@Logan Lerhman
Superman may be faster than a speeding bullet—but the casting process for Superman: Legacy is not. Despite social-media rumors that DC Studios chief James Gunn is “very close” to finding an actor to play the Man of Steel, Gunn himself doused the reports with a dash of kryptonite when he tweeted this week: “Not true. Haven’t had a single talk with a single actor about the role. Just making private lists, prepping material for auditions.”
The rumors apparently originated with Beyond the Trailer’s host Grace Randolph, who had earlier tweeted that a decision was “very very close.” Gunn flatly denied her claim that Logan Lerman was a likely candidate for the role. Though Lerman recently starred in Percy Jackson and Hunters, Gunn claimed ignorance, tweeting tersely, “For the record, I don’t know who that is.”
Gunn quickly tempered his remark by responding: “Guys, this isn’t a dig at the actor. I don’t know lots of actors’ names. Now that you tell me who he is, I recognize him from stuff and think he’s talented. But I’ve never met him, and he’s never been part of a conversation about playing Superman… It’s certainly not any fault on the part of the actor if I don’t know their name.”
The new Superman: Legacy project is being written and directed by Gunn himself; it will be the first feature to be released as part of his and Peter Safran’s restructuring of the DC Universe. Henry Cavill had played the part in earlier releases but he has reportedly “aged out” of the role. The new film will focus on the young Superman’s struggle to integrate two aspects of his personality: his early life on the planet Krypton and his upbringing as the mild-mannered Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas. He will still be “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way,” says the synopsis from Warner Bros.—presuming these virtues still exist in today’s universe of fake news and witch hunts.
Gunn still has some time to make his selection: Superman: Legacy is not scheduled for theatrical release until July 11, 2025, well after the 2024 elections.