Hi guys! So my friend was telling me that he was submitting his details for Superman. I thought what a perfect opportunity to get an exclusive of him like Lois Lane....I mean Jimmy Olsen...when he has a pen and paper on him!
His Stats are-
6 1/2 feet tall.
155 lbs of pure muscle
Blue eyes
Brown hair
(So sure he could put on more muscle for the role that's a given, but that's the same with any actor who is going for a beefy role. The height may not be as tall as everyone wants but with lifts and camera angles that can be changed, he's got a strong defined jaw though!)
How do you think Superman should be portrayed in a modern Superman movie?
A lot of people now, think that Superman is a completely irrelevant character to today’s society, but I really think otherwise. If there was ever a time that we needed someone to look up into the sky and give us hope that the future’s going to be alright, I think that times now. With the wars going on, the whole world’s economy being completely shot, some many natural disasters happening, I honestly think that people are looking up in the sky now and asking for help. Be that from God, Superman or anyone you believe in. Superman will never be outdated or irrelevant.
Everyone knows that Clark Kent is Superman but that’s where I believe most people get it wrong…Superman is Clark Kent, he has to pretend to be human not the other way around. No matter what he's wearing he'll always be able to lift up a tank or fly. What I would like to see at the beginning of the movie is a normal Clark, not bumbling over pretty girls or trying to be unnoticed, but just being a normal guy then progressively as Superman comes out to save the world more and more recluse into the back of the room as the nerdy guy who no-one even notices. Superman shouldn’t just be limited to one city either…he’s Superman! I don’t think you could call him Super if he got to the boundary of Metropolis and said “Ohhh wait this is out of my jurisdiction” I want to see him all over the world helping people. I know the other movies touched base on that but I think they need more emphasis on how much of an impact he makes on the world.
I want the story to be deep, I don’t want a dark and gritty Superman film like “The Dark Knight” but I don’t want to see a happy, comical film like “Iron Man”. Both movies in their own right stand out amazing and they are so entertaining to watch. I want to make a Superman film that’s a hybrid of the two. As difficult as it is (with a man who flies around with a cape) I want to have the realism of “The Dark Knight” and with Christopher Nolan producing the film, I feel that this will be a pretty strong point he will try to convey, but I also want to add the comic book aspect to the film like in “Iron Man” as truly the film is for the fans of Superman. They don’t want to see some adaptation that they can’t even recognize, they want a hard core honest to goodness boy scout Superman who can take a punch but certainly give it back with a lot of force.
With Zach Snyder’s track record with comic films and action films I have no doubt that this film is going to be epic and it will stick close to the source material of the comics. Plus I think he will give the fans what they want…An epic fight with heat vision, super speed, super strength, ice breath, and the majority of it in the sky!
*Laughs*
What sort of influences would you draw from in your portrayal of Superman?
Well throughout my life I’ve always been putting other people’s needs before my own and helping them out. I’ve always had a drive to do good and help little old ladies cross the street, or stick up for a friend who’s being bullied. I would certainly portray Superman as a gentleman.
I’ve always been head strong and if I’m determined to do something I do it, even if I fail for a while I’ll make it happen until I succeed. Take acting for example, it’s been a huge passion of mine since I was 12 and I always said I WILL become an actor. I auditioned for an Indie film called Home Run King in Colorado Springs and I got the lead role recently. I was always told growing up that I would need a back up plan or a trade to fall back on but I’ve always been determined to become an actor and I won’t stop until I am making a steady living from it…and even then I won’t stop *Laughs* And that’s a way I see Superman, not as an arrogant muscle head but as Man who wants to prove to himself that he can do good for the world and the world is full of amazing people who can be just as inspirational to people as he is and will fight right down to his last breath to prove that. When have you ever read Superman just plain giving up just because the going got tough…NEVER!
Fans are sick of not seeing Superman use his full potential, what would you change?
I really want to see an emotional struggle of Superman, he lives in a world where if he wanted to he could destroy it or even by accident he could kill thousands. He is so powerful that he has to constantly struggle within himself not to lose control. I feel that was briefly touched on in the previous films, especially with Christopher Reeve turning back time in Superman I, but what I really want to see is a powerful Superman that has to live with the consequences of being so powerful i.e. being challenged and tested by beings with similar feats of strength. I want to see Superman realize yes he is an alien and he won’t be human, but he’s there to be Earths protector. Then I would add in some awesome explosions and awesome fight scenes…lots of them!!
If you were cast who would you like to see as the villain(s)?
Like my previous answer I wouldn’t want to just SEE them! I would want an all action brawl with someone who will challenge Superman to his peak...hmm probably Brainiac, I think it would be make an epic movie seeing Brianiac building himself up from being just a computer program on Krypton to then becoming a form of A.I. that keeps rebuilding himself in a better stronger body. It’s almost like it’s impossible to beat him as he will just come back bigger and badder the next time. I guess that also sounds like Doomsday as well but at least Brainiac will be able to challenge Superman’s wit. Or perhaps even Metallo…anyone who can go toe-to-toe with Superman is A-Ok in my books.
How do you think fans will react to a British actor playing Superman?
Honestly I’m not sure. It could go either way I think it all depends on how convincing my voice can be. I would obviously go with an American accent as I know as fan I wouldn’t want to see an adaptation of Superman: True Brit as the main blockbuster *laughs* although that could make an interesting short film. But all seriousness I think that if I can pull off the voice then fans won’t mind. I just want to do them justice and if that means getting a speech coach for the next few months then so be it.
Finally are you represented by anyone or are you a lonestar?
Currently I am actively seeking representation by sending out my headshot, resume and Demo Reel to ALOT of agencies *Laughs*. Which makes it difficult to hear about parts and to even submit your resume to people. But I have high hopes things will work out pretty shortly.
Those of you that want to see his previous work check out the trailer of Home Run King and judge for yourself he has the look for a younger Superman.
HRK (Home Run King) trailer. from Mathew Lee Nelson on Vimeo.
So there you have it guys and girls. What do you think could he pull it off? Here's a badly edited photoshop of him that I made (Please excuse my amateur skills)
Check out his fan page- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Luke-Banham-for-Superman/130549090340899