Casting Kal-El

[FireStormTrooper]

I didn't see a casting thread so I posted a new one. So, onto the latest rumor ... what's this about Jim Cavaziel (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST) being tapped for the role of Superman???

I like Cavaziel. He was great in FREQUENCY (a Father's Day flick if there ever was one). Haven't seen PASSION yet (maybe the only person I know who hasn't), but I heard nothing but glowing reviews. Kinda funny, both Cavaziel and rumored front-runner Henry Cavill were in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO as father and son. And now they're BOTH being considered for the same role of Clark Kent, even though there's like a 15-year age difference between them???

Ironic, no?

[Zac]

I agree, Jim Cavaziel is a fine actor, but I don't want to see him as Supes. For one, I couldn't see him bulking up near enough to look the part, and plus, if he played Superman, that would be 2 of the most iconic characters in the world under his belt, Jesus and Superman! After that, there's just no stopping him!

[brokenstatue2001]

Hey, I never saw "The Passion" either!


I can say that Jim Caviezal is a fine actor (The Count of Monte Cristo 1 word review "excellent!"). But I've been pushing for Jason Behr for a long time coming, and (please, no hit!) I could see Brendan Fraser doing a decent Superman, too.

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"Even homicidal maniacs have feelings." -Jon Stewart

[WC]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Zac:
I agree, Jim Cavaziel is a fine actor, but I don't want to see him as Supes. For one, I couldn't see him bulking up near enough to look the part, and plus, if he played Superman, that would be 2 of the most iconic characters in the world under his belt, Jesus and Superman! After that, there's just no stopping him!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, considering actors such as Jude Law have been suggested for Superman before (who would find it even harder to bulk up for the role), then by that same reasoning Caveziel should get a shot. He could use his experience at playing Jesus to inject some of those same characteristics into the role of Superman. Of course, I'd rather see an unknown actor take the role, just like Christopher Reeve was in the 1970s. But it would have to be an actor who doesn't look so modern and hip as to become outdated. He needs to look very classical and timeless. If we could find a modern day Gregory Peck or someone like that, he would be perfect for both Superman and Clark Kent.

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Meoww! Send in the clowns!

[Oldsoul3300]

--I'm sure I'm going to get ripped to shreds for saying this...
but part of me would like to see Will Smith play Superman.
*pause for angry shouts*
I realize that many of you will say that Superman is white... and you're right, he has been white in every incarnation I have ever seen of the character (not counting Steel, as that wasn't really Superman).

But then I start thinking... this guy is an ALIEN... he really should transcend any human ethnicity. Granted, this character is an icon, and everyone pictures a well-built caucasian with dark hair in the role.

For some reason, that doesn't really matter to me. In my mind, Will Smith fits the role a lot better than Jude Law or Henry Cavill or Josh Hartnet or Jake Gyllenahaal.

The one fear I would have with Smith in the title role is that they would make the film a "Will Smith movie"... with his signiature style of wisecracking humor and whatnot. And that's something I definitely would NOT want to see.

Smith is a really decent actor, and I think if he played the role straight, he'd do a great job.

With that said, I don't think that's ever going to happen and I would prefer someone like Brendan Fraser or Billy Crudup in the role.

[FireStormTrooper]

You know, maybe someday Superman will be played by a non-white actor ... but I don't see that happening for a very, very long time. As long as the majority of Americans are white, so will Superman be portrayed as such. Now, ask me that same question around 2050, when the ethnic percentage of this country is likely to top 50% (currently non-white Americans make up 25% of the U.S. population), then perhaps Superman's appearance may adapt with the times. But for now, the answer is no.

Anyway, going back to the casting issue, what do you make of the Superman / X-Men connection? Superman's already stolen Wolverine's directors, and now it appears he will be taking some of his writers as well.
What next? JAMES MARSDEN (Cyclops in "X-Men" and "X2", also in "The Notebook") for Superman? Right height and face? He'd have to hit the gym big-time but he could do it ...

Click on this link for an open letter from Wolverine to Superman (http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14543,00.html?eol.tkr) regarding this.

[FireStormTrooper]

So now Jim Cavaziel is publicly stating in an interview (was it with TV Guide?) that he hopes his next role involves blue tights and a red cape? Given the direction that Bryan Singer wants to take the franchise, this makes a little bit of sense. Singer doesn't want to do an origin story, so there's no need for a very young Kal-El (good-bye, Henry Cavill). I would still much prefer an unknown for the role, especially since Cavaziel has now established himself in THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. He can pull the look of Superman, not sure about the voice, tho. Plus, it'd be weird to see Jesus as Superman, even though the similarities between the two are surprisingly strong ...

