Casting for the lead in a major superhero movie is always an involved process. Usually there’s an extended audition period as the studio and filmmakers search to find the perfect person to fill the role, and then they all have to agree on who’s going to spearhead what they hope will be a successful and lucrative franchise. But when it comes to Superman, the casting process is evenmoredifficult. Not only must the actor filling the role physically look the part, but Superman is arguably the most iconic comics character in history – a bastion for good and hope and humanity. In short, it’s a pretty big cape to fill.
And whileHenry Cavill’s time as the Man of Steelisn’t officially over just yet, Warner Bros. is moving full-steam ahead on a new, different Superman movie that will shake things up considerably as it will introduce a Black Superman for the first time on the big screen. Acclaimed author and writerTa-Nehisi Coatesis writing the script for a new Superman movie that will feature a Black Superman, andJ.J. Abramsis producing the film through his Bad Robot production company’s new deal with WarnerMedia.
While the film is still a ways off from rolling cameras, Warner Bros. is currently hard at work searching to find a Black director to spearhead the project, and a Black actor to fill this groundbreaking leading role. It’s entirely possible that their casting search lands on an unknown, but it’s equally possible that the studio decides to secure an established name to play the new Superman just as well-known actors likeChristian Bale,Ben Affleck, andRobert Pattinsonwere tapped to play Batman over the last few reboots of that character.
RELATED:Warner Bros. Is Searching for a Black Director and a Black Actor to Lead the Next Superman Movie
So with this in mind, the Collider staff put our heads together and came up with a wishlist of potential candidates we think would be fine fits for the role of the Man of Steel. Here are our top choices to play Superman, and feel free to sound off with your choices in the comments.
Michael B. Jordan
The first and most obvious candidate here isMichael B. Jordan. The wildly talented performer reportedly pitched Warner Bros. a new take on Superman in 2019, and it’s hard not to see him as a great fit. He’s a terrific actor, he looks the part, and he’s got plenty of franchise experience having starred inBlack Panther, theCreedfilms, and nowWithout Remorse. The only problem here might be his schedule. Jordan is about to make his directorial debut onCreed III, and inrecent interviewswhen asked about the Superman rumors, seemed to deflect and come close to outright denying he was in the running tellingTHR, “It’s definitely a compliment, but I’m just watching on this one.” Whether that holds firm or not, we’ll see, but Jordan would be a great fit.
Jonathan Majors
Fresh off his turn in the critically acclaimed indieThe Last Black Man in San Francisco,Jonathan Majorshad a huge 2020. In bothDa 5 BloodsandLovecraft Countryhe wowed audiences and turned heads, and it’s easy to imagine him doing a tremendous job as the Man of Steel. He’s got the cool confidence and build for it, and holding his own opposite towering talents inSpike Lee’sDa 5 Bloodswas proof enough that he’s got great acting chops. The only complication here may be that he’s already beencast as the villainin Marvel’sAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and while some actors have played different roles in both Marvel and DC movies (includingAnt-Man and the WaspstarLaurence Fishburne), a major villain actor has yet to make that kind of crossover. But still, Majors is certainly worth considering.
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
I’ve been a fan ofKelvin Harrison Jr.since I was blown away by his performance in the 2019 indieLuce, in which he walks a tonal tightrope with ease, but he’s been turning in scene-stealing roles in films likeIt Comes at NightandWavesfor years. He’s shown himself capable of mastering complex characters, and given that Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing this new Superman movie, complexity may very well be what’s called for with this take on the character.
RELATED:Collider Spotlight: Kelvin Harrison Jr. on Acting, Ambition, and Going Toe-to-Toe With Powerhouse Performers
Regé-Jean Page
Talk about a breakthrough performer.Regé-Jean Pageshot up on a number of wishlists as soon asBridgertonstarted lighting up Netflix, and the actor became so immediately in-demand that hedidn’t even have time to returnfor Season 2 of the show that launched his career to a new level. On that romance series, Page turned brooding into an artform, but he’s also got the towering physique to make Superman a formidable force. Right now he’s filming back-to-back roles in theDungeons & Dragonsmovie and theRusso Brothers’ star-studded spy thrillerThe Gray Man, so he’s also getting a crash course in action filmmaking. It’s hard to imagine Page wouldn’t be on a shortlist at Warner Bros. right now.
Jovan Adepo
While Coates’ script is not yet complete, reports suggest that one take on this new Superman movie being considered is setting it in the 20th century – which of course would put it closer on a timeline to the Civil Rights movement. It’s hard to imagine Coatesisn’tgoing to tackle America’s racial problems in a Black Superman movie, and in that regard the film sounds not entirely dissimilar to the approach to HBO’s brilliantWatchmenadaptation. To that end, actorJovan Adepo– who so beautifully filled the role of Will Reeves/Hooded Justice in the show’s Emmy-winning flashback/black-and-white episode – should absolutely be under consideration. There’s a kindness to Adepo as a performer that would suit Superman well, but he’s also proven himself adept at complexity and frustration in projects ranging fromWhen They See Usto theDenzel Washington-directedFences. Acting-wise, Adepo is a quiet powerhouse.
Daniel Kaluuya
Daniel Kaluuyais one of the best actors of his generation, so of course he’d make for a great Superman. TheGet Outperformer now has an Oscar under his belt for his phenomenal performance as Fred Hampton inJudas and the Black Messiah, and in THR’s report on the development of this new Superman movie they notedJudasdirectorShaka Kingas a possibility to helm this new film, which could give Kaluuya a leg up.
Following his turn as Cassius Clay inRegina King’sOne Night in Miami, we now know that not only canEli Goreeact, but he absolutely has the physique to play the Man of Steel. The 26-year-old actor is on the younger side on this list, but he’s been working consistently over the last few years on shows likeThe 100,Ballers, andRiverdale, and withOne Night in Miamihe more than held his own opposite performers likeKingsley Ben-AdirandLeslie Odom Jr.in a difficult, dialogue-heavy production.
John Boyega
An obvious choice maybe, and perhaps he’s alittleon the short side, but no one can doubtJohn Boyega’s talent. The big question here is whether he’d be interested in leading another huge franchise,after being candidabout some frustrations he had with hisStar Warsexperience. He did attempt to launch his own franchise withPacific Rim: Uprising, but that film failed to spawn a sequel of its own, and Boyega moved on to frankly more interesting projects likeSteve McQueen’sSmall Axe. Like Kaluuya, he’s one of the best actors of his generation, and it’d be interesting to see his take on Superman.
William Jackson Harper
Lowkey my favorite choice on this list (as recommended by Collider’s Ross Bonaime),William Jackson Harperfirst broke out onThe Good Placewhere he played a thoughtful, perpetually anxious man. But the glimpse at“Swol Chidi”showed Harper certainly can physically fit the role of Superman, and he’s proven with films likeMidsommar,Paterson, andWe Broke Upthat he’s tremendously adept at drama in addition to comedy. Harper’s the kind of choice that at first might be a little surprising, but who I think could really fit the role quite well – especially if Coates’ script is thinking outside the box and demands the film’s lead actor be as comfortable with drama as he is with action.
John David Washington
If Warner Bros. is thinking high-profile for the role of Superman,John David Washingtonis likely on their list – and for good reason. While he’s a little on the shorter side, Washington more than held his own as a commanding action lead inChristopher Nolan’sTenet, but has also shown himself capable of complex dramatic work in films likeBlacKkKlansmanandMalcolm & Marie. And givenBlacKkKlansmanand his friendship with Spike Lee, Washington would no doubt feel incredibly comfortable exploring the complicated racial implications of a Black Superman arriving on Earth.
