Home
Superhero Store
Members Area
Learn How
Media
Community
Classifieds
CBM Master List
rorschachsrants Home : News : Videos : Pictures : Polls : Contact

How Henry Cavill Won The Role Of Superman, And Who He Beat For The Part

It might seem like Cavill's casting came out of nowhere. But now we can shed some light on the situation leading up to his winning the coveted role of The Man Of Steel, and the other actors he beat for it..

Follow Mark "RorMachine":
View CBM Profile Follow on Twitter
By Mark "RorMachine" Cassidy - 1/30/2011
THR report that so veiled in secrecy was this casting that Henry Cavill and his CAA agents only found out he had won the role this morning! A few hours before we did. Cavill, who had tried out for the role before, was apparently a top contender from day one. His closest competition came from fellow Brit thesp Mathew Goode(Ozymandiaz in Zack Snyder's Watchmen). With several other names you might recognize in the running too..



Warners and Nolan auditioned actors in Los Angeles, New York, and London in November and December, with someone in the 28- to 32-year-old range as the ideal. In addition to Cavill and Goode, among those who met or were under consideration were White Collar star Matthew Bomer, Social Network's Winkelvoss twins Armie Hammer, True Blood actor Joe Manganiello (scheduling with the HBO show was a factor) and Colin O’Donaghue, who stars opposite Anthony Hopkins in The Rite. Cavill was invited for a callback in January, where he met Snyder face-to-face for the first time, according to a source.


So there you go. Things were kept very hush hush for this one indeed. We had no shortlist(official or otherwise) prior to the casting and only recently heard Manganiello's name mentioned as definitely being in the running, with Goode and Hammer mentioned very early on and thus dismissed as mere rumor. Unsurprisingly(to most anyway) Smallville's Tom Welling was never looked at, nor was Brandon Routh who of course played the character(pretty well imo) in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns.

Anyway, Cavill is our man. But are there any actors from this shortlist that you would have preferred?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter
DISCLAIMER: This article was submitted by a volunteer contributor who has agreed to our code of conduct. ComicBookMovie.com is protected from liability under "safe harbor" provisions and will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. For expeditious removal, contact us HERE.
5
LIKE!
146 Comments
1 2 3
marvel72 - 1/30/2011, 3:53 PM
tom welling wasn't even in the running......XD hahahahahahaha!
Comedian03 - 1/30/2011, 3:56 PM
Matthew Bomer was my Superman pick in my Justice League fancast.
Cavill should make a decent Superman though.
Exiles - 1/30/2011, 3:56 PM
bomer missed out again I have seen him on chuck and white collar but I don't get what people see in that guy for the role of supes but I can see him as bruce wayne though. Seriously wasn't it a given that Routh and Welling would not really get a chance. Goodes a good actor but I can't see him as supes maybe brainiac or some other villain which is a possibility a lot of actors have missed out on the main role and ended up playing the villain tom hiddleston, cillian murphy and others probably. and correct me if I am wrong but wasn't Colin O’Donaghue in tudors the same show as cavill, thats quite interesting. Anyways good luck to cavill and co I really hope we get a good superman movie this time round
Checkmate - 1/30/2011, 4:01 PM
I would've been happy with Hammer or O'Donoghue too, but Cavill is still a great choice, Matthew Goode shouldn't have even been in the running. :P
OverlyManlyMan - 1/30/2011, 4:02 PM
they did choose right
nickp - 1/30/2011, 4:08 PM
I rather wish that Tom Welling had been picked for the new Superman film
vermillion - 1/30/2011, 4:17 PM
I'm pretty sure Snyder saying Routh was getting a screen test was just made up. Welling probably doesn't even want to play Superman anymore, he's been playing Clark Kent for 10 years, he's probably done acting anyways from his recent interviews. He was my pick, and Joe, then Cavill.

I'll say Henry Cavill is a great pick, and I can't wait to see him on the big screen. I'm definitely 100% supporting Cavill. Superman is my favorite hero, and I'm pretty excited about this film. Nolan, Snyder, and now Cavill as Superman. What's not to get excited about at this point?

ecksmanfan - 1/30/2011, 4:17 PM
Cavill is the best choice, but any one of those actors would have done a good job. Too bad Routh didn't get at least a screen test. Oh well, I'm happy with Cavill as Supes.
Abed - 1/30/2011, 4:20 PM
Congratulations to Cavill! And to the others for being in the running!
.
We can all expect a solid story, script and performance. Snyder? We'll have to wait and see, how he goes about Sucker Punch..then its fair to make a judgement.
JoshWilding - 1/30/2011, 4:21 PM
Joe Manganiello would have been the best choice out of the other contenders...interesting to see that they seemingly never bothered even looking at Welling or Routh! :P
santoanderson - 1/30/2011, 4:22 PM
Why do people love Welling so much? The guy isn't much of an actor and Smallville is mind-numbing. Besides, the producers have been aiming to reinvent the franchise. Do you think Tim Burton considered casting Adam West for Batman in 1989?
Deadshot - 1/30/2011, 4:25 PM
Tom Welling would have been good, he's got the height and the muscle and has played Clark Kent since 2001.
RorMachine - 1/30/2011, 4:26 PM
The thing that Smallville fans need to understand is that even if Welling was a frakkin fantastic actor(which he isn't by the way:) he was never going to be cast in this movie. It was never going to be a continuation of the Smallville story so why the jumping Jesus would they cast Smallville's Superman!..(I mean Clark Kent)
MightyDiamond - 1/30/2011, 4:29 PM
Their report has some inaccurate facts.
vermillion - 1/30/2011, 4:29 PM
I'm a Welling fan, I was going to support him until someone else was casted. I pretty much knew he wouldn't get it, but he was still my pick, along with Joe M. and Cavill.

