It's probably fair to say that Bryan Singer's Superman Returns was not well-liked by fans when it hit theaters back in 2006, but many would agree that Brandon Routh did a pretty good job in the role of Clark Kent/Superman.
The movie's tepid reception led to a planned sequel being scrapped, but Routh would get the opportunity to play the Man of Steel many years later as the Kingdom Come version of the legendary DC Comics hero for the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths television event.
This appearance most likely marked Routh's final time in the iconic red and blue suit, but the actor has often spoken about his love for Superman and clearly has a strong grasp of what's made him such a popular and enduring character over the years.
Routh was a guest during a spotlight panel at ACE Superhero Comic Con 2024. Host Sean Tajipour, the Mayor of Nerdtropolis, asked if he had any advice for the next actor to step into the role, David Corenswet.
“I think the biggest thing for me about Superman is always recognizing the non-physical superpowers that he has. It can be cheesy to relate it to the ‘teach a man to fish’ story, but quite literally that is how I see it, and it’s very apropos to being the thing. If you save people all the time, everywhere, maybe they never learn how to save themselves. That doesn’t mean that you don’t save them, but it just means that the teaching, the personality, the aspect, the human communication, the understanding Superman can give us of inclusion.”
“To me Superman is pure love, he doesn’t judge," Routh went on. "He has to make some hard choices and stop people from doing bad things, but my goal for Superman is that he’s the guy that everyone can be in their person…maybe without all the flying and all the other stuff. But he’s an example, the best of humanity, and he could teach us to do it, not just by his actions, but by calling out the truth.”
What do you make of Routh's take on the Man of Steel? Do you think Corenwet should follow his advice? Drop us a comment down below.
While Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) plots to destroy him once and for all, the Man of Steel (Brandon Routh) returns after a long absence to a much-changed world. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on with her life, and society has learned to survive without him. Superman must find a way to reconnect with her and find his place in a world that may no longer need him.