20 Actors Who Almost Played Superman

You know how sometimes the perfect role just slips through an actor’s fingers? Well, Superman might just be the king of “what-if” castings in Hollywood. While we’ve all grown up watching Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and Henry Cavill sport those iconic red boots, there’s a fascinating parallel universe of potential Supermen that never made it to the screen.

From A-list movie stars to up-and-coming talents, the list of actors who almost played the Last Son of Krypton reads like a who’s who of Hollywood. Let’s dive into 20 actors who came super close to wearing that famous ‘S’ shield!

20 Nicolas Cage

Here’s a wild ride for you: imagine Nicolas Cage as Superman. No, seriously! Back in the late ’90s, this wasn’t just some crazy fan casting – it was actually happening.

Tim Burton, fresh off his Batman success, was all set to direct Superman Lives with Cage in the lead role. The project got so far along that there are actual photos of Cage in the Superman suit, and let me tell you, they’re something else.

The costume had a weird electric-blue look, and the whole project was going to be absolutely bonkers in the best possible way. They even got as far as building sets and designing creatures before Warner Bros. pulled the plug due to the ballooning budget.

The fascinating story of this unmade film was later explored in the 2015 documentary The Death of ‘Superman Lives’: What Happened? which revealed tons of behind-the-scenes footage and concept art.

More recently, Cage’s Superman made an unexpected appearance in The Flash (2023), where a CGI version of his Superman caused quite a stir among fans. Many criticized the digital recreation as unnecessary and questioned whether Cage had given permission for his likeness to be used, though Cage later confirmed he wasn’t involved in the cameo.

Looking at Burton’s track record with comic book movies, we can only imagine how wonderfully weird his full version would have been.

19 Sylvester Stallone

Here’s a fascinating piece of Superman casting history that shows how differently studios and directors can see things. Back in the ’70s, when Superman: The Movie was coming together, Sylvester Stallone‘s name came up in a pretty interesting way.

Fresh off the success of Rocky, Sly was becoming a major force in Hollywood, and the film’s casting director thought he’d be perfect for the Man of Steel. Producer Alexander Salkind was all for it – he wanted a big name for the role. But director Richard Donner? He had a completely different vision.

Donner, who he himself admits was “some punk kid” at the time, found himself in the awkward position of meeting Stallone in his manager’s office. Despite Stallone being genuinely interested in the role, Donner stuck to his guns about wanting an unknown actor.

As he later told The Hollywood Reporter, he tried to be as diplomatic as possible, remembering Stallone as “a nice guy” even though he had to turn him down. Talk about a tricky situation – a young director having to tell one of Hollywood’s rising stars that he’s “wrong” for a role he really wanted!

18 Joe Manganiello

You might know Joe Manganiello as the ridiculously ripped werewolf from True Blood or as Deathstroke in the DC universe, but there was a time when he was this close to becoming our Man of Steel. Before Henry Cavill was chosen for Man of Steel, Manganiello was one of the serious frontrunners for the role. And honestly? It made perfect sense.

The guy’s got the perfect mix of physical presence and acting chops, plus he’s a massive comic book fan – he even played Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man way back when. Unfortunately, he had commitment towards True Blood and had to miss out on it. While he didn’t get to wear the cape, he did eventually join the DC family as Deathstroke, proving that sometimes these things have a way of working themselves out.

17 Matt Bomer

Here’s a bit of Superman trivia that’ll blow your mind: Matt Bomer was practically fitted for the cape when Brett Ratner was attached to direct a Superman movie in the early 2000s. With his chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes, Bomer seemed like he was literally born to play Clark Kent.

The project ultimately fell apart, but the universe has a funny way of making things right – Bomer later got to voice Superman in the animated movie Superman: Unbound and absolutely knocked it out of the park.

It’s one of those perfect casting choices that just never quite made it to live-action, though Bomer’s successful career, including his stellar work on White Collar, proves he didn’t exactly need the boost from playing the Man of Steel.

