I did not watch Smallville as I thought it was retarded from the get-go, so none of of my fan cast picks have been inspired by that atrocity.
As for Superman Returns, I enjoyed both Brandon Routh and the plane scene.
Of my personal comics, I own a few Superman trades such as Birthright, Red Son and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
I love that Zack Snyder is directing The Man of Steel. I have a special place in my heart for ALL of his films (not matter how silly Sucker Punch may have been). Snyder is a stylistic director, who is not afraid to think outside the box and directs some of the best action ever, which is what Superman really needs.
This is an extension of the current films cast.
Brainiac - Daniel Day-Lewis
Brainiac is extraterrestrial green-skinned android.
I'm most familiar with the blue-skinned animated series Brainiac who was a living computer from Krypton, who after being warned of the planets doomsday by Jor-El decides to let it die. Brainiac takes off into the universe, collecting information from existing planets and then destroying them until he comes to Earth. Brainiac first comes into contact with Lex Luthor, who wishes to exchange knowledge of the universe. Once things become hostile, Luthor teams-up with Superman to stop Brainiac.
Daniel Day-Lewis is one of those actors who does a movie every few couple years and when he does he knocks it out of the park. He has a larger than life presence and the two films I've seen him in have been phenomenal!
Where I've seen Daniel Day-Lewis:
- Gangs of New York
- There Will Be Blood
I'm surprised I haven't seen more of his films. I've always wanted to see The Boxer and The Last of the Mohicans.
Lex Luthor - Billy Zane
I hope last year's reports of
Christopher Nolan meeting with Billy Zane were for this reason.
While Superman Returns was in the casting stage, some friends and I were discussing who should play Lex Luthor. Routh had just been cast as Superman and we were adjusting ourselves to the idea of this new, unfamiliar face.
You can see what I was typing on
my old blog where I did a brief play-by-play in real time of the goings on in my friends basement.
I don't feel I need to do a character description of Lex Luthor. If you are on this page, you pretty much know the character. Lex is a calculated businessman, a genius and above all, a cold motherf*cker who thirsts for world domination and the destruction of Superman! And maybe he's a little misunderstood...?
I think Billy Zane would be great as Lex. Zane has the look, the voice, style, charm and when he wants to, he can be a total bad ass. I watched Titanic again fairly recently (it's so bad) and even in that, he is the biggest a**hole!
Where I've seen Billy Zane:
- Back to the Future
- Back to the Future Part II
- The Phantom
- Titanic
- Batman: The Animated Series (voice)
- Zoolander
Billy Zane is another actor, who I can't believe hasn't done more mainstream films and who has a number of films which I haven't seen. This will also change and it looks like I'll be having a mini Daniel Day-Lewis/Billy Zane marathon sometime soon.
Mercy Graves - Samantha Morton
Mercy Graves is an animated series creation and probably my favorite Superman character. She is heavily trained in martial arts and works as Lex Luthor's deadly limo driver/bodyguard.
Based on the fact that she's an incredible actress, it would be hard for me to imagine she'd accept a role like this in the first place. Morton doesn't really do these big Hollywood films, but I think she deserves a fun character, since she normally portrays deeply emotional characters. She also seems to like films that challenge her, the physicality required for Mercy alone should be enough.
Where I've seen Samantha Morton:
- Minority Report
- In America
- The Libertine
- The Messenger
- Synecdoche, New York
Toyman / Winslow Schott - Luis Guzmán
Winslow Schott is a weapons designer for LexCorp, who building high-tech weaponry and some other things for his own amusement. Schott eventually becomes "Toyman".
If you're thinking "Hey, this isn't the Toyman I grew up with!" You can go ahead and [frick] right off.
There have been a ton of incarnations of Toyman. When I Googled pictures of him, about half a dozen different versions popped-up. Before I get the comments regarding the ethnicity of Toyman, please, spare me. It's Toyman. People barely give a sh*t as it is.
And since nobody really gives a sh*t about Toyman, I decided to cast an short and interesting character actor who could go from sympathetic to evil.
