Joe Manganiello Came Closer To Playing Superman Than You May Think

Joe Manganiello Came Closer To Playing Superman Than You May Think

Although he was rumored to be in the running for quite a while, we didn't know for certain until Henry Cavill won the role. Now director Zack Snyder says it was a two horse race right to the end..

By MarkCassidy - Feb 18, 2011 10:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: Vulture

Despite being rumored to be a front runner for the role, some never really gave True Blood's Joe Manganiello much of a shot at playing Superman in Zack Snyder's reboot. Well it turns out it was a VERY close call.




In the latest issue of EW Zack Snyder says that "it was a Cavill-Manganiello race until the end of last month"..

"Joe's a great guy," says Snyder, who attributes his final pick to a gut decision. "I really liked him. It was about seeing a quality that inspires this inexplicable, mysterious, cool emotion that says, 'That's my guy.'"


We had been led to believe from the press release announcing Cavill as our new man Of Steel that his closest competetion came from Watchmen's Matthew Goode. It appears not. Of course this is all moot now since Cavill is suiting up, but it's interesting that what could be considered a fairly left-field choice came so close. Maybe there are other high profile CBM roles in Mr Manganiello's future.


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P862010
P862010 - 2/18/2011, 10:58 AM
so basically joe could'nt come across like superman is why he lost lol
StrangerX
StrangerX - 2/18/2011, 10:59 AM
It was a fight between two fan fav's thats great.
Exiles
Exiles - 2/18/2011, 11:17 AM
Maybe he can pull off superman but I can't see him as Clark Kent at all
Shaman
Shaman - 2/18/2011, 11:20 AM
Totally agree with Snyder. Joe has the build, but doesn't give off the vibe IMHO.
He can play angry like the best of them,
but Superman is alot more cool and confident than he is pissed off.
Superman shouldn't have to be ripped to exude confidence, like a jock would.
All he'd need is one silent glare, to make anyone shut up.
And Cavill exudes that naturaly on his worse day of his life.
Plus, Cavill's skills have always been better.
No brainer.

LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 11:24 AM
@StrangerX- Yep, I love it- the two main fan-favs were the closest, that is wonderful :)

Snyder really listens to the fans- unlike that deadbeat Bryan Singer.

Highball
Highball - 2/18/2011, 11:25 AM
Well, I wouldn't worry for him too much... If we look at the track record for casting Supermen for the last movies:
-Brandon Routh was a runner up for McG's
-Henry Cavill was a runner up for Bryan Singer
-Joe Mangniello was a runner up for Zack Snyder
So next reboot should his heheh!
NotThatGuy
NotThatGuy - 2/18/2011, 11:25 AM
Maybe he'll play the villain and kick the crap outta that pussy Cavil.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/18/2011, 11:27 AM
Joe would be a Spectacular Metallo. He'd make Cavill look like an underdog and that would just give me chills of joy to see both of them throw down :)
Coachella
Coachella - 2/18/2011, 11:27 AM
Somebody please post that Shane Black is now officially the new director for Iron-man 3.
Highball
Highball - 2/18/2011, 11:32 AM
@ Intruder - You know what... that would actually be awesome if done right!
Vital
Vital - 2/18/2011, 11:33 AM
That'd be cool Intruder. I think him or Brainiac will be the next villians. I doubt Synder will do somebody we've seen in previous films.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 2/18/2011, 11:37 AM
I think he would have probably been the better choice. :P
LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 11:39 AM
@Intruder- I don't think I'd ever wanna see Bizarro in a Superman film. I'd rather see Brainiac. Fans have waited decades to see Superman finally face off against a REAL villain in the films...and I doubt they'd wanna see Superman battle an opposite/retarded version of himself.

I know "BaneKill" will come in here and get pissy about me using the word "retarded" but Bizarro IS literally retarded so I don't know any other word to describe him...let's see..."special ed" maybe? Or..."kid who rode the short bus" maybe?

