DC Studios has found its new Superman after the wishy-washy decisions to keep Henry Cavill. After a lengthy search, David Corenswet landed the lead role in Superman: Legacy as Clark Kent while Rachel Brosnahan will be the new Lois Lane.
Superman: Legacy will launch the DC’s new universe under James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 1-3, The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker) and his DCU co-CEO, Peter Safran.
Corenswet and Brosnahan outlasted four other actors competing for the lead roles. Gunn filmed screen tests over the June 17 weekend, which included Nicholas Hoult and Tom Brittney who were in contention to play Superman/Clark Kent and Emma Mackey and Phoebe Dynevor for Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane.
Playing Superman does come with some pressure. Even if it’s a desired role, playing the Kryptonian this time around will definitely be under the microscope of many DC fans. Especially with their disappointment of Henry Cavill’s exit.
If that isn’t enough pressure, Corenswet’s Superman will anchor Gunn and Safran’s new DC Universe attempts a course correction after its streak of misses with 2022’s Black Adam, 2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
In a span of a little bit over 40 years, only 3 actors have played the character on the big screen. Christopher Reeve’s career-defining work in 1978’s Superman launched the modern superhero genre. He went on to play Superman for 3 more movies.
Director Bryan Singer (X-Men) tried to reignite the franchise with Brandon Routh in 2006’s Superman Returns serving as a sequel to Reeve’s Superman films. Routh also made an appearance as Superman in The CW’s crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths.
And a decade ago, Henry Cavill starred in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013, which launched the DC Extended Universe and made Cavill a fan-favorite for his work as Clark Kent and his accurate resemblance to Superman from the DC comics. Cavill continued to play Superman in two more movies — Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. He also made a cameo in Black Adam’s mid-credit scene teasing Cavill’s return as Superman until it was announced shortly after that he will not play the part going forward.
Superman: Legacy will the first DC film fully produced under Gunn and Safran. The Flash was released under the new DC heads, a film that was already plagued by Ezra Miller’s public life, earned a disappointing $55 million during its opening weekend.
The upcoming DC film marks a huge career shift for Corenswet as one of pop culture’s most enduring heroes. The actor’s experience includes the Ryan Murphy series The Politician, which was followed by Netflix’s Hollywood. Other credits include HBO series We Own This City and A24 horror sequel Pearl. Corenswet’s other upcoming projects include the Apple series Lady in the Lake and a Twister sequel title Twisters.
Rachel Brosnahan steps into the shoes of Amy Adams who previously played Daily Planet reporter and Superman love interest, Lois Lane. Adams played the character alongside Cavill in Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League. Brosnahan is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her acclaimed series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She rose to even more fame with House of Cards, which earned her an Emmy nomination.
“I completely relate to Superman because he’s everything I am,” Gunn told The Hollywood Reporter in April for a cover story. “He’s somebody who is an outsider who feels like an alien, but also the ultimate insider, because he’s fucking Superman. And that’s kind of like what I feel like.”
Superman: Legacy’s release date is scheduled for July 11, 2025. Gunn is expected to starts filming early next year. The casting search will now continue for Lex Luthor and The Authority — superheroes who are expected to debut in Legacy before headlining their own film.
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