A recent Tweet showed that the upcoming Superman film will continue a standard for the actor playing the iconic character. As a character, Superman mixed strength, charisma, and kindness with a bumbling everyman alter-ego, and every Superman actor had to convey these aspects to make the character believable in live action. There have been many iterations of Superman over the years, with each actor bringing something different. Christopher Reeve set the bar when he appeared in 1979’s Superman and gave a performance that captured Clark Kent’s comedic nervous energy while embodying Kal-El’s striking physicality and humanity.

In 2006, Brandon Routh played the character in Superman Returns. While his appearance resembled Reeve in previous films, his performance made Superman and Clark Kent more relatable. During the Snyderverse era, Henry Cavill provided a different feel and emphasized The Man of Steel’s more conflicted side. The actor cast in the latest Superman film is David Corenswet, who has turned in solid performances in films like Pearl and The Greatest Hits. His casting is a reminder of one of the biggest strengths across many of the films that brought Superman to life.

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Corenswet’s casting as Superman prompted a recent Tweet which included his headshot along with the other three actors who played Superman on the big screen. The post, courtesy of @CBMoviefan comes with the caption: “Why do movie studios keep choosing these Superman lookalikes to play Superman??” Although the tone is presumably lighthearted, it brings attention to a factor that unites every one of the seven live-action Superman films to date: every actor who has played Superman has been praised, even when the quality of some films was the subject of debate.

Reeve’s performance was seen by many as the gold standard for Superman on the big screen. Routh’s portrayal was so solid that the CW brought him back for a major Arrowverse event in 2019. When he stepped into the role in the Snyderverse, Cavill’s Superman featured subtle details that gave viewers something different and captured the character’s more nuanced, conflicted side. Even though films including Superman Returns, Superman IV, and Man Of Steel were divisive, the casting of the character across these movies tended to be spot-on.

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James Gunn next to picture from Superman (previously Superman: Legacy)

Custom image by Sean Migalla

Corenswet’s career to date has already shown that he is a dependable actor with presence, and James Gunn’s casting in other superhero movies like Guardians Of The Galaxy and The Suicide Squad shows he had an exceptional ability to cast actors who do well bringing superheroes to life. Although the new Superman film isn’t out until 2025, the film has already attracted a lot of goodwill, with past actors in the franchise posting support for new actors who have been given major roles in the upcoming film.

It’s clear from what Gunn has shared so far that he is passionate about the upcoming Superman film and also the future of the DCU. Corenswet’s casting was similar to his predecessors in that he is a young actor given a pivotal role and a fresh opportunity to bring his take on one of the best-known comic characters of all time. Both Gunn and Corenswet must be aware of the level of expectation for their new film, so the early signs are already in place that they are doing their very best to deliver an exceptional movie.

Source: CBMovieFan/Twitter

Superman Legacy Comic Cover

Superman (2025)

Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Superhero

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.’ rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”

Director

James Gunn

Release Date

July 11, 2025

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers

James Gunn

Cast

David Corenswet
, Rachel Brosnahan
, María Gabriela De Faría

Franchise(s)

DCU

Upcoming DC Movies

Release Date

Joker: Folie à Deux

October 4, 2024

Superman

July 11, 2025

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

June 26, 2026

The Batman – Part II

October 2, 2026.