Nicholas Hoult, Tom Brittney, and David Corenswet brought in for Superman: Legacy screen tests
The actors filmed scenes as both Clark Kent and Superman
Aux News Superman
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios may have narrowed down their search for a new Superman, and—hold onto your cape—it just might be a white man with dark hair! Finally, new opportunities for one of the most underserved demographics in Hollywood! Seriously, though, we actually know some of the actors who are apparently being considered for the high-profile superhero role now, and that’s exciting… even if they do all fit a certain type (that type being: “Looks like Superman does in the comics, more or less”).
This comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which says DC Studios recently held a series of screen tests with (presumably) potential Superman and Lois Lane actors in specific pairs: Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan, Tom Brittney and Phoebe Dynevor, and David Corenswet and Emma Mackey. THR says they were given “several scenes” to film in costume as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and then the men were all brought back to the next day to film scenes as Superman, but only Emma Mackey was brought back to shoot opposite them as Lois Lane (which may or may not mean she’s the frontrunner for that role, or maybe she was the only one available, that’s why it’s a bad idea to read into this stuff too much).
Hoult is the most famous of the dudes, having starred in The Menu and The Great and Renfield. Tom Brittney was in Greyhound (remember that one?) and is better known for his work on mystery show Grantchester. David Corenswet is the least known, having appeared in Pearl and We Own This City. As for the Loises, Brosnahan is, of course, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, while Phoebe Dynevor is on Bridgerton and Emma Mackey is from Sex Education.
We can’t resist questioning the logic of making the men spend two days doing these screen tests just so they can do some of it as Clark Kent and some as Superman, since turning Clark Kent into Superman should be as simple as taking off a pair of glasses, but THR suggests that there’s a lot riding on the simple question of how each actor looks in a full superman suit. Supposedly, Ryan Reynolds got the gig as Green Lantern in the crummy Green Lantern movie partially because he looked better in the costume than everyone else.
It would be nice if modern Warner Bros. were smart enough to not be taking any inspiration from the crummy Green Lantern movie whatsoever, but… well, there is a lot of evidence out there about just how smart modern Warner Bros. is.
32 Comments
Corenswet was good in We Own This City. I haven’t watched Pearl yet.
David Corenswet seems the obvious choice. He’s a good actor, relatively unknown. I love Hoult, he just doesn’t seem like Superman to me.Rachel Broshanan, yes yes yes.
I think Hoult would be a lot more fun as Lex Luthor.
I remember thinking he had that ‘Superman’ look when I first saw him in ‘Pearl’. Would be a good pick.
Seeing that they now BOTH have won the parts, it’s time to celebrate! Plus, I looked into Corenswet’s IMDB, I didn’t realize how many times I’ve already seen him. The man can act!
He’s very good, especially in Hollywood. He graduated from Julliard.
We can’t resist questioning the logic of making the men spend two days doing these screen tests just so they can do some of it as Clark Kent and some as Superman, since turning Clark Kent into Superman should be as simple as taking off a pair of glasses, but THR suggests that there’s a lot riding on the simple question of how each actor looks in a full superman suitI’m glad you’re not the one who handle this franchise. Because differentiating those two character are essentially what made it work.Nobody (possibly Lois) can guess believe that Clark Kent is Superman, not because of the glasses but because how different their attitude, demeanor and how they perceive by others.
Thank you! The biggest accomodatelate that Christopher Reeve received as Superman was how distinctly he portrayed the two characters.
Agree completely. Christopher Reeves was amazing at playing two different characters. Superman and Clark Kent. I can’t believe anyone would question the casting process taking time to test for both characters as they really are two different characters!
I still like Nick Cage. He’s actually from Krypton.
I hope they cast Lois as older than Superman by a few years(and therefore, the actress should be older). Lois is supposed to be a ‘star’ reporter by then. She’s established and respected, and at the top of her game. Rachel Brosnahan, I think could very easily fit that bill.
Plus, Brosnahan has been trained under Amy Sherman-Palladino to babble at people with the screwball-comedy speed of an old-school News Broad, as any Lois worth her salt must.
i haven’t watched many of the DC movies because i wasn’t down with the the way the DCU was working, but damn if Brosnahan-as-Lois wouldn’t bring me back! it would be inspired casting.
I also liked Amy Adams as Lois, even though she only spoke at normal speeds, but I like Amy Adams in everything.
Yes, whatever the issue was with those movies or even the role, it wasn’t Amy Adams’ fault.
I’d be down for her as LL, or any other role really. I’d just mainly be down for her.
I’m not even a Maisel fan, like *at all* and when I saw her name I thought she was perfect.
Nic Cage has bills to pay dammit!
I think Tom Brittney would work best he’s got the jaw line. I think we still need to see Who has the best Clark
I’ve never really considered how important Superman’s jaw line is. How wide is it supposed to be?Fucks sake, is this new guy’s jaw line big enough? What if it’s too small?What the fuck was Gunn thinking? *CHIN-GATE*
“turning Clark Kent into Superman should be as simple as taking off a pair of glasses”You really need to watch the 1978 Superman. Christopher Reeve was a genius at using body language and voice modulation to make Clark Kent distinct from Superman. For a good actor, it’s a lot more than glasses.
In case any proof be needed:
Absolutely!
He grows like a foot in that shot! Perfect physical acting.
I was pretty dismissive of Reeve for a lot of years, but rewatching those movies as an adult, it was clear how absolutely perfect he was for that role.
It’s like he actually changes shape… what a fucking performance.I didn’t mind Cavill as Supes, but his ‘Metropolis’ Clark Kent felt like there was absolutely no concern about needing to create any sort of secret identity. I really hope we get to see a fun Clark Kent portrayal.
That scene still blows my mind every time I watch it.
Yes! ILM special effects artist Todd Vaziri (@tvaziri) has said it’s one of the greatest special effects shots ever and it’s all Reeve’s acting.
I said this before, in a different article, and my opinion hadn’t changed: Corenswet and Mackey ate the perfect Superman and Lois for this new movie. Hoult could be a greta Luthor, but he doesn’t look or “feel” like Supes or Clark. And Brittney looks even less the part. Worse: he looks like a discount bin Cavill. For Lois, Mackey has already pretty much played the character in “Sex Education” (Maeve is basically Lois in a different space and situation). Brosnahan is out of the age-range Gunn intended for these new versions fo the characters and not as fitting in the role as Mackey. And Dynevor shouldn’t be cast because they should stop this thing of casting people who has to literally change their looks when there’re better actors who actually look the part.
I saw David Corenswet in the Netflix series, “The Politician.” The person I was watching with pointed out that he resembled Henry Cavill. Then there was an episode in which another character actually told his character “You look like Superman.” I like how it seems these reactions may end up being ones that foreshadowed the future.
I’m curious if Hoult will try out for Batman in B&TB if he misses out on Superman. He was runner up for Reeves, which might give him a leg up for that role. It would be rough, ending up runner up for both of these roles.
As those in hollywood will tell you, this doesn’t mean anything. These types of casting calls cast a wide net.