'Superman': Henry Cavill Cast As New Clark Kent, Man Of Steel

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... Henry Cavill.

Warner Brothers announced on Sunday that British actor Henry Cavill will take on the role of Superman in the series reboot helmed by director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan. Cavill is best known as Charles Brandon in the Showtime series 'The Tudors.' Now, he'll be the face of the superhero franchise, donning the red cape, as well as the press ticket of alter-ego Clark Kent.

Interestingly, Cavill recently wrapped production on another film in which he plays an unbeatable hero: 'The Immortals,' in which he will play Greek legend Theseus.

Recently, Joe Manganiello was rumored to be up for the part, and previously, 'Mad Men' star Jon Hamm was discussed as a potential Man of Steel.

Cavill nearly played Superman once before -- he was cast as the Man of Steel in director McG's version of the film, though that was later scrubbed for Bryan Singer's eventual release, 'Superman Returns,' which starred Brandon Routh. He also nearly landed the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan's reboot, losing out to Christian Bale.

From /Film, a list of the rumored Superman contenders that lost out to Cavill:

Matthew Goode (Ozymandias in Snyder’s Watchmen) Matthew Bomer (White Collar, Chuck, Tru Calling) Armie Hammer (The Social Network, Reaper, Gossip Girl) Joe Manganiello (True Blood, One Tree Hill, Spider-Man 3) Colin O’Donaghue (The Rite)

The press release from Warner Brothers Pictures and Legendary Pictures follows:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Henry Cavill has won the coveted role of Superman, the iconic superhero.

The film will be directed by Zack Snyder, who stated, "In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield."

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

Cavill recently wrapped production on "The Cold Light of Day" and stars in the upcoming "Immortals," opening this fall.

Targeted for release in December 2012, the new Superman movie will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Comments

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

08:46 PM on 03/28/2011

Jon Hamm would have been so much better!!! No one could outdo Reeves, but at least Hamm would have the right mix – including the humor.

[mrirontrain]

01:12 AM on 03/28/2011

What a shame. This new Superman movie sounds interesting and no one will ever see it.. you know cause it doesn't come out till late December 2012. We're supposed to all be gone by then. Sucks to be us.

[greeneyes51654m]

09:04 PM on 03/03/2011

I've collected Superman comics since 1954, and it was always said in those comics that Superman was 6'4". Can't they find someone to fit the billing? Same thing with Batman. In the original comics all the way to the 1970's, Batman was suppose to be 6'4" also. Truly amazing these Hollywood people. They never get it right.

[bigkendallas]

05:56 PM on 03/03/2011

I think alot of the problem is movie maker's don't know what to "do" with Superman.

Here is my suggestions:

1. With all the characters and (factoring in all the comics) thousands of stoylines ...surely they can tap in something other than ANOTHER origin story (yawn).

2. Superman is (argueably) the single most powerful comic -book character out there....some more Super-Stuff, a little more action, and titanic battles would make me get off my butt and into the theatre. Although the Clark-Lois story is apart of things....it can make the movie overly mushy and too soap-opera like.

3. Please .... no more prequels !

4. Believe-it-or-not, there are other antagonists besides Lex Luthor. He doesn't HAVE to be in EVERY movie.
Metallo, Braniac, Darkseid, Doomsday, and of course Zod ( Zod returning would be awesome ! ) are other incredible characters also who can be explored.

Superman is my favorite character, and frankly Superman 1 and 2 were the best, and 3 was also watchable (but not quite as good as the first two), but since then....not so good.

The remaking of the Batman franchise was excellent, due to taking him away from a silly children's character and fulfilling the potential of the character.

With all the creativity in Hollywood - surely we can give the greatest of all comic characters a blockbuster movie worth seeing.

[mardar35]

10:25 PM on 02/03/2011

i really hated that they didn't keep brandon routh. he did a great job as superman. didn't pull off being clark kent like christopher reeve did (but then again no one could). it wasn't his fault that superman returns sucked. but seeing henry cavill makes me think that he can pull it.

all i ask is PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't do another origin story. we know all about superman's early years. they did a great job in the original superman movie. i don't need to see it for a 3rd time.

and leave lex luther on the island....okay?? you have doomsday, darkseid or even zod.

[Dakotadude]

03:00 PM on 03/03/2011

Red Son?

[greeneyes51654m]

09:09 PM on 03/03/2011

I agree. Brandon played a great Superman and I can't understand why they didn't bring him back to finish what he started.

[carl99e]

01:48 PM on 02/01/2011

His new job has been getting a lot of attention. For those that know, he played Albert in "The Count of Monte Christo" movie and was quite good. He has no shortage in the looks or acting department. Good luck with the new gig.

[bagman29]

11:22 PM on 01/31/2011

Never heard of him but Im excited theres gonna be another Superman movie!

[fco1922]

01:58 AM on 02/01/2011

Yeah, we really do need another Superman movie. I think there have only been about 30 of them...

[anen87]

03:06 PM on 01/31/2011

I don't know about you guys but this guy looks rather short for Superman. no?

[fco1922]

01:58 AM on 02/01/2011

182 cm ( 6 feet). Doesn't matter much when he's flying. And he is very, very strong.

[rheuer111]

02:15 PM on 01/31/2011

so handsome and a great actor. he was terrific on the tudors.

[fco1922]

01:59 AM on 02/01/2011

Funny how nowadays there are no "good" actors, only "great" ones. We really do go overboard on the adjectives.

[rheuer111]

09:25 AM on 02/01/2011

omygod, what a great comment! :):)

[Max Shaw]

02:15 PM on 01/31/2011

They might as well have chosen Joey from Blossom...

[beauwulff]

02:08 PM on 01/31/2011

Superman of the new millennium: 5 o'clock shadow and issues.

[Lizard49]

02:01 PM on 01/31/2011

Its Levi Johnston!

[fco1922]

01:42 PM on 01/31/2011

Rumor is they considered Jamie Bamber of Battlestar Galactica...until they discovered he was only 5 feet tall and couldn't act his way out of a fight.

[gditty]

01:37 PM on 01/31/2011

I'm waiting to see how he's going to handle his "baby daddy" dilemma with Lois. They should do a scene on the Maury Show.

Pay your child support Superman!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt2i0ts-uck

[dizzypdx]

01:21 PM on 01/31/2011

Is it just me, or does he look like the guy from "White Collar"? I'm watching "The Tudors" on BBC America, so I don't really know who the character is yet.

[gemini68]

01:50 PM on 01/31/2011

No I watched the Tudors when it originally aired in America on Showtime and I watch White Collar all the time. You'll see- they look very different from each other. At least they do to me.

[fco1922]

02:00 AM on 02/01/2011

I know why, I know why. I know why they look different. Because they are two different people!

[Carbon Forteetoo]

07:44 PM on 01/31/2011

The guy from White Collar is all "face." He's never seen the inside of a gym. He'd have to spend a year training and shooting epic amounts of nad shriveling 'roids to get ready to be Superman.

He's great in White Collar though.

[gemini68]

10:09 AM on 02/01/2011

I love Matt Bomer! I think he's gorgeous- though his eyes can look a bit crazed at times because they're such a light blue. Henry Cavill has the perfect jawline for Superman. He looks like the comic!