There aren't many comic book roles that Guzmán could be in the running for and I think this would be great!
Where I've seen Luis Guzmán:
- Carlito's Way
- Boogie Nights
- Early Edition
- Out of Sight
- Snake Eyes
- Mystery Men
- Oz
- Traffic
- The Count of Monte Cristo
- Punch-Drunk Love
- Welcome to Collinwood
- Anger Management
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Waiting...
- School for Scoundrels
- Yes Man
- How to Make It in America
Luis Guzmán is also my pick for M.O.D.O.K. and if you were worried about how he'd sound, I assume they will digitalize the voice of whoever they cast anyways.
Bruno Mannheim - Dominic West
Bruno Mannheim is a gangster by trade, but in the film, I would like to see him in a LexCorp supervisory position and the first person who feels the wrath of Toyman after treating the Schott like crap for too long.
That said, I'd like to see Mannheim survive and leave LexCorp to pursue other endeavors.
Dominic West is a decent actor, despite what you may have thought of him as Jigsaw in 'War Zone'. He plays the best guy-you-love-to-hate with that sh*t-eating grin!
Where I've seen Dominic West:
- Spice World
- Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Chicago
- 300
- Hannibal Rising
- The Wire
- Punisher: War Zone
Lana Lang - Rachel Nichols
Lana Lang is Clark Kent's ex-girlfriend from Smallville who knows Superman's secret identity and ends up in Metropolis, dating Lex Luthor.
Rachel Nichols is like Emma Stone in the sense that they're both natural blondes who've built film careers as redheads. Too be honest, I didn't put too much thought into this cast. She seems about age appropriate to Cavill, she's hot and would be good competition for Lois Lane.
Where I've seen Rachel Nichols:
- Shopgirl
- Charlie Wilson's War
- Star Trek
- G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Jimmy Olsen - Erik Knudsen
Jimmy Olsen is a young photographer for The Daily Planet and is in love with most of the women at the newspaper (Lois Lane, Cat Grant).
Erik Knudsen is a rising star, who you might recognize from Jericho or Scream 4. He has a look about him that hasn't been present with the other Jimmy Olsen incarnations. He doesn't have the gee-golly, wholesome look, which is what this reboot could use.
Where I've seen Erik Knudsen:
- Blackout
- Mental Block
- Saw II
- Bon Cop, Bad Cop
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Cat Grant - Rose McGowan
Cat Grant is the slightly slutty and obnoxious gossip columnist at The Daily Planet who is romantically interested in Clark Kent.
I saw Rose McGowan in this role for a long time, but as I Googled recent pictures of her, I noticed she's had a load of plastic surgery done to her face! She needs to stop that sh*t now.
She was so beautiful and if she keeps it up, it's only going to get worse and limit her choices of film roles.
I'm still going with her because I think it could be added on as one of Cat's vises, along with her drinking problem.
Where I've seen Rose McGowan:
- Encino Man
- Bio-Dome
- Scream
- Jawbreaker
- Death Proof
- Planet Terror
- Machete
Bibbo Bibbowski - Irwin Keyes
Bibbo Bibbowski is a former long shoreman and boxer, turned bar owner and the self-proclaimed "Superman's #1 fan". Bibbo always helps out when he can, even watching out for Lois and Jimmy when things get rough.
Irwin Keyes is a great character actor who I wish got more work on film. It's like Bibbo was tailor-made for Keyes.
Where I've seen Irwin Keyes:
- The Warriors
- The Flintstones
- House of 1000 Corpses
- Intolerable Cruelty
- Wristcutters: A Love Story
- Black Dynamite
Angela Chen - Jamie Chung
Angela Chen was The Daily Planet's gossip columnist before she left to host Metropolis Today. She thinks highly of herself, constantly working to scoop her former co-worker, Lois Lane.
Jamie Chung is one of the hottest actresses in existence and definitely my favorite girl from Sucker Punch. I think she would make an excellent addition as a secondary character in these new movies.
Where I've seen Jamie Chung:
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
- Dragonball Evolution
- Sucker Punch