:D
YourMomNaked
YourMomNaked - 2/18/2011, 11:40 AM
@JoshW...me too (sigh).
LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 11:40 AM
@nailbiter111 and JoshW- Joe would have been awesome :) but eh my one rule was- NO MORE ROUTH. And since Snyder obviously fullfilled that wish of mine, I'm happy either way :)
Highball
Highball - 2/18/2011, 11:46 AM
@ LP4 - I'd dig the concept of Bizarro if he'd be some clone made by Brainiac himself... to deal with Superman while Brainiac is off to conquer. Bizarro as the main and only vilain wouldn't be interesting I agree.
Jer3miah
Jer3miah - 2/18/2011, 11:48 AM
@Highball: I agree with you. I think that would be bomb.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/18/2011, 11:53 AM
I [frick]ing hate Bizarro. But Intruder's right, if he ever were to be "required" in a feature film, Snyder could pull it off and make me a believer.
Protonite
Protonite - 2/18/2011, 12:00 PM
I'm not a fan of Bizarro either. I'd rather have Brainiac/Metallo.
XmutantX
XmutantX - 2/18/2011, 12:03 PM
heres hoping 4 doomsday!!! or atleast a character that is more physical in battle :)
LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 12:15 PM
@Intruder- That is an awesome pic of Bizarro you posted there :)

You got a point- Snyder would be the man to pull it off. Hell maybe he could make Bizarro CREEPY as hell! If anything like that pic you posted- I'll become a believer :D
kakinurmawth
kakinurmawth - 2/18/2011, 12:16 PM
@Intruder: Damn....just, damn.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/18/2011, 12:17 PM
Intruder- I could actually go for that. I'd rather Bizarro be a mindless machine a la doomsday where he could be used by an arch villain, then have him being a lame main villain on his own like he sometimes is. Cause if Bizarro's concept is to be the opposite of Superman, well Superman is very far away from being a mindless machine that obeys orders. It could work :)
drfate
drfate - 2/18/2011, 12:18 PM
Brainiac AND Darkseid. There was a Justice League episode like that; that would be great for this flick.
LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 12:20 PM
Brainiac, Doomsday AND Bizarro for the reboot! lol maybe a bit overkill there, sorry guys :)
DetBullock
DetBullock - 2/18/2011, 12:22 PM
So we came really close to have someone called Mr Truncheon as Superman. LOL
Highball
Highball - 2/18/2011, 12:23 PM
@ Intruder - Yeah haha! I think I read too much of those comments about Loki controlling the Destroyer earlier! Inspired me subconsciously.
Cool art!
Highball
Highball - 2/18/2011, 12:26 PM
@Intruder - Tis indeed!
LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 12:27 PM
@Shaman and Intruder- How about...Brainiac controlling BOTH Doomsday and Bizarro in the film? That way we get the 3 big bads in there and it would make sense for the story?

Just brainstorming here but I think it is overkill...
revloveR
revloveR - 2/18/2011, 12:29 PM
he probably would've gotten it if not for the supposed scheduling conflict with true blood. this would have made him though. he should have told the people at showtime to [frick] off.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/18/2011, 12:29 PM
Intruder- Definitely ;)

Even though my favorite Superman villain is Zod, Brainiac is the only one smart enough to even figure out Bizarro's existence, not to mention how to get him into Supe's world and successfuly manipulate him.

LP4- To me, Doomsday on his own is supposed to represent Superman's death so adding Bizarro to that would definitely be overkill. But Brainiac controlling either or, i'd be happy :)
LP4
LP4 - 2/18/2011, 12:30 PM
@revlover- Yeah...I would have gone with Superman over True Blood in a heartbeat. You're right- this film would have MADE HIM. He must be regretting it... 0_0
metroILman
metroILman - 2/18/2011, 12:38 PM
Joe Manganiello for Captain Marvel!!
Shaman
Shaman - 2/18/2011, 12:39 PM
LP4- It simply wasn't Joe's call. I'm sure he thinks it sucks but he can't regret anything since it wasn't his doing. He should feel very proud to have been the runner up out of every freakin' guy wanting to play the part in the entire world. :)
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 2/18/2011, 12:43 PM
Glad he didn't!

JOE's a PERFECT HAKMAN I tell ya! : P



Or of course HERCULES!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 2/18/2011, 12:48 PM
DeskTopHero
DeskTopHero - 2/18/2011, 12:48 PM
so in other words, joe has a big nose.
DeskTopHero
DeskTopHero - 2/18/2011, 12:48 PM
so in other words, joe has a big nose.
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