File this under strong contender for now. According to Variety, the cast of Zach Snyder’s Superman reboot Man of Steel is close to being rounded out. The latest name attached is Aussie Russell Crowe who is apparently in final negotiations to join the film as Jor-El, Superman’s Kryptonian bio-daddy (reportedly beating out Sean Penn and Clive Owen), the same role last played on the big screen by legend Marlon Brando in the 1978 incarnation of Superman. This is one of the final major roles to be cast along with the yet-unfilled role of Lara, bio-mom to Superman.
Crowe is just the latest Oscar nominee related to this reboot, joining fellow nominees Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) as Zod and Amy Adams (The Fighter, Doubt) as Lois Lane. Of course the title role is filled by the British Henry Cavill (TV’s The Tudors, Stardust).
Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Watchmen) will be directing a screenplay by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight, The Unborn) and Christopher Nolan. The studio behind Man of Steel Warner Bros. has declined to comment about Crowe thus far but production is slated to begin next month. If it becomes a reality, will Crowe measure up to Marlon Brando for the audience/fans or can he ease into it enough to make it his own and shine?