Michael B. Jordan
If you thought some fans were pissed about changing the race of comic book characters before, this one is really going to be a doozy. But honestly, there would be nothing better than having Michael B. Jordan playing The Big Blue Boy Scout. After all, he’s already seen superhero action as Johnny Storm in the failed
Fantastic Four, not to mention
Chronicle, and he’s totally ripped thanks to
Creed. Beside the traditional heroics, Jordan has the demeanor and presence necessary for Superman.
But more importantly, Michael B. Jordan just played one of the best villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in
Black Panther, showing an intensity that would be interesting to see in Superman. Furthermore, there’s even a sequence where he has a little Clark Kent kind of moment, posing as a museum-goer with ulterior motives. But if you need to see how lighthearted he can be as the Daily Planet reporter, just check out his comedic performance in
That Awkward Moment. (Ethan Anderton)
Glen Powell
Many of Superman’s best stories are also great Clark Kent stories, and while Glen Powell may not instantly strike me as a typical nerd, I think he’d make one hell of a Clark. The relationship with Lois Lane is key, and Powell is quickly becoming a reliable rom-com star with performances in films like
Set It Up and
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. (I mean, let’s just go ahead and cast Zoey Deutch as Lois while we’re at it – she’d be great in that part.) Powell has a traditional All-American vibe to him that would work wonderfully for Clark – maybe he’s working as an intern at a modernized version of The Daily Planet, which is now a popular podcast or something. He could bulk up just a bit for the Superman part of the equation, and while many of his characters have had a mischievous twinkle in their eyes, I think he could drop that and instead project a sense of innate goodness as a new Man of Steel. (Ben Pearson)
Henry Golding
As soon as Henry Golding flashes his mega-watt style at the camera in
Crazy Rich Asians, you know you’re looking at a movie star. Golding’s journey from travel show host to in-demand leading man was an unexpected one to say the least. There are plenty of stories about his “discovery” — how he was referred by an accountant, how
Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu fell in love with Golding’s Instagram, how he landed another major movie role immediately after his first film role ever. But all of them don’t get to the bottom of why Golding is such a heartthrob: it just comes natural. The half-Malaysian, half-British actor radiates an easy confidence that feels even more unvarnished because of his lack of an acting background — the perfect kind of home-grown authenticity you need in a Superman. There’s also a earnestness to him that matches Superman’s much more elusive alter ego, Clark Kent. Golding is already a real-life Superman and a leading man lying in wait — it’s time for him to shine. (Hoai-Tran Bui)
John Krasinski
It’s easy to call Superman a boy scout, a goody-two-shoes, but that’s part of his appeal. Superman is the greatest superhero of all time because he has unlimited power but chooses to be a good, a decent person who always does the right thing. And it’s easy to imagine John Krasinksi “Aw, shucks”-ing his way into those blue tights and red cape like a pro. The former
The Office star has spent years trying to shake off his goofy comedic persona and he’s proven himself to be a thrilling presence behind the camera and in front of it. So it’s time for him to be a superhero and few characters will make better use of his classical good looks and inherent all-American wholesomeness. Krasinski may no longer play dorks, but that side of him would make him a perfect Supes – the awkward Kansas kid with the power of a god. (Jacob Hall)
Armie Hammer
It’s a crying shame that the only true American hero that Armie Hammer has played is
The Lone Ranger. However, there was a time when Armie Hammer was slated to play another DC Comics character. Back when George Miller was working on a
Justice League movie, way before the start of the DC Extended Universe, Armie Hammer was going to be Batman. Unfortunately, the project never got off the ground. But why not let Armie Hammer have another crack at DC Comics glory?
