By Numerous actors have slipped on the Superman cape over the years in film and television, with the likes of Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill and David Corenswet landing the part on the big screen in modern times.
But some other big names were also up for playing the last Son of Krypton in past films from Nicolas Cage who went as far as costume fittings for Tim Burton’s aborted “Superman Lives,” to DJ Cotrona who was to play the role for “Mad Max” filmmaker George Miller in his scrapped “Justice League” film.
Two names that were linked back in the early 2000s to the J.J. Abrams-penned “Superman: Flyby” project were Jude Law and Matt Bomer, both of whom have recently spoken publicly about their experiences.
Speaking with The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast to promote his film “Firebrand,” Law was asked about his time being up for the Superman role at a time when Brett Ratner was slated to direct the film. He says:
“So this is true. Yeah. And there was a process of flirtation going on. And I always resisted because it just felt like [off]. And I know you can say, ‘Well, but you played Yonn-Rogg and Dumbledore!’ It just felt like a step too far.
And it was when Brett Ratner was going to direct, I think. And they didn’t have a script, if I remember rightly. Did they have a script? I don’t remember reading one. This is a long time ago. They brought me the suit. They thought, ‘This might change your mind.’
No, it wasn’t the Reeve suit. It was a kind of like it was more metallic. Anyway, I tried on and I looked in the mirror and part of me initially was like, ‘Wow, this would be a [good thing],’
Then I just thought, ‘No, you can’t – you can’t do this. You can’t.’ And I didn’t sell myself to myself. And I stepped away and the film never happened anyway. So maybe it probably wouldn’t have done anything.”
Bomer meanwhile, still soaking in the praise for his work on Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers” and seeing his “White Collar” series generating interest again on Netflix, talked about his time on it according to THR.
Bomer was famously the top choice for the role at the time with a lot of people behind the casting:
“I went in on a cattle call for Superman, and then it turned into a one-month audition experience where I was auditioning again and again and again.
It looked like I was the director’s choice for the role. This is a very early iteration of Superman written by J.J. Abrams, called ‘Superman: Flyby,’ I think is what it was called, and it never came to light.”
The outlet asked the openly gay Bomer if his sexuality came up during the casting process and Bomer indicates his coming out was the reason he didn’t land it:
“Yeah, that’s my understanding. That was a time in the industry when something like that could still really be weaponized against you. How, and why, and who, I don’t know, but yeah, that’s my understanding.”
Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker, Brendan Fraser, Ashton Kutcher, David Boreanaz, Victor Webster and James Marsden all either met, auditioned, tested or were offered the role at some point.
The project ultimately fell apart in development, leading to the rise of Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns”.
The post Law, Bomer Talk Missing Out On “Superman” appeared first on Dark Horizons.