16 Will Smith

Here’s a fascinating bit of Superman casting history that really shows how Hollywood has evolved over the years. Before Brandon Routh donned the cape for Superman Returns (2006), the role was actually offered to Will Smith. His reason for turning it down? Well, it’s both funny and painfully honest. In a 2008 interview with MTV, Smith quipped,

The script came, and I was like, ‘There is no way I’m playing Superman!’ Because I had already done Jim West [of ‘Wild Wild West’], and you can’t be messing up white people’s heroes in Hollywood! You mess up white people’s heroes in Hollywood, you’ll never work in this town again!

This was years before Michael B. Jordan‘s casting as Johnny Storm or the conversations about diversity in superhero casting that we have today. While he said it half-jokingly, there was clearly some real truth behind those words. But here’s where it gets interesting: instead of playing the Man of Steel, Smith went on to star in Hancock, his own original superhero movie about a troubled, often-drunk superhero trying to reform his image.

And guess what? Hancock ended up being a bigger box office hit than Superman Returns, raking in $629.4 million compared to Superman’s $391 million. Talk about having the last laugh! It’s a perfect example of how sometimes turning down an iconic role can lead to even better opportunities.

15 Brendan Fraser

You know what’s kind of poetic? Before Brendan Fraser became the beloved Robotman in DC’s Doom Patrol, he had a fascinating near-miss with playing the Man of Steel in J.J. Abrams‘ Superman: Flyby project in the early 2000s. While Fraser has praised Abrams’ vision for the character, he revealed some interesting insights about the experience during a candid interview with Howard Stern.

The actor admitted to feeling “disappointed” when the “amazing opportunity” didn’t work out, but his honesty about the situation is pretty refreshing.

It had to do a lot with some shenanigans and studio politics,

he explained, before adding some self-aware reflection about his own screen test:

And probably, inherently, in my screen test. I think that’s why you test… they could kind of see I was only there like 98 percent.

Perhaps most intriguingly, Fraser shared that he had concerns about being defined by the role for the rest of his career – a pretty legitimate worry when you think about how closely actors can become associated with iconic superhero roles.

14 Matthew Goode

Here’s a fun piece of superhero casting trivia: Matthew Goode was literally down to the wire against Henry Cavill for Man of Steel. And when you think about it, he would’ve been a fascinating choice. Goode has this natural aristocratic air about him that could have given us a totally different take on Superman.

Even if he didn’t get to wear the red cape, he was still part of the comic book movie world as Ozymandias in Zack Snyder‘s Watchmen – and absolutely killed it, by the way.

The guy clearly has a knack for playing complex characters with superhuman abilities. It’s one of those cases where you can totally see why he was in the running, even though Cavill ultimately proved to be perfect for the role Snyder had in mind.

13 Josh Hartnett

Let’s transport ourselves back to the early 2000s when Josh Hartnett was basically Hollywood’s golden boy. Fresh off hits like Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, he was offered the chance to play Superman in what eventually became Superman Returns. But here’s the interesting part: he turned it down!

And not just Superman – he also passed on Batman. Hartnett later explained that he was worried about being typecast and wanted to focus on different kinds of roles. Looking back, he’s admitted that maybe he took himself a bit too seriously back then, but hey, that’s the kind of decision you make when you’re young and everyone in Hollywood wants to cast you as their next big superhero.

12 Jude Law

Get this: Jude Law was also offered the role of Superman by Bryan Singer and Law’s response to that: thanks, but no thanks. The most interesting part? His main hang-up was apparently the costume. Law couldn’t get past the idea of wearing those iconic tights and cape.

Other than the costume, Law also mentioned how it felt out of place for him to be a British guy playing the role of an American Demigod. Being the Man of Steel truly does liken you to a supernatural deity, guess that was a little bit too much for Law (quite understandably so).

11 Paul Newman

Here’s a mind-blowing bit of Superman history: in the mid-1970s, the studio offered Paul Newman a whopping $4 million to play either Superman, Jor-El, or Lex Luthor in Superman: The Movie. And we’re talking about the 1970s here – that’s like $20 million in today’s money! Newman, being the legend he was, turned down all three of the roles.

The part of Jor-El eventually went to Marlon Brando, who famously got paid an enormous sum for what amounted to about 10 minutes of screen time. Just imagine how different the movie would have been with Newman’s cool, calculated presence either as Superman himself or as his Kryptonian father. It’s one of those legendary “what-if” moments in Hollywood history.

