421 replies to this topic

[The Shark]

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures have found their new Man of Steel. Deadline had been hearing for the past weeks that British actor Henry Cavill was the frontrunner for the much coveted Clark Kent/Superman role in this much anticipated reboot. But as of last week, Warner Bros film chief Jeff Robinov hadn't seen Cavill's or the other screentests and made his decision in recent days. Repped by CAA, Cavill just wrapped production on The Cold Light of Day and stars in the upcoming Immortals, opening this fall. Directed by Tarsem Sing, Caville in Immortals plays the he-man Greek warrior Theseus who battles mythological gods including Poseidon, Zeus, Minotaur, and Herecles.Given that set up, Warner Bros clearly has chosen a more macho leading man for Superman than the previous Brandon Routh. And just like it did with Christian Bale in the Batman reboot, the studio has gone with a British actor. In fact, Cavill also auditioned for the Batman role but lost out to Bale in 2005. He also was a contender for James Bond but was deemed too young and lost out to Daniel Craig. Clearly, Cavill is a franchise waiting to happen. He also has a past with Superman. Before Bryan Singer came on to direct Superman Returns and cast Brandon Routh, Cavill had been one of the frontrunner choices for directers Brett Ratner and McG when they were going to helm the picture. That Superman was younger, and this time, the intention was to cast an actor near 30. Cavill will be 28 this year, so things worked out just right for him.

The new film from Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures is being produced by Christopher Nolan and directed by Zack Snyder, who made this statement: “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.” Cavill was born in the Channel Islands and his film credits include The Count Of Monte Cristo. Other producers include Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers. The new Superman is targeted for release in December 2012.

http://www.deadline....s-new-superman/

Hopefully that'll keep him away from Bond.

[zencat]

And Brandon Routh is now George Lazenby.

[MattofSteel]

I feel bad for Brandon. Seemed like a genuinely nice kid who was just thrilled to be playing the part. Spitting image of Chris Reeve, albeit I found his presence as the character to be a bit lacking.

Cavill is a phenomenal choice. Unfortunate that he won't get a crack at 007, always seemed like he was an heir apparent post-Craig.

The choice will go down as a crowd pleaser, too. I can remember people making fan videos featuring Cavill as the S-man 7/8 years ago before Routh was cast.

[dinovelvet]

Hopefully that'll keep him away from Bond.

No doubt. I can't imagine they'd want a second hand actor from a competing 'hero' series. Still, good for him though, he can finally stop being that guy that almost gets the big roles.

And Brandon Routh is now George Lazenby.

Funnily enough, I can see Superman Returns being re-appreciated several years down the line, a la OHMSS.

[marktmurphy]

Batman, Spider-Man and now Superman are all British, eh? And Captain America gets to wander around the streets of Manchester!


Didn't those of us who saw his Bond screentest on here way back say he was very good?

[dinovelvet]

Batman, Spider-Man and now Superman are all British, eh? And Captain America gets to wander around the streets of Manchester!

Well seeing as America's most recent contribution to superheroism was to cast Seth Rogen as the Green Hornet, bring on the Brits! America seems to have such a shortage of superhero types that they're having to double up, with Chris Evans and (Canadian) Ryan Reynolds pulling double hero duty.

[Mr. Blofeld]

What?

The all-American Superman... played by a Brit?

...

No. No thank you; think I'll stay away...

[terminus]

Batman, Spider-Man and now Superman are all British, eh? And Captain America gets to wander around the streets of Manchester!


Didn't those of us who saw his Bond screentest on here way back say he was very good?

I saw them filming Cap round the corner from my usual bus stop one wednesday after I'd been to the cinema with my kid brother - tried to take some pics of the set, but they didn't come out very well. But my kid brother saw Samuel L Jackson one day, he says.

I never saw Cavill's screentest, but he should be a decent choice.

What?

The all-American Superman... played by a Brit?

...

No. No thank you; think I'll stay away...

You'd boycott a movie because an _actor_ is playing a role that's a different nationality to himself? He's an _actor_. I'm surprised you're not complaining because a Human is playing a Kryptonian!

[coco1997]

What?

The all-American Superman... played by a Brit?

...

No. No thank you; think I'll stay away...

Aren't you the one who always aspires to be British?

And I hope you are aware that Christian Bale AKA Batman is Welsh.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I know that, but Superman is supposed to be American; Batman could be any nationality, but Superman needs an American actor behind it... otherwise, he'd be fighting for "tea, crumpets, and a whole lot of bollocks, me love!".

[terminus]

And I hope you are aware that Christian Bale AKA Batman is Welsh.

PS - Welsh = British. It's like someone saying that an American actor is Californian and not American. England, Wales and Scotland are all part of Britain.

I know that, but Superman is supposed to be American; Batman could be any nationality, but Superman needs an American actor behind it... otherwise, he'd be fighting for "tea, crumpets, and a whole lot of bollocks, me love!".

Superman _WILL BE_ American - the actor playing him won't be. ::rolls eyes::

[dinovelvet]

I know - how about a boycott site! Those are always successful. www.cavillnotsuperman.com is probably available

[zencat]

Superman in not American.

