’s a no from me. And it’s a moot point now. Henry Cavill’s manager and Warner Bros have both stated that he is still Superman. And Henry posted a funny video on IG basically confirming this.
As for Hamm – it’s another no.
Hamm would be a good Batman. Pairing him w MBJ would be interesting—an older, wiser but still haunted Batman paired with a younger, upstart Superman ….
I feel like these Superpeople movies being done over and over and over again is a sign that I’ve been dead for years and I’m in some sort of purgatory.
Pass the stale, unbuttered popcorn, I’m right there with you.
Couldn’t have put it better myself
Amen. My newest definition of hell is yet another Spiderman reboot.
I’m only hoping for an interesting casting of Supergirl. I will pass to another Superman movie
These franchises make a lot of money for the actors who do them, giving them the ability to choose other small, less lucrative but more interesting roles. For that and purely selfish reasons, I would love Michael B Jordan as Superman. He’s got the looks and the charisma (as well as the acting chops). Cavill is gorgeous but so completely boring.
But Michael B Jordan ia already in Marvel, can he still make the jump to DC?
I don’t want him as Superman. Another superhero, maybe
I’ll watch MBJ in anything, but please don’t go to DC.
I think he is such a great actor, not only handsome but charismatic as hell. But no, I don’t want to see him as Superman, because I think it’s time we changed things. This role will come with such baggage, fanboys crying about inaccuracy and it just feels like WB wants in on the Black Panther fame.
How about creating a brand new superhero? Or a new group? A group that can be more eclectic, more diverse, more interesting than before. I’m so happy for Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Black Panther bringing new life to Superhero movies, but do we really need another Batman or Superman movie? How many origin stories can they tell?
Stop recycling roles and using them as hand-me-downs for minority actors. Be creative!
Black Superman? How about Shaquille O’ Neal?
I like where your head is at, but Shaq mumbles too much.
OTOH, I always thought Shannon Sharpe’s glasses on Undisputed make him look like a Black Clark Kent.
Can we PLEASE find other movies to make that don’t involve superheroes? Sigh.
The awful Batman v Superman made something like $800mil. As long as that money is made they’ll keep pumping it out. Thru own the rights plus they want the Marvel billion earnings per movir by getting it “right” in the future. So they’ll keep retooling till they figure it out.
As well, Warners is hellbent on establishing their own MCU movie blockbuster universe. No way are they going to give up.
Michael B. Jordan is a great actor, so he could definitely pull this off. All I know is DC needs to do something, because with the exception of Wonder Woman their films are not good.
I’m here fot it!
I do t believe this for a second but I’ll be happily buying tickets if it happens! But I agree with the first comment – I’d love to see him free to make interesting movie choices instead of being chained to this for a while.
If they’re going to re-boot again, they are probably going to keep the dark, broody universe so they may as well lean into it. I propose Terry Crews for Superman. an older Superman turned bitter from decades of keeping his head down who has had enough and just straight up decides to Superman until he drops.
I would watch the hell out of that.
Sure! Why not? I am in agreement regarding casting a Latino (or Asian) actor, but tbh, if they are gonna keep making these lame movies, the least they could do is shake up their casting a bit. I finally watched Black Panther last night and it was absolutely the kind of movie I had been waiting for. I LOVED how fresh it was while still incorporating all of the tropes and symbols we have come to expect. It is not a genre I’m typically into, but if they keep making the Black Panther movies I am down!
If I was head of DC, I would totally want someone like MBJ. MBJ wouldn’t sign on to this project without having some kind of control: director, script, long-term vision, etc. He could be the savior of DC if they wanted it to appeal to a broader audience.
I’ll pass. I don’t think Michael B. Jordan would be a good Superman. I could see Sterling K. Brown though or someone like Matthew Goode (I think he was in the running before and may be too old now) or Sam Claflin. Diego Boneta would be a good choice too…..
Although I think a good character actor would be best. Known but not superstar famous. Someone who can rise above the potentially bad writing and directing. Bale wasn’t that famous when he took on Batman, and that’s why it worked. Having a huge name can distract from people being able to buy that person as Superman.
That’s my biggest problem with Affeck. I don’t see Batman, I see Affleck playing dress up as Batman.
I was personally hoping MBJ would be on the very short list to play The Badass Jon Stewart in the Green Lantern movie but that’s wishful thinking on my part. Now this GL fan is all wistful… sigh.
Superman is a classically white character. Although he is an alien so his race should be pliable in the context of casting, but ultimately he has been for eons depicted as white. Casting an actor of colour will be courting backlash and I don’t think DC would like that. Can we stop revising the race of established white characters like the idea of a Black Bond etc. How about newer and fresher characters for people of colour. Recasting charcters with huge fandoms with an actor of colour simply garners backlash which pulls back progress.
If they can cast Dr Who as a woman which has always been male (which omg I’ve been meaning to watch just to support the actress who plays the Doctor I can’t remember her name but she was excellent on Broadchurch) they can cast the traditional white roles with people of color.
Yeah I know. She was so good in Broadchurch. And I am not commenting about whether they would be good in the role or not. I am just talking about backlash it creates.
I tend to agree. People are a bit wary of casting poc merely for the sake of having poc among the main protagonists. Recently there was a historicaly play about the historical Queen Elisabeth I. “The Virgin Queen” and she was played by a black actress. Queen E I. was white and she was the one who started colonialisation. It just rubs the audience the wrong way.
And yes, Superman is kinda white whereas Dr. Who is a figure whose characteristics is his/her changing shape. He/She appears as a man/woman depending on the story and therefore Dr. Who could easily be a poc.
It’s interesting how as recently as a couple years ago Hamm stated that he had turned down multiple roles in comic book movies and his reasons for doing so, mostly the multifilm contracts. It was around the time that Cumberbatch was cast in Dr. Strange after the Joaquin Phoenix casting fell through, probably for similar reasons. Phoenix is now doing a Joker origin movie for DC and Hamm is giving interviews about his interest in a role as long as the script is decent.
Phoenix balked at the promo commitment. Reportedly, Marvel got annoyed with him and ended the talks over it. He was approached by Marvel after Cumberbatch passed originally though.
Personally, they should wait a year or two before trying another Superman.
Tom Welling should be the next Superman – since he already was on tv – or Batman. I loved him on Lucifer and would love to see more of him.
Never Hamm. Never!