Things have been far from smooth-sailing over at the DCEU the past few years. The casting is amazing and spot-on, like Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and Ben Affleck as Batman – I know some of you will disagree with me about the latter, but I do think he really captures the world weariness of an older Batman. Despite the amazing cast, the films have failed to capitalise on the talents of those involved, and have been mostly average – with the exception of the first Wonder Woman film.
So it was actually a relief to hear about the reboot, even though there’s also the sadness that comes with knowing that most of these roles are going to be recast. I was part of the internet mob that cried out at Henry Cavill’s removal as Superman, especially since we never got a sequel to Man of Steel. He’s such a good Superman, and it’s a shame that we only got a handful of films with him in the role. While I emotionally do not agree with the decision, I can understand where James Gunn and Peter Safran are coming from. They want a clean slate, and recasting with a younger actor will give them more of a runway to do more films.
After all the casting news, I’m actually starting to get really excited for Superman: Legacy, and here are the five reasons why.
1. David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent
The internet is divided when it comes to who David Corenswet resembles. Some have said that he looks so much like Henry Cavill, and perhaps this is one of the reasons why he was cast. Others have compared him to Smallville’s Tom Welling, with that boyish, all-American charm. Considering that both those actors played Superman/Clark Kent, I would say these comparisons are a good thing. He’s got the height, appearance and build of Superman – it doesn’t get much better than that.
He’s also a really versatile actor. When I saw him in Pearl, I didn’t even realise that I’ve seen him in so many other movies and shows, like Look Both Ways with Lili Reinhart and Ryan Murphy’s mini series Hollywood. This versatility is necessary, given that he’s going to playing dual roles, as Superman and Clark Kent. The previous Cavill Superman films never really focused much on Clark’s dual life, and the complexity that it brings to his relationship with Lois. We never really got to see Cavill toggle with these two identities in the way that Christopher Reeve did. Corenswet has the acting chops to make this happen.
2. Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
If anybody disagrees with Brosnahan’s casting as Lois Lane, I urge you to watch her in the series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She’s won an Emmy, two Golden Globes and two Critics’ Choice Television awards for her performance as Mrs. Maisel. Just watch any little snippet of the show, and you’ll see why she’s cast. She’s got great comedic timing, and makes Midge such a relatable character. Lois Lane is smart, fearless, and absolutely magnetic, which Brosnahan demonstrates in spades as Midge. She’s a tremendous talent, and will absolutely kill it as Lane.
Much like Corenswet’s casting, Brosnahan looks like how I would expect Lane to look like. The height difference between the pair, with Brosnahan at 5’3 and Corenswet at 6’4, is exactly how it’s like in the comics, which will be a treat to get to see on screen.
3. James Gunn as Writer and Director
James Gunn has given us The Suicide Squad, all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies, as well as the Peacemaker series. I think it’s safe to say that he’s the best person we could possibly want on the project. He’s experienced with comic book movies, and has shown us time and time again that he knows these characters and cares about their arcs. He is also able to bring humour and lightness to the screen, while exploring darker and more poignant themes.
Gunn also doesn’t always direct everything he writes, so the fact that he feels so strongly about the script that he’s eager to take on the directing job says quite a fair bit. He explains how important the project is to him in a series of tweets, so I think it bodes really well for the movie that it has someone who cares so much in the director’s chair.
4. It’s Not an Origin Story
When Safran and Gunn were in the process of planning for a whole new DC universe, they promised that Superman wouldn’t be an origin story, and that’s clear from the later details Gunn released. Gunn said: “He’s working. He’s a reporter. He’s at the Daily Planet. Again, we’re coming into a world where superheroes exist and have existed. So, does that mean Batman might be a couple years older than Superman? Yes, it could be.”
The origins of Superman has been explored plenty with the TV series Smallville, and we also got a taste of that with Man of Steel. It’ll be good to jump into a narrative where Clark is already established as Superman, to see how he handles the responsibilities of being a superhero and his own personal life. Much like how Matt Reeves’ The Batman brought us immediately into the world of Gotham and the reality of Bruce Wayne as the caped crusader, it’s great that Superman: Legacy will be taking the same path.
5. The Film Marks a Return to the Character’s Roots
Cavill’s turn as Superman in the various films is a darker, more gritty version of Superman than we’re used to. In the comics, Superman’s optimistic, idealistic, gentle and compassionate. He sees the horrors that exist in the world, but chooses to believe in the good of others, and he’s consistently hopeful that things will get better. We haven’t seen this version of Superman on the big screen for a hot minute, and based on what Safran mentioned before, it seems like this is the Superman we’re going to get.
He said that the film “focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage, with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.” Also, in an interview way back in 2019, Corenswet mentioned that playing Superman is his “pie-in-the-sky ambition”. He went on to elaborate that he would want to play a version of Superman that is “bright and optimistic”. Given the fact that he’s been cast, it’s safe to say that’s the version we’re probably getting, and I for one can’t wait.
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