Cavill was a great pick. I preferred Joe, but Cavill is definitely a better actor, and he can bulk up enough. So I'm extremely happy right now. :D I can actually see Joe as Hawkman more anyways. I do hope he gets some sort of CB role at some point.
TheDetectiveComicRises - 1/30/2011, 4:32 PM
The casting is complete, I like the choice made with Cavill people move on & be thankful for a new direction for Superman, many of U wanted DC to start doing more things besides Batman & they are doing that now. I am greatful for new Batman, Superman, Green Lantern films and many more live action movies, animated movies & live action & cartoon tv shows out & on the way. Henry Cavill is the new Superman & that is good!
RorMachine - 1/30/2011, 4:32 PM
You know what, I recently watched The Social Network and I have to say, Armie hammer was impressive. I don't know how good a Superman he would have made but I must give Lee some props for spotting this guy a long while ago when we all took the piss out of him!

Tea, true but Routh had a SLIGHTLY bigger chance of being recast only because he had at least played him in a movie. But yeah, once Snyder said it wasn't going to be a continuation he was pretty much out of the running.
Jolt17 - 1/30/2011, 4:34 PM
Well Welling won't be in of course!

He's no Supes!

Btw it's so nice Cavill's now Supes, can't wait to see!
InFamouslyCool - 1/30/2011, 4:35 PM
ugh, don't like or dislike him. looks a bit young. cool, now i can be completely detached emotionally from this project.
santoanderson - 1/30/2011, 4:36 PM
The real problem with potentially casting Welling is continuity. Snyder and Nolan are rebooting Superman. Now imagine next December, Joe-somebody is walking into the movie theater to watch Superman: MOS. Clark Kent comes on screen for the first time, and bear with me, it's Tom Welling. To the average movie-goer, the assumption is going to be that this movie is somehow a direct continuation of the TV series (which jumped the shark about five years ago.) The TV show and the movie take place in two completely separate universes. It would confuse EVERYBODY.

It would be like casting Adam West as Tim Burton's Batman. It wouldn't work.
Neo24real - 1/30/2011, 4:37 PM
I am happy....Finallly some sense remains on this planet
BruceWayneNewton - 1/30/2011, 4:39 PM
They got this pick right. My first choice was Routh but I will definitely not complain about this one. Good luck to him and I hope we get the action packed Superman we all want.
EEK375 - 1/30/2011, 4:40 PM
I for one am happy that Cavill is our Superman he will bring a different dynamic to the role rather than just copying the performance of Chris Reeves..I was also thinking while reading this that maybe since Goode was in the running perhaps he'll play Lex Luthor or Brainiac
SHHH - 1/30/2011, 4:47 PM
teabag@ Smallville uses scripts??
GUNSMITH - 1/30/2011, 4:47 PM
PEOPLE HE BEAT..

MATHEW BOMER



ARMIE HAMMER



JOE MANGANIELLO



COLIN O'DONAGHUE



YOUR NEW SUPERMAN....HENRY CAVILL 6' 1'
IronicMan - 1/30/2011, 4:48 PM
Do you think they picked this early on to sneak a cameo into Green Lantern?
Daniellantern - 1/30/2011, 4:49 PM
well cavill was a great choice for supes. i hope to see crossover between supes and bats (because nolan is the producer.. ) i think snyder and nolan will bring same world with batman in TDK. or maybe justice league..
LP4 - 1/30/2011, 4:55 PM
I was rooting for Joe M. but Cavill is a GREAT choice too and I support him all the way. CAVILL IS SUPERMAN!!! :)
THABATMAN - 1/30/2011, 4:55 PM
Looks like 2012 will be a very good year for DC!
Now if only they could get some Wonder Woman and Flash movies up and running!!
@Ironicman
hopefully. That would be great.
vermillion - 1/30/2011, 4:56 PM
I'm REALLY hoping theirs a sneak peek of either this, or TDKR with Green Lantern. It'd make every fanboy go insane in the theater.