He's Kryptonian.

[jaguar007]

What?

The all-American Superman... played by a Brit?

...

No. No thank you; think I'll stay away...

By that logic I assume you have stayed away from OHMSS. James Bond being played by an Aussie

(and no, I was not one of the people who gave you a neg rating)

[Virgosy]

What?

The all-American Superman... played by a Brit?

...

No. No thank you; think I'll stay away...

Strangely - and I say strangely because the actor's nationality should pass after his talent but here... - I agree with you. And I don't understand why CBn's members put you -2... It's Mr Blofeld's opinion, nothing more...


And I'm sure that if James Bond was played by an American after Craig for instance, it would be a scandal. And some people will boycott the film, and so will I... It's a bit off topic here, but I wanted to say it.

[MkB]

What?

The all-American Superman... played by a Brit?

...

No. No thank you; think I'll stay away...

Strangely - and I say strangely because the actor's nationality should pass after his talent but here... - I agree with you. And I don't understand why CBn's members put you -2... It's Mr Blofeld's opinion, nothing more...


And I'm sure that if James Bond was played by an American after Craig for instance, it would be a scandal. And some people will boycott the film, and so will I... It's a bit off topic here, but I wanted to say it.

Yes, to be fair with Mr. Blofeld here, there would probably be a riot on this forum if an American actor was announced as the next James Bond... That said, it seems that British actors are good at accents, as a rule of thumb, and do very well when they are cast in "foreign" roles. Hugh Laurie (aka House MD) comes to mind, for instance: how many people out of the UK suspect he is English to the core, an Old Etonian who read archaeology at Cambridge?

Although, Mr. Blofeld, I must protest: what's wrong with fighting for tea and crumpets? If they are not worth fighting for, then what is?!

Didn't those of us who saw his Bond screentest on here way back say he was very good?

Blimey, I've totally missed that. Is this screentest still available on YouTube or a similar place?

[Loomis]

Hopefully that'll keep him away from Bond.

No doubt. I can't imagine they'd want a second hand actor from a competing 'hero' series.

Uh, who says Cavill was ever going to play Bond anyway? If Eon wanted him, they could surely have had him for CASINO ROYALE, but they chose Craig instead, even though Cavill was a much better fit for the script (which I gather called for a 28-year-old 007) and the whole BOND BEGINS origin story arc.

I think some Bond fans believe that Cavill is the so-called "Bond-in-waiting" and a shoe-in for the role when Craig departs, rather like Brosnan was widely seen as the obvious successor to Dalton, but where's any actual evidence of this? The difference between Cavill and Brosnan is that Brosnan had a large public following as "the next James Bond", whereas Cavill has practically no following whatsoever outside of hardcore Bond fandom. Hardly anyone's heard of him, although that will obviously change now that he's Superman.

And, of course, there's another difference between Cavill and Brosnan: Brosnan was actually cast as Bond in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, but had to bow out because of REMINGTON STEELE, so it's obvious that Eon wanted him. Whereas Cavill was never cast as Bond. He was just one of several also-rans, so it perplexes me that many Bond fans seem convinced that he's a dead cert as the next 007.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Didn't see this one coming...

[dinovelvet]

Strangely - and I say strangely because the actor's nationality should pass after his talent but here... - I agree with you. And I don't understand why CBn's members put you -2... It's Mr Blofeld's opinion, nothing more...

Well, my guess is that some people felt the comment was xenophobic, but they would be wrong. I'm going to give him a +1 just to counteract the unnecessary bashing he's taking because of the comment.

Yes, to be fair with Mr. Blofeld here, there would probably be a riot on this forum if an American actor was announced as the next James Bond... That said, it seems that British actors are good at accents, as a rule of thumb, and do very well when they are cast in "foreign" roles. Hugh Laurie (aka House MD) comes to mind, for instance: how many people out of the UK suspect he is English to the core, an Old Etonian who read archaeology at Cambridge?

Exactly. I made a very similar point not long ago. Brit actors, for whatever reason, seem to be not only better actors, but can brood and emote in a variety of different accents. They are very good at dropping their own accent for a neutral or American accent. Christian Bale is pretty good at it, but at times he seems to overcompensate in some scenes in BATMAN BEGINS, DARK KNIGHT, and TERMINATOR SALVATION.

It seems to be the case that whenever a macho, savage, warrior type brute of a man is needed, Hollywood looks to Britain and Australia. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (replacing Scotsman Dougray Scott), Gerard Butler in 300, Russell Crowe in Gladiator, Sam Worthington in Clash of the titans, some Aussie as Thor. Even Daniel Craig is getting in on the action as an all-American outlaw in Cowboys and Aliens.
Apparently there are so few heroic types available in America that Ryan Reynolds and Chris Evans are doing multiple superhero roles!