10 Robert Redford

You want to talk about fascinating casting what-ifs? Let’s discuss Robert Redford and Superman! The 1978 Superman: The Movie had quite the wild casting process, and among all the potential candidates, Redford’s name really turned heads. This wasn’t just some casual consideration either – the studio offered him serious money to don the cape, which he ultimately turned down.

When you think about it, Redford’s potential casting would have been a major game-changer, both for the film and his own career trajectory. Just imagine that signature Redford smile in the role – Lois Lane wouldn’t have stood a chance! While it might be hard to picture the dramatic actor we know from films like The Sting and All the President’s Men in superhero tights, there’s no doubt his interpretation would have been fascinating. Redford had this innate ability to bring depth to every role he played, so his Superman could have been something really special.

9 Christian Bale

Here’s a superhero switcheroo that’ll blow your mind: before Christian Bale became our beloved Dark Knight, he was actually in the running to play Superman! But this wasn’t just any Superman project – this was director Wolfgang Petersen‘s Batman vs Superman movie back in 2003. Petersen himself revealed in an MTV interview that Bale was one of his top two choices for the Man of Steel.

Just imagine how different superhero movie history would be if that had worked out! Instead of becoming one of the most celebrated Batman actors in Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Trilogy, Bale could have been on the other side of that iconic rivalry. While Petersen’s project ultimately got scrapped, it’s fascinating to think about what kind of Superman Bale would have given us, especially considering the intensity and dedication he later brought to Batman.

8 Ashton Kutcher

Here’s a Superman story that’s got everything – including some brutally honest self-awareness from the actor himself! Before Superman Returns got off the ground, Rush Hour director Brett Ratner was attached to the project and held auditions with several Hollywood stars, including That ’70s Show star Ashton Kutcher.

And this wasn’t just some casual meeting – Kutcher went all in, doing a full screen test in the iconic suit alongside Keri Russell, who was reading for Lois Lane. As Kutcher told MTV News,

I wore the Superman suit… There’s footage of my audition out there, with Keri Russell, who was reading Lois Lane. There’s me in a Clark Kent outfit, then there’s me in a Superman outfit.

But the actor was refreshingly candid about how he felt in the costume, admitting he “hadn’t worked out or done anything right” and was basically “a rail with fake muscles.” Most tellingly, in a later interview, Kutcher addressed the elephant in the room with characteristic bluntness:

Could anybody f***ing take me seriously as Superman? Let’s be honest about that.

Sometimes the best casting decisions are the ones where both sides recognize it’s not the right fit!

7 Burt Reynolds

Talk about a wild “what if” – Burt Reynolds as Superman! But here’s the thing: this wasn’t just another random casting rumor. Reynolds was actually part of a fascinating pattern of near-misses with some of Hollywood’s most iconic roles. Get this: he was considered for everything from James Bond to Indiana Jones, Han Solo, and even Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

He also famously passed on Pretty Woman, Die Hard, and Flashdance. As for Superman, Richard Donner had some pretty interesting thoughts about why Reynolds wasn’t right for his vision. As the director later explained,

Everyone said put Burt Reynolds in a Superman suit. Well, for a certain kind of movie where you want to camp it up, Burt Reynolds would have been wonderful.

Donner ultimately wanted someone less recognizable, but can you imagine Reynolds bringing his Smokey and the Bandit charm to the Man of Steel? That would’ve been a very different kind of superhero movie!

6 Daniel Cudmore

Here’s someone who knows a thing or two about playing superheroes: Daniel Cudmore, better known as Colossus from the X-Men movies, auditioned for both Superman Returns and Man of Steel, ultimately losing out to Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill respectively.

At 6’6″, Cudmore would have been the tallest Superman ever, and given his experience playing a superhero made of metal, he definitely knew his way around special effects and action scenes.

While he didn’t get to be the Man of Steel, Cudmore has managed to leave his mark on the DC universe anyway – he’s appeared in the Arrowverse playing the villains Jackhammer on Arrow and Gridlock on The Flash. Sometimes when one super-door closes, another one opens!

