Talking to Shortlist Magazine (via
The Times of India) the
Man of Steel star has looked back on his first surprise meeting with director Zack Snyder, calling it one of the
"most surreal" experiences of his life. Why? Well, Michael Shannon says that he simply couldn't understand why Snyder was offering him such a role.
"It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life because I was against this panoramic window, looking out on these beautiful hills, rose bushes and hummingbirds while Zack was saying, 'And then, on Krypton, this happens.'"
"By the end, I was kind of confused. I was like, 'Is this an offer or not?' We shook hands and he said he wanted me as Zod," he added.
"I was thinking, 'There's something wrong here. This is one of the largest films around. I'm not Robert De Niro - I don't understand why this is being plonked on my lap.'"
Things somehow got even more surreal for the actor when he found out that he wouldn't actually get the role until appearing in a
"chemistry test" alongside Henry Cavill - who as I'm sure you already know is playing Superman - which left him more than a little baffled.
"Warner Bros said they needed to see me and Henry together first. They called it a 'Chemistry Test'. I was like, 'What, do Zod and Superman make out? You want to see if any sparks fly?'"
STARRING:
Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman
Amy Adams as Lois Lane
Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent
Diane Lane as Martha Kent
Michael Shannon as Zod
RELEASE DATE: June 14th, 2013.