Chuck of Steel?

[samurainoir]

GeekTyrant - News - Jonathan Nolan Directing SUPERMAN Reboot?! Zachary LeviAuditioned!

[Riffster]

no!!!!!! Although the blonde can be supergirl

[madmarva]

upchuck

[Random Axe]

Eh, not horrible by any stretch.

What people don't understand is the importance of playing Clark Kent. That's essentially who Superman is. Sure, he's an icon of truth and justice and heroic to the Nth degree, but take off the blue and red and he's a goody-goody Kansas farm hick. What makes Superman work is the dynamic between the two roles. They are slightly different versions of the same man, and you need an actor who can portray both with the subtle changes.

Levi has the look for sure and he can always bulk up. Hell, look at Adrian Brody. He used to be a dead ringer for Ichabod Crane. My personal pick would be to stick with Routh and just give him a slightly edgier personality instead of channeling Reeve, which I'm sure he was told to do.

In any case, it's good to see something in the works.

Scott

[UnderdogDJLSW]

My daughter likes him in the Alvin and the Chipmunks, Sequel.

[madmarva]

I won't argue that Clark Kent is an important part of any Superman vehicle. But you cast the part for Superman not Clark. Then the actor slumps, puts on the glasses and acts understated and he's Clark.

While I dearly love Christopher Reeve as Superman and portions of all the Superman films, the way Clark has been portrayed by both Reeve and Routh, the klutziness draws more attention to the character that it should.

The idea of Kent is that he blends in. He's regular, a guy who's not noticed. No one would ever think he's Superman because no one thinks of Clark and no one would guess Superman is actually trying to hide his identity. If you were Superman, why hide it.

Now, we've all been trained to expect a secret identity because it's become a convention of the super hero formula for the last 70 years, but in Superman's world, a secret identity should be something unexpected.

I agree that Superman or Kal-El or Clark when he's with his parents or with Lois once she knows the secret, the character is the product of his upbringing. But the not-so-special version of Clark or bumbling idiot Clark isn't the product of his upbringing. It's an act.

Man, I'm from Arkansas. I know farmers. You don't grow up working on the farm and end up like Reeve's characterization of Clark. If so, you'd be missing an appendage or a limb or be dead.

The Clark that Reeve and Routh portrayed was an act that was played up more from the comics from the 40s-60s than any other time. Geoff Johns has re-injected some of this notion back into the series in the last few years.

But in the 1970s and 80s, this was played down and gone altogether after John Byrne re-worked the character.

Byrne updated Superman in 1986 or 1987, Clark stopped being an affectation or an act. He was just Clark. He wasn't a klutz or a nerd or anything close to that. Byrne's Clark was a product of his upbringing. He did have the home-spun, all-American values, but he wasn't milquetoast or a rube or a hick.

But frankly, I want to see Superman on the screen not Clark Kent.

I think just about every Superman story should show Clark changing into Superman, but once is enough.

With this being the sixth Superman film and the first truly being a classic in nearly every way, that the idea of the less Superman the better goes out the window.

With today's technology, Superman can be embraced. The cost and the how his abilities can be filmed shouldn't be an issue.

Let's see Superman in action. He doesn't have to go back to Smallville. He doesn't have to be chewed out by Perry, or have scenes with Jimmy, just to show they are pals.

Those aren't obligatory to making a Superman movie. But to me, a lot of plot-driven action as the Man of Steel is.

Now, if the story calls for any of that stuff, fine, but don't out-think the issue and make Clark the key in the casting. Cast Superman.

While I didn't have a problem with Routh and wouldn't mind him returning in the role, I hope the part is not written for someone to play Reeve's Superman this time out.

I hope Goyer and the Nolan Bros. write Superman, not "Christopher Reeve as Superman." Do a good job writing the part and then let whomever gets the part, bring their version of Superman to the screen.

I always liked the confident if not slightly arrogant take George Reeves had as Superman. He was different than Reeve, but still very good as Superman and Clark.

I would like to see a screenwriter, director and actor collaborate and give us a their interpretation of the character rather than mimicking Reeve, once again.

[boynightwing]

I go to see him play Superman. I think he's an awesome actor. I never miss an episode of Chuck.

[LadyZod]

The original Donner flicks worked (and I do love them) in their time because they mimicked the comic so well. Reeve was the spitting image of Curt Swan's Superman.

But Curt Swan isn't drawing him anymore. What we need is a Superman that looks like what DC is marketing... a larger, more SUPERheroic looking Superman.

I'm saying we need a bigger Superman.

There HAS to be a larger guy out there that look like he can benchpress a planet, but can still act.

Maybe Sandy's got his phone number?

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Actually, many of DC's current artists are making a conscious effort to make Superman look more like Reeve than ever before, most notably Gary Frank.

I'm not sure about the Chuck guy, but I've seen worse candidates.

As for the portrayal of Clark, the goofy clumsiness helps the audience buy the convention in movies. In a weekly series, it would get old, and make it hard to believe Clark could hold a job down as a reporter. George Reeves carried his series mostly as Clark with a few token Superman appearances per episode. It worked for the show, but not for convincing anyone Clark and Superman were different. They just wore different clothes!

Chris

[Captain]

To be fair to the article...it doesnt come out and say this guy is up for Supes...It just said he was testing for a role. could be the new Jimmy Olsen for all we know?

I do agree they should go for the George Reeves type Clark/Superman "relationship". I'm tired of the nerdy word stumbler type in the films. I almost hate to say this, but Dean Cain played Clark like this too. All that said, the more Superman, the less Clark, the better this time out anyways.

[ScottA]

I actually thought Routh did a nice job considering.