5 David Boreanaz

Talk about persistence – David Boreanaz had not one, but two shots at playing the Man of Steel! The Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Bones star first came close to donning the cape during development of J.J. Abrams’ Superman: Flyby. Unfortunately, his commitments to Angel meant he had to pass on the role, which eventually went to Brandon Routh when the project evolved into Superman Returns.

But that wasn’t the end of Boreanaz’s Superman journey – he was later considered for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel before Henry Cavill landed the part. While he never got to play Superman, Boreanaz did eventually join the DC universe in his own way, voicing Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in the acclaimed animated film Justice League: The New Frontier. Sometimes the path to superhero status just takes a different route!

4 Warren Beatty

Here’s a Superman story that perfectly captures the vanity of Hollywood! Warren Beatty, known for turning down some massive films like The Godfather, Boogie Nights, and Kill Bill, also passed on playing the Man of Steel in 1978. But the way he made this decision is absolutely priceless. As Beatty revealed on MTV’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, he conducted his own private screen test – of sorts.

He sent his assistant out to buy some long underwear, stripped down to try them on, and took one look at himself in a full-length mirror. That was all it took – he went straight to the phone and declared,

I take off my pants and put on the long underwear and open the full-length mirror and I went to the telephone and I said, ‘Look, just forget about Superman, it ain’t going to happen.’ And then the movie was terrific.

Sometimes knowing when to pass on a role is just as important as knowing when to take one!

3 Jon Voight

Here’s an interesting bit of Superman casting insurance policy: Oscar winner Jon Voight wasn’t just one of the many actors considered for 1978’s Superman – he was actually the studio’s safety net! As creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz revealed on the Superman DVD (via Fashion and Fandom),

Jon Voight had signed a deal to play Superman for a lot of money if we couldn’t find anyone else.

Imagine being one of the 200 actors who auditioned for the role, knowing that Voight was waiting in the wings if none of you made the cut! This kind of backup plan isn’t uncommon in Hollywood, but it’s fascinating to think that the intense, Method-trained Voight could have been our Man of Steel if Christopher Reeve hadn’t won everyone over. Sometimes the best casting choices are the ones that never had to be used!

2 James Caan

Here’s a fascinating piece of pre-Donner Superman history! James Caan, riding high off the success of The Godfather and Rollerball, was actually on the shortlist to play the Man of Steel in the 1978 film. But here’s where it gets interesting – the first script (written by Mario Puzo) had a much lighter, more tongue-in-cheek tone. And Caan, known for his intense dramatic performances and tough-guy roles, wasn’t having any of it.

He reportedly balked at the script’s comedic nature, which is pretty ironic considering Donner later came in and made the film much more serious. Talk about bad timing! While Caan might have been perfect for Donner’s more grounded take on the character, he never got the chance to reconsider once the tone shifted. Sometimes the right actor and the right script just don’t come together at the right time!

1 Clint Eastwood

Here’s a twist: when Clint Eastwood was approached about playing Superman in the 1978 film, he not only turned it down – he had his sights set on a completely different superhero! In an interview with Far Out magazine (via Yahoo!), the Dirty Harry star revealed,

Superman? Nah, nah, that’s not for me. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s for somebody, but not me. The Sub-Mariner, that’s the one I always liked. I had all of those comics when I was a kid.

Who would’ve thought that the “Man with No Name” was secretly dreaming of playing Marvel’s Namor? At the time, Eastwood was at the height of his tough-guy persona, fresh off his Spaghetti Western fame and his iconic Dirty Harry role.

While we never got to see either his Superman or his Sub-Mariner, it’s fascinating to learn that even Clint Eastwood had superhero dreams – just not ones involving a red cape!

Isn’t it wild to think about all these different versions of Superman we could have had? From method actors to action stars, the search for the perfect Superman has led Hollywood down some fascinating paths. While we can’t peek into parallel universes to see how these castings would have turned out, it’s pretty amazing to think about how each of these actors might have brought something totally unique to the role.

One thing’s for sure – whether you’re a fan of the Superman we got or dream about the Superman that could have been, the Man of Steel’s legacy is strong enough to survive any casting decision, even Nicolas Cage in a light-up suit!