[The Xenos]

Yeah,I don't know if I could see Cavaziel as a man sent to this world by his father and becomes humanity's savior with all sorts of mystical powers. Oh.. wait..

Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, Cavaziel isn't bad. Though I don't see him goofy enough for Clark and maybe not.. I dunno.. macho enough for Superman. Though he may have it in him.

Amd wow... I'm not violently opposed to Will Smith as Superman. Then again, after I,Robot becoming a Will Smith blockbuster instead of an Asimov movie or Alex Proyas's new film, I am rather not too fond of Smith.

As for changing Superman's race, I could see it, but I think it would cause too much of an uproar and is too sudden. How much racism is involved in that and how right or wrong that would be is debatable, but I don't want to really get into that. Plus I think you ahve too much established continuity, especially with Smallville and its popularity. Maybe down the line when they want to remake it again and maybe if there was an 'Ultimateized' comic done that way. One of the Malibu heros was like Superman, except that he wasn't human looking and was gentically altered as soon as his adoptive parents found him. They were black so he became black. That was a cool idea. Plus, I bleive it was Brando who suggested to Donner that Kryptonians could ahve been like crystals and non-humanoid.

Actually, I could see a black Lois Lane on this one. Just not Beyonce.. ack... or Halle Berry. Just please keep the rest of the character the same, newpaper reporter

Anyway, Singer is now behind the controls on this one, and I think he can do a great job. For the first time I think I'm happy with the director on this sequel. I hated the idea of Burton with Nick Cageon this, McG sounded brighter but worse in evey other way so who knows who he would have had cast, and Michael Bay sounded too.. well Michael Bay. All I ask for is a competent fan (or more) of the book directing and/or producing things. With things like Daredevil the guy was a fan, but I think pretty incompetant on how to make such a film. Affleck was a fan too, but wasn't too impressive in the role, his fault or not. With Catwoman we struck out on both director and star on both being a fan of the source and competence.

Anyway, with a good director now, I no longer have many fears on the casting. Well, unless Warners really tries to be huge jackasses and tries to mess around with the film and casting.

-Xenos

[brokenstatue2001]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Xenos:
<B> Plus, I bleive it was Brando who suggested to Donner that Kryptonians could ahve been like crystals and non-humanoid.

-Xenos</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, Brando was trying to convince Donner to replace him with a suitcase in that scene.
And I don't think that Will Smith in the running for Superman, I mean, c'mon. Plus he already protrayed two white characters in the movies already (Men In Black (his part almost went to Chris O'Donnell) and Wild Wild West). And I'm not too fond of the of Jim Caviezal as Superman. Maybe, knowing Bryan Singer, he could bring up the idea of James Marsden as Supes. If you listen to his commentary on X-Men, you can tell thathe enjoyed working with him and said that they haven't used him enough. What do you think?

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"Even homicidal maniacs have feelings." -Jon Stewart

[MarcoPolo]

Jim Cavaziel is a good casting for Supe's in my opinion. He can play the dopey innocent Clark Kent with ease. Proof of this is how he played two different types of characters in "The Count Of Monte Cristo". In the first half of the flick, he is an innocent and dopey frail man. While in the end he plays a strong courageouse and confident man. This is what Superman is all about no? And he most deffinately has the look.

[FireStormTrooper]

OK, assuming they've dropped the unknown angle ... quick poll on established stars who could play Kal-El (alphabetically) ...

A.) Affleck, Ben (DOGMA)
B.) Burns, Ed (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN)
C.) Cavaziel, Jim (COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO)
D.) Fraser, Brendan (GODS & MONSTERS)
E.) Marsden, James (THE NOTEBOOK)
F.) Pitt, Brad (TROY)
G.) Welling, Tom (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN)

[MarcoPolo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FireStormTrooper:
<B>OK, assuming they've dropped the unknown angle ... quick poll on established stars who could play Kal-El (alphabetically) ...

A.) Affleck, Ben (DOGMA)
B.) Burns, Ed (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN)
C.) Cavaziel, Jim (COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO)
D.) Fraser, Brendan (GODS & MONSTERS)
E.) Marsden, James (THE NOTEBOOK)
F.) Pitt, Brad (TROY)
G.) Welling, Tom (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN)

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Let me just say:
A.)NO FRICKIN" WAY
B.)NO FRICKIN" WAY
C.)ABSOLUTELY
D.)NO FRICKIN" WAY
E.)Hmmmmm..maybe..
F.)NO FRICKIN" WAY
G.)ABSOLUTELY

[brokenstatue2001]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FireStormTrooper:
<B>OK, assuming they've dropped the unknown angle ... quick poll on established stars who could play Kal-El (alphabetically) ...

