Fan response to Cavill’s exit has been—understandably, perhaps—sour at best. So what’s next? As James Gunn and Peter Safran boldly move to reshape Warner Bros.’ flagship DC Studios, who is going to play mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and Superman? With a Superman film written by Gunn reportedly the first in DC Studios’ pipeline, the time for a hopeful, optimistic and joyful take (like the Richard Donner original, not the apocalyptically nightmarish recent takes like Batman v. Superman) has come, as has one of the biggest hype trains surrounding a film casting in memory.
Who could play the next Superman?
David Corenswet
The reality is most fans, by a margin, want Cavill back in the role of Superman. Beyond that, the most circulated and popular name in this red-hot debate is David Corenswet. Born in Philadelphia, the Juilliard School graduate had breakthrough roles on Netflix, in Ryan Murphy’s series The Politician and Hollywood. Astonishingly handsome Corenswet definitely has the square jaw to pull off the part, and at 29 he’s the perfect age for the more youthful reboot Gunn reportedly has in mind, with potential sequels and spinoffs. Getty Images Most recently, Corenswet appeared opposite Mia Goth in the critically acclaimed X prequel Pearl, a horror movie that’s so damn good Martin Scorsese raved about its artistic merits and bone-chilling terror. If you haven’t already seen it, Pearl has some of the finest acting of 2022. Corenswet would be a terrific choice to play Superman.
Jacob Elordi
Catching a serious second wind in its second season, HBO’s controversial teen drama Euphoria is one of the hottest shows in the modern world, catapulting many young actors to newfound superstardom. Among them is Australian actor Jacob Elordi, who’s quickly become an internationally known name, and he’s only 25. At a towering 6'5", the star previously best known for The Kissing Booth brings the swoon like few actors can. His magnetism is off the charts, surely a quality that would be great for an actor at the center of DC’s next wave. Getty Images Elordi will next be seen playing Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s much-buzzed-about Priscilla, based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir Elvis and Me. He’s certainly a name at the center of the Superman casting hype.
Diego Calva
If there’s a wild card in this roundup, it’s 30-year-old Diego Calva. Born in Mexico City, where he studied filmmaking before pursuing an acting career, Calva broke out in the third season of Netflix’s crime drama Narcos: Mexico. Getty Images The actor’s popularity has exploded just in the past week or so, following a surprise nomination for Best Actor (Musical or Comedy) for playing assistant Manny Torres in Damien Chazelle’s overall tepidly-reviewed Babylon. Critics and the HFPA notably singled out Calva’s presence and charisma as a highlight of Babylon mere days before DC’s bombshell news. Some observers are saying it’s too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence.
Taron Egerton
Eight years after a breakthrough performance in Matthew Vaughn’s original Kingsman: The Secret Service, 33-year-old Welsh actor Taron Egerton is respected actor and a bona fide movie star. He’s won a Golden Globe for playing Elton John in Rocketman, and he was even nominated for a Grammy. Getty Images Egerton would perhaps have been even better suited to play the young up-and-coming Metropolis Marvel that DC is reportedly envisioning around the time of his breakout in Kingsman. Also, it would be remiss not to mention his name has been heavily circulated in rumor surrounding another major casting on the horizon: Marvel’s next Wolverine. He’d be fine choice for either part, but it’s hard to imagine a more inspired or capable successor to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
Austin Butler
Undoubtedly one of the key names in this arena is 31-year-old Anaheim native Austin Butler, who’s received boundless acclaim (and will likely get an Oscar nod) for a star-making turn in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. The 6'0" Golden Globe nominee has the look and the acting chops. He can even be very funny, even silly, as he displayed the final SNL of 2022. Though a turn as the Man of Steel would likely require the actor to bulk up a bit, it’s hard to find any drawbacks to casting him in this part. Getty Images
Michael B. Jordan
Fresh off a (spoiler alert) cameo appearance in one of the year’s highest-grossing films, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Michael B. Jordan is also very much in the spotlight leading up to his directorial debut, Creed III. Last year, it was reported the actor was developing a Black Superman project for HBO Max. Now, it feels safe to assume that pretty much everything announced as in development for the streamer, and even some content that’s long been in existence, is getting the axe. This brings critically lauded Emmy nominee back into the conversation for Kal-El himself. Getty Images The only issue here is Jordan’s age. At 35, he’s likely out of the age bracket ideal to Gunn’s plan to reboot with Clark Kent who’s just cutting his teeth.
Nicholas Hoult
Despite living nearly all of his life as an actor (the 33-year-old Brit’s first film role was a small part at age five), Nicholas Hoult has yet to headline a blockbuster—though he was famously nearly cast as The Batman in Matt Reeves’ recent smash before losing the part to Robert Pattinson. Perhaps the time has come, and Hoult should play DC’s other biggest name. Getty Images In addition to having the looks for the part, and the height at 6'3", it’s definitely important to note Hoult has always shined in slightly offbeat roles, from Warm Bodies to The Favourite to Mad Max: Fury Road. It’s not hard to imagine Gunn could be planning a quirky, or at least lightly quirky, spin on the Kryptonian Boy Scout. (He’s also previously played a superhero as a young Beast in the X-Men franchise.)
Barry Keoghan
Over a half-decade or so, Irish actor Barry Keoghan has steadily become one of the most-sought after and critically admired actors of his generation. He’s often the best part of whatever he’s in, and he’s appeared in great projects as varied as Dunkirk, The Green Knight, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Chernobyl. At 30, he’s just earned a much-deserved Golden Globe nod for heartbreaking work in The Banshees of Inisherin, for which he likely will be Oscar-nominated. Getty Images Keoghan also had a superhero turn in Marvel’s ensemble Eternals. He may seem an unconventional choice, but this is an actor whose chameleonic talents are not to be underestimated—and James Gunn is definitely known for unexpected decisions that pay off. One potential drawback? Depending on what the future of the DC Extended Universe looks like, his turn as the Joker in The Batman may rule him out from being Kal-El. Next, look back at Superman and Lois Lane through the years.