barefootsaints - 1/30/2011, 4:57 PM
Cavill looks good. I personally would have rather seen Tom Welling get it, if he wanted it. So many people on here don't like Tom Welling, but I think he's great. He's carried Smallville for 10 years: some great episodes, some bad episodes. Whether you like him or not, one thing you can't argue with is ratings. Although the series' ratings has declined in the past few years, it's still strong for an old show on Friday nights. And as for his acting ability, he's no Robert Deniro, but he's made millions from the CW so he's doing something right. By the way, I read a lot of these posts and some of you people sound so stupid i.e. "go eat a bowl of shit welling". We're talking about comics and movies, not talking about trying to solve world hunger. Grow up!
JorEl77 - 1/30/2011, 4:59 PM
@IronicMan. That's a very interesting question.Do an article on it man,it would be pretty interesting!!!
n1ghtw1ng2832 - 1/30/2011, 5:03 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOM WELLING WILL ALWAYS BE SUPERMAN FOR SOME PEOPLE. [frick] HENRY WHATEVER THE HELL HIS NAME IS! THIS MOVIE'S GONNA SUCK BIG FLOPPY BALLS!
crimsoncrusader - 1/30/2011, 5:05 PM
@Vermillion. Maybe TDKR but definitely not in terms of the Supes reboot because I think production on the latter starts in August.
KeithM - 1/30/2011, 5:05 PM
Routh had a screentest. It was called Superman Returns and he showed pretty conclusively that he would be crap as Superman.

His other roles since then have also shown that the woodenness of his delivery, complete lack of charisma and weak screen presence had nothing to do with Singer's direction - that's just how the guy "acts".

I am so, so pleased that the filmmakers had the good taste and sense to ignore the pleas for him to return. Dodged a bullet there.

Well done and good luck to Henry.
actionjackson - 1/30/2011, 5:06 PM
Matt Bomer would have been better IMO. but Cavill will do great I think
crimsoncrusader - 1/30/2011, 5:07 PM
I also wonder when Henry will start hitting the gym. I mean he's a very cut guy, but not buff. A Chris Hemsworth like transformation would be ideal, imo. Can't wait for this film!
vermillion - 1/30/2011, 5:15 PM
It wouldn't necessarily have to be a trailer for Superman. It could be like the first TDK teaser, you could hear them talking and it was showing the Bat symbol with a cool smoke effect around it. Something like that could work with Superman, IMO. Or just give Henry Cavill a little cameo for GL! ;P

Can't wait for GL, Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man! And of course Thor and Cap.
deanwilkins - 1/30/2011, 5:16 PM
I would have liked to see Routh return. I thought he was a great Superman, very much in the likeness of Christopher Reeve. But I understand the change and I hope it'll be for the good. We need some Superman action.
Sortis - 1/30/2011, 5:49 PM
I was hoping for Matt Bomer myself.
revloveR - 1/30/2011, 5:51 PM
Armie Hammer would've been my choice, but its interesting that Joe Mag...... didn't get the part because of true blood..
marvel72 - 1/30/2011, 5:56 PM
welling not even worthy to breath the same air as reeve,routh,cain & now cavill.

his career ends in about 3 months,then its time for him to join the unemployment line.
Exiles - 1/30/2011, 5:56 PM
bomers a great actor but I have seen a lot of people complain about cavills height and then suggesting bomer, bomers a good actor but the dudes like 5'10 or 5'11 then again the height don't bother me that much. he could have been a good pick, fingers crossed cavill does well.


routh only looked like reeves, he tried to imitate the guy and he failed there was only one moment in that movie that he actually felt like superman when he rescued the plain it felt reeves came back to life. But after that the movie went down hill and so did rouths performance, weather it was his or singers idea to imitate idea is up in the air but it wasn't great move. And he payed the price.
Batman1811 - 1/30/2011, 6:05 PM
@marvel72

LMAO
Fracture - 1/30/2011, 6:06 PM
Cool! I hope he helps fight over in Afghanistan and solves crimes!
FoxForce5 - 1/30/2011, 6:26 PM
We all knew that Welling & worst attempt at a pethitc Superman ever, Routh were never really in the running. I was pretty vocal about my support of Joe M. but it's interesting that it may have compleately been his contractual obligations with HBO that killed it for him. Too bad, IMO but I'm sure that Zack & Co. know what they're doing & I think we'll finally see the 1st true comic book-like Superman on screen & knowing Zack, as of today, someone just got a personal trainer & a grueling P90-X routeen :-)
Starlight - 1/30/2011, 6:29 PM
They better not screw up this new opportinity or BYE BYE SUPERMAN !
marvel72 - 1/30/2011, 6:32 PM
@ banekill77

you never know,give it 6 months or so they will be saying "welling who ?".
LEEE777 - 1/30/2011, 6:38 PM
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 3D

Bwahahahaha!!!




HENRY CAVILL & MATT BOMER!



Yeah MATTHEW BOMER would make a great Batman after BALE!


SUPERGUY @ Your looking a knob... everyone with any brains knows WELLING is crapola, so leave ROUTHY alone, he's worth a Billion of WELLINGS! : P
IronicMan - 1/30/2011, 6:39 PM
@Jorel77 @THABATMAN,
Thanks for the encouragement- here's the article I wrote on my idea.
http://comicbookmovie.com/news/?a=29051
1 2 3

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

.