Christopher Meloni In Superman 'Man Of Steel': 'Law & Order: SVU' Star Joining Film

Considered to be a sort of police superhero by devoted fans of his long run on "Law & Order: SVU," Christopher Meloni is about to join up with the ultimate crime fighter.

Meloni, the former "SVU" star who announced that he was leaving this spring after 12 seasons when contract negotiations went south, is on the verge of signing on to Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, "Man of Steel," Deadline reports. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Meloni will shoot scenes with Henry Cavill, Superman himself.

Along with Julia Ormond, who signed on earlier this week to play Superman's Kryptonian birth mother Lara Lor-Van, Meloni joins an all-star cast that, aside from Cavill, includes Russell Crowe as Kryptonian dad Jor-El, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Pa and Ma Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Michael Shannon as baddie General Zod.

It may make sense, given his last decade-plus as a detective on "SVU," to cast Meloni as some sort of law enforcement agent, but he's done more than just find rapists on television in his career. He's had a number of movie roles, including in "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" and "Nights in Rodanthe," and he can most certainly do comedy: Meloni recently starred and directed the National Lampoon film, "Dirty Movie," and, perhaps more memorably, had a brilliant turn as a sweater-fondling (NOT cheddar-fonduing) camp cook in "Wet Hot American Summer."

And wouldn't be hilarious to see him play Jimmy Olson?

UPDATE: Vulture reports that Meloni will be playing a general (not Zod, of course) in the film; whether that makes him a good or bad guy remains to be seen. It may be difficult given their similar ages, but he COULD be playing General Sam Lane, father of Amy Adams' Lois. Then again, Lane is an ally of Lex Luthor, the chief rival to Superman who WON'T be in this new movie (at least as the main villain), so that may be completely off, as well.

For more, click over to Deadline.

Comments

[BustMyChops]

07:31 AM on 06/28/2011

When I think Chris Meloni I think Oz. It was a very uneven and unrealistic show. But it had some great performances and scenes. When it was good it cut deep. The dialogue and soliloquies ...at their best..were as good as any you'll ever see. Meloni was perfect on that show. I've never seen a gay character quite like Meloni's "Keller." Tough, charismatic, manipulative, brutal, cunning and unsympathetic..yet totally believable. A scary guy that you wouldn't want to mess with. Hopefully Meloni's future roles offer him the same opportunity to show off his acting skills.

[Amishguy]

12:48 AM on 06/28/2011

After Oz I can never watch him in anything else

[Greatest Darthfruit]

11:59 PM on 06/27/2011

is Kevin Costner gonna be in the movie? crap! the movie is doomed already

[danceswithdata]

09:11 PM on 06/27/2011

Meloni is an extremely talented actor, and it's good to see him moving on. I never cared for SVU at all, I think it was the most mediocre of the series. The finest of all was of course, Criminal Intent, but we see what happened with that. Marishka Hargitay is a fine actor as well, and after 12 yrs it will be nice to see her move into more challenging roles. I remember Chris Meloni once a long time ago on Celebrity Do You Want To Be A Millionaire - he's highly intelligent and very well educated. He was by far, out of all the celebs who appeared, the one who got the most correct answers.

[catherine 12]

07:18 PM on 06/27/2011

I will so miss you on Law & Order SVU as I love your character. Congratulations on your new roll of Man of steel. You are one of my favorite actor's of all times. Good Luck to you. I hope we get to see you on upcoming SVU specials. You will be missed.
Catherine, Seattle, WA

[bdl0715]

05:02 PM on 06/27/2011

He was also very good in playing gay shower scenes in the HBO show Oz!

[fataggie]

04:43 PM on 06/27/2011

He'd make a good Perry White, come to think of it, and Perry hasn't been cast yet AFAIK.

And, please, no (or at least not much) Lex Luthor this time. Give the poor movie a chance.

[SILVANUS]

04:42 PM on 06/27/2011

Good actor and a decent guy.

[Rouvey]

04:25 PM on 06/27/2011

Great actor and a TOTAL HUNK!

[Max Shaw]

03:08 PM on 06/27/2011

He should totally play Lex..IMHO.

[vaf112675]

03:08 PM on 06/27/2011

Maybe he'll be doing a Lex Luthor cameo (he could do the bald villain justice).

Maybe Lex won't be the main villain but we'll actually see how they first meet in this movie.

That would be great.

[KevinMast]

02:55 PM on 06/27/2011

Great casting, great actor.

[DwH]

02:22 PM on 06/27/2011

How can you list his acting roles and omit "Oz" which made him a star?

[ZonaCumia]

02:53 PM on 06/27/2011

The mark of a great actor is proven here. i watched him in oz, but never thought of him on oz when I watched him as a cop. He is a great actor.

[laydeesimba]

01:15 PM on 06/27/2011

Meloni has such great range as an actor. The troubled but good guy cop on L&O, overlapping the psycho gay murdering molestor on OZ (with that hot hot bod!), to Julia Roberts sports fanatic nutty fiance in Runaway Bride - the list goes on. Drama, comedy, TV, films, heros, villans, lead or just voiceovers, he's really so talented. I don't think there is much this well-trained actor can't do!
jmho

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

01:06 PM on 06/27/2011

Loved him in SVU......... this is more like super stupid casting................