Former Superman Actor Brandon Routh Shares His Reaction to New Reboot (And How Many Times He Cried)

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I, a dedicated fan of the Man of Steel, couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion when Superman made his grand comeback to the silver screen. Back in 2006, when an unknown actor like me donned the iconic suit for Bryan Singer’s tribute to Richard Donner’s 1978 masterpiece “Superman: The Movie”, Brandon Routh was the one who stepped into the shoes once worn by Christopher Reeve in a feature film. Then, in 2013, Henry Cavill graced us with his powerful portrayal of Superman in “Man of Steel” (leaving behind the traditional briefs). Now, with James Gunn’s “Superman”, marking the first solo film in over a decade, it’s David Corenswet who has soared into the skies as the new Big Blue Boy Scout, shaping the latest chapter of the DC Universe.

In an interview with Variety about the upcoming film “Ick,” Routh expressed that he found the experience extremely enjoyable. He went on to say that he admires David’s work immensely and shed tears at least three times during the production.

In a similar vein, our new Superman, who was initially introduced in the 1978 movie and had a complex bond with Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), finds himself three years after Corenswet’s portrayal of the character publicly emerged, and three months into his burgeoning relationship with Lois (Rachel Brosnahan).

The actor commented, “I approach this topic differently than others might. As I watch Superman’s complex interactions with Lois and Clark in their initial conversation at the apartment, I found myself deeply engrossed. Then, the family-related aspects resonated strongly with me. This film is rich and layered; I believe I need to see it again to fully appreciate it.

Initially, Routh was supposed to reappear in a Superman sequel directed by Singer in 2009, with Kevin Spacey reprising his role as Lex Luthor and Bosworth as Lois. However, this project was abandoned because the previous film, Returns, failed to meet expectations, earning only $391 million at the worldwide box office. Later on, Routh resumed his Superman role in a Kingdom Come-inspired adaptation within the Arrowverse crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths. Additionally, he played the superhero character Atom in Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow.

Routh expressed his genuine enthusiasm for the prospects of the revamped DC Universe, particularly the success of ‘Superman’ which, since its release on July 11, has garnered fantastic reviews and grossed over $400 million worldwide. This strong start is beneficial to everyone who wants more from DC, as there are numerous captivating stories yet to be told.

Routh can next be seen in Ick, from Bodied director Joseph Kahn, which hits theaters on July 27.

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2025-07-22 02:40