Henry Cavill famously performed Superman in 2013’s Man of Metal, however he wasn’t the one actor thought-about for the position. Man of Metal marked the start of a brand new period for DC variations, because it served as the inspiration for the primary try at a shared DC universe on the massive display. Zack Snyder’s 2013 film served as an origin story for Henry Cavill’s Superman, pitting him towards the villainous Normal Zod and forcing the hero to announce himself to the world as Earth’s Kryptonian protector. The film itself proved comparatively divisive, with some followers loving Snyder’s grittier imaginative and prescient for the enduring character and others discovering it much less palatable. Whatever the response to the film’s tone, it was virtually universally accepted that Henry Cavill was an ideal match for the position of the titular Man of Metal.
As with every casting course of, Cavill wasn’t the one contender for the position, although. In actual fact, we virtually noticed a number of different actors play Superman within the film, with the names of a few of these DC hero hopefuls having since been revealed. In actual fact, among the actors that have been thought-about or related to the position would possibly even have been unbelievable had they been solid, creating an intriguing “what if” state of affairs. Whereas we’ll by no means actually know what Man of Metal might need been like had these actors been solid as an alternative of Henry Cavill, every of them reveals somewhat extra concerning the thought behind casting the hero for the DCEU.
5) Jamie Dornan
After rising to prominence together with his position in As soon as Upon a Time, Jamie Dornan was one of many contenders for the position of Superman in Man of Metal. On the time, Dornan was comparatively unknown, because the position that catapulted him to superstardom, Fifty Shades of Gray, wasn’t launched till 2015. Dornan has since revealed that he really auditioned for the position of Superman for the DCEU’s Man of Metal, finally dropping out to Henry Cavill. In accordance with Dornan, he didn’t get far sufficient within the casting course of to display check sporting an precise go well with, however he claimed to have arrived at his audition sporting his personal Superman pyjama go well with. Whereas Dornan clearly wasn’t what Zack Snyder had in thoughts for the position, his chiselled beauty and brooding display presence might simply have labored for the half. Whereas it’s a disgrace Dornan didn’t get the chance to play Superman, we’re glad his profession didn’t endure within the slightest after lacking out on the DCEU position.
4) Matthew Goode
One of many names that’s typically reported as being Henry Cavill’s closest competitor for the position of Superman is Matthew Goode. Goode had beforehand labored with Zack Snyder on Watchmen, the place he performed the genius entrepreneur and secret villain Ozymandias, so it’s maybe unsurprising that the director was inquisitive about bringing him again for an additional superhero film position. The British actor has racked up credit in a number of distinguished collection since, corresponding to starring within the romantasy TV present A Discovery of Witches in addition to Downton Abbey, The Crown, and The Good Spouse. Goode’s leaner body makes it somewhat tougher to image him taking part in the enduring position of Superman, although judging by reviews from the time, he was one of many closest contenders for the starring position in Man of Metal. Contemplating the scrutiny that comes with taking part in such a distinguished character, it will have been very fascinating certainly to see how Man of Metal would have seemed with Matthew Goode solid within the lead position.
3) Armie Hammer
Of all of the names related to the position of Superman within the early days of Man of Metal‘s manufacturing, there are few that create emotions as combined as Armie Hammer. On the one hand, it’s straightforward to see precisely why he would have made such a powerful contender, as his bodily look and construct make him look very very like a real-life superhero. His chiselled options and muscular body just about instantly qualify him as a contender, however alternatively, the newer controversies surrounding the actor put his profession in a brand new gentle. Regardless, it’s clear that he would have been a great match for the Zack Snyder film, or, a minimum of, he would have appeared so in the course of the casting course of. The assorted high-profile scandals which have since marred his profession make his in any other case excellent casting appear extra like a near-miss than a missed alternative, however nonetheless, he was reportedly near securing the DCEU position.
2) Matt Bomer
There are a handful of Hollywood actors that it appears unimaginable to imagine haven’t but performed a significant film superhero, and Matt Bomer deserves to be on the prime of that checklist. Now thought-about an ideal substitute for Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Iron Man ought to the position be recast, Bomer was additionally as soon as in shut rivalry for the position of Superman in Man of Metal. It’s not troublesome to see why he was a contender: Bomer’s beauty and everyman attraction make him appear an ideal match for the twin position of Superman and Clark Kent. In actual fact, of all of the names on this checklist, Bomer is probably going the one who can be the simplest to think about starring in Man of Metal as an alternative of Henry Cavill, as he’s very a lot able to giving an analogous efficiency. Maybe the one distinction is that Bomer offers off a barely extra relaxed air than Cavill, which maybe went towards him when casting Zack Snyder’s grittier imaginative and prescient for the DCEU.
1) Joe Manganiello
Apparently, one of many actors who was reportedly thought-about for the position of Superman in Man of Metal later went on to change into an ideal Deathstroke casting within the DCEU. Joe Manganiello is claimed to have been a contender for the enduring position in Man of Metal, and in some alternate actuality, he turned the franchise’s Superman. Reportedly, HBO refused to provide Manganiello day without work from filming True Blood, forcing him to drop out of the working to play Superman in Man of Metal. Manganiello would have been a captivating alternative for the DCEU’s Superman, particularly as he would have been capable of play a distinguished position within the short-lived franchise. As a substitute, he was completely solid as Deathstroke for a quick post-credits cameo tease that finally by no means got here to fruition, leaving Manganiello’s DCEU historical past wanting like an extremely irritating run of wasted alternatives quite than the profession successes he deserved.