The role of Superman is one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood. And when we talk about the casting, it has always been a nightmare. Looking closely to the character it becomes really hard to meet the requirements of characters like Superman. One need specific height and overall look. So let’s get down to top five actors who almost played the most iconic role of Superman.
Will Smith
The Suicide Squad star Will Smith turned down the role for Superman before Bradon Routh signed the movie.
“The last Superman I got offered, the script came, and I was like, ‘There is no way I’m playing Superman!” he said in a report by Games Radar.
“Because I had already done Jim West ( Wild Wild West ) and you can’t be messing up white peoples’ heroes in Hollywood. You mess up white peoples’ heroes in Hollywood, you’ll never work in this town again!” he added.
Paul Walker
The Fast and The Furious star who died in a car accident on November 30, 2013, Valencia, California, United States, gave a shot for the role.
In 2003, he said if he had said yes for the role he would be made for life monetarily.
“So I asked the director whether I should do it and he said that if I said yes, the studio would effectively own me for another 10 years and that I’d be identified with the role of Superman until I died,” said in a report by Games Radar.
“I came to the conclusion that I didn’t need that at this stage of my career,” he added.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Terminator star was ditched for the role. In spite of heavy campaigning, the actor lost the role.
“When I met [ Arnold ] at the premiere of the first film, he said ‘Ah I should’ve been Superman’,” IIy Salkind said in of his interviews.
“With that accent… not too good,” he added.
Nicholas Cage
The Ghost Rider actor Nicholas Cage was all set to star in director Tim Burton’s Superman Lives. Things were set up and the flying tests had been made, but the film was cancelled with $50m already spent on it.
Sylvester Stallone
The Rocky of the Hollywood, Sylvester Stallone tried to persuade for the role, but he lost his role to Christopher Reeve. He was dismissed for the role because he seemed too Italian for it.
