There have been rumors lately that Superman actor Henry Cavill has washed his hands with the character, and while the whole ordeal is still up in the air, it seems as though the DCEU may be in search of another Man of Steel. While Cavill has been the best actor to portray Clark Kent thus far, there are still plenty of other options that can take up the mantle. Superman has always been a symbol of hope, so with that comes an actor that must be able to embody what it means to be a hero, and I think I have a few choices that may be able to do just that.
1. John Krasinski
John Krasinski is rumored to be in talks of playing Bruce Wayne in The Batman, but I feel like he is much better suited for the Superman role. When it comes to actors that exude a dark aura, you often think of Jon Hamm or Jake Gyllenhaal. Krasinski has the opposite effect to me.
He reminds me of more of a boy scout type, and has the good looks and strong jaw people expect from Superman. Playing Jim on The Office actually gave Krasinski a bit of experience playing a quirky everyman, which is exactly how Clark Kent should be perceived, and he can switch effortlessly into the muscular superhero that we all know and love.
2. Armie Hammer
You may remember Armie Hammer from his role in The Man From UNCLE alongside Henry Cavill, and ever since then people have been begging him to join the DCEU. While he is usually suggested as the next Green Lantern, there is no denying that Hammer has the look for Superman as well. He is one of the largest men I have ever laid eyes on, and if you put his muscular frame behind a red “S”, then I can guarantee a successful movie.
3. Matt Bomer
Matt Bomer has long been the consensus best choice to play the Man of Steel. Ever since he first emerged on White Collar, his charming good looks and near-perfect bodily features have been compared to that of Superman’s. This casting decision would be sure to give the fans exactly what they want, and it could provide the best possible replacement for Henry Cavill.
4. Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum undoubtedly has the look for Superman, but he may not have the acting prowess for it. While I respect Tatum as an actor, he just isn’t as high-caliber of a performer as Henry Cavill or John Krasinski. However, that may not be a problem.
The DCEU so far is composed of films with a sloppy plot and campy attitude, so Tatum may actually fit in better than a more serious actor. No matter how you look at it, you can’t deny he has every physical feature necessary to portray the world’s premiere superhero.
5. Richard Madden
Richard Madden is an actor that has gained a lot of fanfare since his time on Game of Thrones, yet he just hasn’t been given the same critical acclaim. However, that may change with his new series Bodyguard.
Madden has started to pick up more and more hype behind himself and his projects, and I think that could translate greatly into a superhero role. He has the strong jaw and charming demeanor one would expect from Superman, and I think that he has enough range to bring the odd personality of Clark Kent to life as well.
6. Matt Lanter
Matt Lanter may not be a famous movie star just yet, but he has really made a name for himself on the cult time travel show Timeless. The minute I saw Lanter, he reminded me of the perfect mold from which a superhero is made, and I think that Superman could very well be that hero. He has the strong jaw, good looks and a wealth of diverse roles to call upon as Clark Kent, and I think that casting another semi-unknown as Superman could result in somebody who was made for the character.
7. Brett Dalton
While I much prefer Brett Dalton as a villain, the man is such a diverse actor that he can pull off the worst of the worst and the best of the best. Much like Lanter, Dalton isn’t exactly a movie star, but just look at him. All of his physical features scream Superman to me, and I would love to see such a talented actor finally land the role of a lifetime.
8. Chris Evans
Chris Evans is best known as the living embodiment of Captain America, but it seems that his time in that role may be up. However, this may be a blessing is disguise. If Chris Evans were to jump ship over to DC, then I think that he would make the perfect Superman.
Just imagine the same performance he gives as Cap in the place of Superman, and tell me that he wouldn’t be perfect. He has the boy scout demeanor and chiseled abs that makes Clark Kent who he is, and he could bring some serious star power to the DCEU.
9. Jared Padalecki
Jared Padalecki actually auditioned for Superman in Superman Returns, but ultimately had to turn down the role due to his involvement on the long-running CW show Supernatural. However, he was basically cast before choosing his current job over the role of a lifetime.
While it may be a little too late for him to play the character now, this could be a dream come true for a lot of people. Padalecki playing Superman is a dream that every Supernatural fan has wanted to come true, and while it may be a little farfetched to suggest, I would love to see him finally get his shot as the last son of Krypton.
10. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has already portrayed his fair share of superheroes, but he hasn’t had the chance to play someone as popular as Superman. Chances like this don’t come around everyday, and I think that Taylor-Johnson is smart enough to throw his hat in the ring while he has the opportunity.
As far as physical features go, he has the face and body for Superman, and could bring a touch of youth that the character hasn’t ever really had. I feel like his experience on the film Kick-Ass could prove useful for transitioning into Clark Kent, and casting a star with as much potential as Aaron Taylor-Johnson could only be positive for DC.