A.) Affleck, Ben (DOGMA)
B.) Burns, Ed (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN)
C.) Cavaziel, Jim (COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO)
D.) Fraser, Brendan (GODS & MONSTERS)
E.) Marsden, James (THE NOTEBOOK)
F.) Pitt, Brad (TROY)
G.) Welling, Tom (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN)

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ok, I'll just say if I can imagine them as a good Superman (please, no hitting my face when I'm done)
A.)No. Where did you get that idea?
B.)No. This one, too.
C.)Kinda, not really loving it though.
D.)Yeah, I can see him as Supes. (MERCY!!)
E.)Yeah, I can see him doing a good job.
F.)Not really
G.)No. Why don't you just bring up Dean Cain, also?

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"Even homicidal maniacs have feelings." -Jon Stewart

[FireStormTrooper]

Ben Affleck only came up because back when Kevin Smith was writing the script (circa '98 -'00), that was his first pick to play Superman. Smith even makes it public in a back issue of Wizard. I mean, yes, Ben's the right height and about the right age back then, but I never saw Superman coming out of him.

On a side note, can you believe that Warner Bros. got the rights back to the Superman film franchise (they let them go in around '87 and the Salkinds kept the license to make SUPERBOY: THE SERIES) back in 1993 and have been trying to make a Superman movie ever since ??? 11 years now, they've been trying and not a single roll of film has been shot! This is a new level of incompetence. Yes, WB churned out LOIS & CLARK for a few seasons and now SMALLVILLE's doing well ... I don't know, maybe they should write a book called "MAKING THE SUPERHERO: The Twelve-Year Campaign to Bring Superman Back to the Big Screen". There's got to a lot of interesting stories there about all the people involved ... Tim Burton, Nic Cage, Kevin Smith, McG, Brett Ratner, Bryan Singer, etc. I'd read it.

[FireStormTrooper]

So, uhh, what do you guys think of director Bryan Singer approaching Tom Welling for the lead role in the next Superman movie? 'Cuz apparently that's what's happening ...

I'm not happy with this development if it's true, even if it's just in the talking stage. Signing Welling would be making the next Superman movie into a two-hour SMALLVILLE episode. Hey, why not Michael Rosenbaum for the adult Luthor, etc, etc.

I'll be honest ... I stopped watching SMALLVILLE sometime last season. I think it's a good experiment on the Super-mythos and a decent show in its right. But I don't think that tying the next movie to SMALLVILLE is a good idea at all. The movie should be its own identity, not a movie adaptation of a TV series. Hopefully, this doesn't pan out, as Welling is said to be extremely reluctant to be further typecast himself as Kal-El.

I would have thought Singer was more original than this. Cavaziel, Marsden, even Pitt are looking like much better choices to me right now.

[FireStormTrooper]

The SUPERMAN-XMEN connection keeps getting stronger ...

First, Supes snatched X-Men's director Bryan Singer (and a couple of Singer's crew to boot).

Now, he's talking to Patrick Stewart ... for the role of Jor-El??? Wtf? If Mr. Stewart wants in on another c2f, why do another "founding father" type role? Hopefully, Jor-El is just one of the possibilities for Stewart, since there IS a role I would absolutely love to see him play in a Superman movie: Lex Luthor.

Think about it: Lex would NEVER sound as authoritative and intelligent than he would with Stewart acting the part. Plus, isn't time he played a truly fearsome villian?

In fact, let's continue this train of thought, since we're recycling c2f casts ...

James Mardsen (Cyclops) for Kal-El ... I really do like this idea more and more
Patrick Stewart (Professor X) for Lex Luthor
Brian Cox (General Stryker) as Perry White
Tyler Mane (Sabretooth) for Metallo
Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) for Jimmy Olsen
Kelly Hu (Lady Deathstrike) for Lois Lane

OK, that last one was maybe kinda out there, but the rest could make the transition easily. What do you think?

[Bigg-El]

Hmmmmmmm... I've got quite a few different ideas...

