Taking A Look At 'Man of Steel'

We have some time to wait – approximately a year if you’re keeping track, before Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel is released. So the line of live-action Superman’s will be getting a new member to the ever-expanding actors club who’ve played the iconic character. Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, Brandon Routh and soon – Henry Cavill.

Cavill has appeared in The Tudors, but other than that is largely unknown. Landing the role of Supes will certainly give him some tremendous exposure. If playing Superman will lead to a future film roles, being type-cast or becoming an obscure trivia question is anybody’s guess right now.

I’m not at all familiar with him. I know he’s English, but I don’t think that’s a big deal, as long as he can do an American accent. Christian Bale has been pretty universally accepted as Batman, so that shouldn’t be an issue. I also know he’s been on the list of being potential James Bond’s. Uhh….yep, essentially I know nothing about the guy so I don’t have any thoughts about how he’ll do in the role. He kind of looks Superman-ish I suppose.

After Bryan Singer’s attempted 2006 reboot of the film franchise and the chilly reception it got from audiences, work soon was underway to try it again.

A ‘second reboot‘ I guess they’re calling it, although I prefer the term ‘Do-Over‘. With the success Nolan has had with his Batman films, Warner Brothers got him to produce and with Snyder being the revered director of fanboys at the moment, he seemed like an ideal choice to helm this latest film.

So who else will be filling out the famous roles in the newest Superman? After much speculation and suggestions about who would play the ultimate leading lady in all of comic-dom, Amy Adams was announced will be our new Lois Lane.

I am a more familiar with Adams than Cavill. Mainly knowing her from her light comedic roles, like Julie & Julia, Enchanted and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and The Muppets. Not to say that she hasn’t done more serious stuff. Junebug, Doubt and The Fighter, all three landing her Oscar nominations, proved she could be more than the silly girl next door. Still, I don’t think she would ever have been on my radar as the next Lois Lane. She just seems way too…..cute for Lois. We’ll see.

Who will play young Clark’s role models? His adopted human parents who provide his wholesome upbringing in Smallville on the Kent farm will shape Clark into becoming the honest, admirable, genuinely good hero we all know and love?

Diane Lane has been cast as Martha Kent, young Kal-El’s Earth mother. Yes, Superman’s Mom is a MILF!

Alongside her raising Clark is Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent. More than twenty years after seeing him on his Iowa farm in Field of Dreams he returns to cropland.

Costner had been rumored for the role for awhile and I think it’s a great choice. I’ve always liked Costner. He always projected such an earnest and likable quality in his earlier films. He could sell lines that were completely sappy and I would buy him believing them and making me want to believe them too.

In recent times his film career went south with less than stellar films and a lot of bad choices. So it’s great to hear that he’s coming back and hopefully will be in a role that recaptures that good guy quality first made him a star.

Diane Lane, like I said she’s hot. What can I say – I’ve always had a thing for her. So although it’s nice to hear that she will be in the film, I would never have envisioned her as Superman’s Mom. Maybe it’s because of the lasting impression of Donner’s 1978 Superman with Phyllis Thaxter as Clark’s “silver-haired” Mom.

Diane is a very good actress and maybe she’ll get some aging makeup to play down her ‘hotness’. It would be kind of crazy for fans to be lusting for Superman’s Mom instead of Lois.

I’ll say this, if I was living in Smallville and knew Diane was alone in that farmhouse you can bet I would be dropping by every chance I got for some of her homemade cookies!

Rounding out the cast are some more big name actors. Russell Crowe is set to play Jor-El. I think they’re trying to do a bit of that Marlon Brando, big name casting for the part. Laurence Fishburne is Daily Planet Editor-In-Chief Perry White.

So who will the big threat that the world is facing that Supes is the only one who can save us from? Lex Luthor with another devious real estate scheme? It doesn’t seem that way. In fact Lex looks like he’ll be sitting this adventure out and we’ll be seeing the return of General Zod!

Michael Shannon has been signed to play Zod, following in the footsteps of actor Terence Stamp who brought Zod to life in 1978’s Superman and 1980’s Superman II.

Shannon was Oscar nominated for his role in 2008’s Revolutionary Road and is one of the stars on HBO’s critically acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire.

“Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t,” said Snyder. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”

There inevitably have been photos leaked during filming with Cavill in his Superman costume. It looks like Snyder is trying to do a bit of tweaking to the classic look. Getting a bit more of darken look. Unless this is just some random outfit Supes wears to change up his normal bright red and blue one.

I’m not really sure what to make of it. The Superman costume is iconic and trying to update it in anyway looks like it could easily lead to disaster.

And look at the size of that crotch! Is that some krypotonite in your pocket or are you just happy to be making a new movie? Damn!

Snyder’s Man of Steel was originally set for release December 14, 2012, but now it’s been pushed back all the way to June 2013. Is this an indication of some behind the scenes trouble? Should fans ease up on having any out of this world expectations for the return of Superman…..again? This can’t possibly be a huge superheroic misfire….can it?

We’ll find out approximately a year from now…..