Exclusive: Michael B. Jordan To Replace Henry Cavill As Superman
Michael B. Jordan is the prime candidate to play Superman in the new reboot.
This article is more than 2 years old
Michael B. Jordan is no stranger to the world of superhero cinema. He has had two stints in the Marvel universe: one as the hero Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four and one as the villain Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. We had recently heard that Killmonger could be getting his own series on Disney+, but some new information we have just received could throw all of that out the window as the actor is the prime candidate for the most influential superhero in the history of superheroes.
According to our trusted inside source – the same one that provided Giant Freakin Robot with confirmed exclusive scoops regarding Chloe Bennet returning as Quake for a new Marvel series and Don Cheadle appearing as War Machine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Michael B. Jordan is the actor that Warner Bros./DC is pursuing to take on the role of Superman in the newly announced reboot. While they have not locked Jordan in for the role, he is their top choice and are actively pursuing him.
What makes this interesting is that we know Michael B. Jordan has met with Warner Bros./DC in the past about playing Superman and their meeting was not all that long ago. It sounds like the studio really wants to get the actor in the role but it is possible the plans they had in place at the time were not attractive enough to him. However, things have clearly changed with celebrated Black writer Ta-Nahesi Coates penning the script for this new Superman reboot. Could this be a strong enough reason for Jordan to come back to the negotiating table and possibly take on the role of the Last Son of Krypton?
However, our source is also telling us that if Warner Bros./DC can’t lock in Michael B. Jordan, they are committed to casting a person of color in the role. This will definitely be a major change for the character of Superman, and with Coates on screenwriting duty, you can almost guarantee that this change will be addressed in the text and subtext of the script. Having a Black man or person of color in the role will bring on a lot more opportunities for social commentary and will necessitate certain changes to the character’s upbringing. But, as long as the core values of what makes Superman such an icon and a symbol of hope remain, the character could certainly use a brand new iteration on the big screen.
Hopefully, Warner Bros./DC can get Michael B. Jordan to sign on the dotted line and be the new Superman. He is a fantastic actor and would bring a ton of charisma, warmth, and strength to the role of Clark Kent. If not, it will still be thrilling to see what a Black man or person of color could bring to the role. With over eighty years of Superman stories that feature a white version of the character, it will be fascinating and exhilarating to see what a new version of the character will bring to the big screen.