Ric Hurst (General Hospital)
Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible/ ONLY because he looks SOMEWHAT like an older Tom Welling)
Jake Gyllenhal (Big Fish/ did I spell his last name correctly?)
Jim Cavaziel (Frequency)
Tom Everett Scott (Dead Man On Campus)
Matthew McConnaughy (EDtv/ did I spell his last name correctly?)
Brendan Fraser (Encino Man)
Jason or Jeremy London (Mallrats/ Dazed and Confused)

I only chose these actors based upon their acting ability and looks (jet black hair, blue eyes, square jaw). I KNOW there are those who don't agree and that's cool. I accept and respect that.

I have to say in all honesty that I enjoyed Dean Cain in the role of Clark Kent/ Superman on "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," but can no longer picture him in the tights and cape. I think he's an OKAY actor, and was good for that time period (the 1990s), but he only got the role (I feel) becuase of his looks and "sex appeal."

There are so many other characters to cast, and I have many more ideas, but I'm sure enough of you are rolling your eyes and thinking that I don't know what I'm really talking about as things stand.

[Sonic1002]

I can see it now: "Jesus Christ: Superhero".

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Now comes the part where I relieve you, the little people, of the burden of your failed and useless lives. But remember, as my plastic surgeon always said: if you gotta go, go with a smile.
-Joker

[FireStormTrooper]

I don't have a problem with Jim Cavaziel as Kal-El. None at all. I think it's been established that Singer's movie will not be an origin movie but Superman as played by an adult in his physical prime (i.e. 30-35 years old). With that criteria in mind, I'd find the following actors perfectly acceptable:

- Jim Cavaziel (just look at his name "Cavazi-El" and his resume)
- James Marsden (this one keeps growing on me, plus it adds to the Supes/X-Men connection)
- Brendan Fraser (can definitely do the shy Kent and the buff Superman roles, but may be too famous and almost too old now)
- Tom Welling (if they could wait a year or two, give him a haircut and let him really hit the gym ...)
- Henry Cavill (yes, he's a young 22 right now, but he can play older than that, and he's basically unknown)

[bottleHeD]

Man, i'd say James Spader could have done the role, maybe if he was 5 years younger.

I saw him in Supernova yesterday, and he was in fairly good shape, and if he'd grown his hair out a little, he'd have made a good Kal-El/Clark Kent..

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HeD t r i p p i n '

[imported_StormShadow]

Has anyone mentioned that the idea of Cavaziel being both Jesus and an iconic superhero is nothing new? Cristian Bale also played Jesus in the TV movie 'Mary, mother of Jesus'which he did a fine job in. Not to mention that we had Willam Defoe who also played Jesus in the last temptation of Christ as our Green Goblin. It's starting to become a trend. Jesus and comic book characters...both superpowered beings.

After seeing Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow I can finally see why certain people wanted Jude Law to play Superman though. Especially with dark hair, he really stands out as an iconic, classically handsome actor.

[norrinraad]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by StormShadow:
Has anyone mentioned that the idea of Cavaziel being both Jesus and an iconic superhero is nothing new? Cristian Bale also played Jesus in the TV movie 'Mary, mother of Jesus'which he did a fine job in. Not to mention that we had Willam Defoe who also played Jesus in the last temptation of Christ as our Green Goblin. It's starting to become a trend. Jesus and comic book characters...both superpowered beings.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting observation. I never really thought of that but you may be onto something here. It could just be too that the actors you're mentioned are so versatile that they lend themselves to different genres with ease.

As for Jude Law, they could do worse than him as Kal-El, that's for sure. At this point I really don't know who I would champion for the role. I know many people here have wanted Cavaziel for the role and, despite his blandness, he would lend the project some definite legitimacy. Spader, on the other hand, is a little too much of a Yuppie Sleazeball to be believable as Supes. Other than Cavaziel, I'm not sure who I would pick at this point.

[imported_StormShadow]

I still like Billy Crudup for the Role. He was in Almost Famous and Big Fish. Great actor and a dead ringer for Superman. While Im on casting I would also like to throw Daniel Day Lewis as my vote for Lex.

[thepurplehippie]

http://img67.exs.cx/img67/9215/loissuperman.jpg

tom welling or victor webster....

[yas3r]

Personally i agree with Bryan Singer going for an unkown. It allows us to see someone as superman as a pose to to .. oh look its jesus as superman..etc.

Tom Welling isnt a bad choice but i can see how he doesnt want to be known as superman for the rest of his life (dont forget we havent seen george reeves, christopher reeves or dean cain in much else).

I think people should keep a more open mind instead of just thinking of the first black haired,blue yed actor that comes to mind as a potntial. JC would bring too much baggage, other choices are too famous or too small.

Bryan Singer is a good director and managed to do a great job with Xmen and Usual Suspects, cast wise.