It’s not hard to imagine him as both Clark Kent and Superman. Armie Hammer is charming and affable and would have no problem tapping into the more awkward and goofy side of Clark Kent. Meanwhile, he also has a commanding presence, as we’ve seen in the likes of
The Social Network and
The Man from UNCLE (co-starring Henry Cavill), and he could easily put on the cape to play the version of Superman fans have wanted to see realized for years. Plus, maybe one day Timothee Chalamet can come in and play Jimmy Olsen, and there can be this weird sexual tension between him and Superman all the time. (Ethan Anderton)
John Boyega
What if Kal-El was a black Kryptonian whose spaceship crash-landed in London? If Warner Bros. is looking to find an even more different take on Superman, why not go all the way with it? Give Boyega the part and let him bring some swagger to the role. He’s built his career playing good guys who ultimately make the right decision, so why not give him the opportunity to take that archetype to its logical conclusion? I can already hear the whiners in the comments section: “But Superman is an American character!” Give it a rest, guy. Boyega is charismatic, athletic, and a movie star through and through, and with the right filmmakers around him, it would be super cool to see him fly around with an “S” on his chest and provide a beacon of hope in a bleak world. (Ben Pearson)
Rami Malek
With his bulging eyes and boyish good looks, Rami Malek doesn’t seem like the conventional actor for Superman. But it would be a radical casting choice that could give Warner Bros.’ DC cinematic universe the kickstart it needs. Malek has earned an Emmy for his role as the antisocial hacker Elliot Alderson in
Mr. Robot but has proved to be an accomplished character actor in everything from the family-friendly
Night at the Museum franchise, the HBO wartime series
The Pacific, and the upcoming Queen biopic,
Bohemian Rhapsody. Through all these wildly different roles, Malek nails a certain brand of wide-eyed vulnerability — aided, of course, by his own natural physical attributes. But Malek shouldn’t be defined by this vulnerability — as much as he seems like he’s on the verge of falling apart in his spectacular
Mr. Robot performance — you just watch any talk show interview with him to see how goddamn charming he is. He’s an It Boy just waiting to happen, and Superman would be the perfect role to tap into that. (Hoai-Tran Bui)
Ryan Gosling
Okay, casting someone as popular as Ryan Gosling as Superman may seem like the obvious, eyes-rolling-int0-the-back-of-your-head choice, but hear me out. Gosling may be one of the more popular actors working today, but he radiates a quality missing from so many other movie stars: decency. No matter the whole, there’s something gentle about this guy, something that suggests he’ll take care of you and care about you, no matter what. And for all of his power, this is what makes Superman so special. He could crack the Earth open like an egg, but he instead chooses to protect it from every threat imaginable. Gosling, soft-spoken, inherently melancholy, unusually kind, would make for a wonderful protector. (Jacob Hall)
Andre Holland
In addition to being an incredible actor, Andre Holland excels at playing outsiders. In
The Knick, the actor played the lone black face in a hospital in 1900’s New York. Holland’s character had previously spent time in Europe, where he was welcomed and treated as an equal. Once he came to America, however, he became the subject of scorn and prejudice. A similar fate awaits him in
Castle Rock, where he once again is one of the only African Americans as far as the eye can see, this time in a New England town. Superman is the ultimate outsider – someone not of this world, striving to fit in. In both
The Knick and
Castle Rock, Holland’s characters struggle to maintain their composure even when going up against unabashed racism. He’s also incredibly charismatic, bringing am unbeatable coolness to any part he plays. All these factors combined would work wonders to make him a great Man of Steel. (Chris Evangelista)
Nicolas Cage
Alright, I’m sure you think I’m suggesting Nic Cage for Superman as a joke. “Ha ha,” you’re thinking. “This is all a goof, and a reference to that time Cage almost played Superman in Tim Burton’s never-made film
Superman Lives.” But I swear – this isn’t a joke. I know Nicolas Cage has turned into a walking, talking meme at this point, but here’s the thing – he’s a great actor. Sure, he tends to play over-the-top weirdos in low-budget crap now, but he still has the chops to turn in a great performance. If you don’t believe me, just check him out in
Joe or
Mandy. Cage is a pro, and he takes every part – no matter what the film – extremely seriously. Sure, the actor is a bit of a weirdo, but I’d argue that plays perfectly into the Superman persona. Superman is an
alien, from another
world. Who better to play an out-of-this world character than Nicolas Cage? I know Cage isn’t in the best shape at the moment, but that’s fine. Imagine him playing an older, wearier Man of Steel. And imagine him bringing that trademark Nicolas Cage intensity to the part. Don’t lie: you’d watch that. (Chris Evangelista)