Whenever Americans play superheroes, its usually done with slight comic/goofball overtones, as if they can't or won't pull it off seriously - Downey in Iron Man, Nicolas Cage in Ghost Rider (though to be fair, he often can perform goofball and serious simultaneously) most of the Fantastic Four, Ryan Reynolds in the 83 superhero roles he's played, Seth Rogen in Green Hornet, and whatever that Will Smith movie was from a few years ago.

[jaguar007]

Uh, who says Cavill was ever going to play Bond anyway? If Eon wanted him, they could surely have had him for CASINO ROYALE, but they chose Craig instead, even though Cavill was a much better fit for the script (which I gather called for a 28-year-old 007) and the whole BOND BEGINS origin story arc.

I think some Bond fans believe that Cavill is the so-called "Bond-in-waiting" and a shoe-in for the role when Craig departs, rather like Brosnan was widely seen as the obvious successor to Dalton, but where's any actual evidence of this? The difference between Cavill and Brosnan is that Brosnan had a large public following as "the next James Bond", whereas Cavill has practically no following whatsoever outside of hardcore Bond fandom. Hardly anyone's heard of him, although that will obviously change now that he's Superman.

And, of course, there's another difference between Cavill and Brosnan: Brosnan was actually cast as Bond in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, but had to bow out because of REMINGTON STEELE, so it's obvious that Eon wanted him. Whereas Cavill was never cast as Bond. He was just one of several also-rans, so it perplexes me that many Bond fans seem convinced that he's a dead cert as the next 007.

Spon on Loomis. Besides everything we heard Cavhill was Campbell's choice, not Barbara's choice and I'm pretty sure Campbell will not be directing Bond #7's debut.

[The Shark]

This has now been officially confirmed:

Henry Cavill ready to soar as Snyder’s Superman

By Sean O’Connell

Hollywoodnews.com: We’re in a very interesting phase of superhero moviedom, where one major Marvel announcement has to be countered by a D.C. scoop. Hawkeye’s going to cameo in the new “Thor” film? Well, Anne Hathaway’s playing Catwoman. You got set pics of Spider-Man in costume? Fine, then Tom Hardy’s playing Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

This morning, it’s “Superman” news that’s about to burn up the Internet. Warner Bros. Pictures just announced that Henry Cavill will play Clark Kent/Superman in the Zack Snyder-directed “Superman” reboot.

More from the release:

The film will be directed by Zack Snyder, who stated, “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

Cavill recently wrapped production on “The Cold Light of Day” and stars in the upcoming “Immortals,” opening this fall.

Targeted for release in December 2012, the new Superman movie will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

http://www.hollywood...yders-superman/

[jamie00007]

I find it funny all this internet outrage about the actor not being American born when Superman himself wasnt born in America.

If an American can play Sherlock Holmes, the most iconically British character ever (along with 007) than I dont see why a
Brit cant play Superman.

[007th Heaven]

British actor Henry Cavill has been cast as the next Man of Steel in the latest re-boot of the Superman franchise, according to EW.com.

Best known for his role as Charles Brandon on Showtime's "The Tudors," Cavill, 27, will take on the iconic role in director Zach Snyder's film, which is expected to hit theaters in December 2012.

In a statement, Cavill expressed his delight at being cast in the role, which was previously held by the late Christopher Reeve in four feature films in the 1970s and 1980s and Brandon Routh in Bryan Singer's 2006 film "Superman Returns."

Speaking with Deadline.com, a Warner Brothers executive outlined why Cavill was selected for the role.

"He's got an amazing quality. He doesn't look too much like Reeve and Routh but he's big and strong and he has a very modern feel to him [...] We're really going to try and make Superman as contemporary as possible," the executive said.

Action movie fans who are unfamiliar with Cavill will become more acquainted with the actor after this November's "Immortals" is released, where he will portray the mythical Theseus in an ensemble cast that includes Mickey Rourke, John Hurt and Stephen Dorff.
Courtesy of ABC News.com

[mttvolcano]

So I would assume this might rule him out as Bond later on. He'd be maybe too popular, like there was interest of Christian Bale after Brosnan but it was a no go after being cast as Batman, and certainly not him now.

[Napoleon Solo]

And Brandon Routh is now George Lazenby.

Not exactly. Lazenby walked away from his role. The role walked away from Routh.

[The Shark]

Duplicate.

[dinovelvet]

And Brandon Routh is now George Lazenby.

Not exactly. Lazenby walked away from his role. The role walked away from Routh.

Well, Routh was in Zack and Miri make a pørno. Laz was actually IN a pørno (Emmanuelle).

[Mr. Blofeld]

some Aussie as Thor

Actually, Chris Hemsworth is British... which doesn't make sense, because Thor is a Norse god, but hey.

[jamie00007]

Hemsworth is an Aussie. A Melbourne boy.

Edited by jamie00007, 31 January 2011 - 03:07 AM.

[sharpshooter]

Well, he finally got something big. Let's see how he does. He looks like Superman. Regal and rugged.
I also think it's good they cast somebody young, who could potentially play the role younger for some parts of the story. But as people say, this has pigeonholed him and other big parts will be off limits. And if this film flops, I imagine Superman is really done for. But I think it was either take this chance, or get nothing. So good on him.