Superman Cast: Who’s Who in the First DC Universe Movie?

As a seasoned fan of Superman, I must say that the cast for the upcoming movie is nothing short of extraordinary! With such a diverse and talented group of actors bringing these iconic characters to life, it promises to be an unforgettable cinematic experience.

The release date for “Superman” is getting closer and closer, but with Thursday’s unveiling of the first teaser trailer, the movie is starting to feel tangible. This upcoming film not only features David Corenswet as our latest Clark Kent, it kick-starts a new DC Universe continuity on the big screen, introducing various other DC Comics superheroes along the way. Here’s a summary of the new cast and all the characters we’ll encounter in this fresh take.

In a new take on the DC Universe, James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, is helming the production of Superman. While specifics about the plot are yet to be revealed, it’s confirmed that key characters from DC Comics will make an appearance. These include Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer. Additionally, we’ll encounter the revamped Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and his romantic interest, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan).

In the upcoming storyline, we’ll encounter revamped iterations of significant characters who don’t possess superpowers. These include Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Jonathan Kent played by Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Martha Kent portrayed by Neva Howell. Additionally, you’ll see his colleagues at The Daily Planet such as editor Perry White (Wendell Pierce) and photographer Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo).

In this upcoming movie, the extensive lineup of characters hints at potential plot twists, but specific details remain a mystery. Director Gunn is keeping tight-lipped about spoilers, such as whether Lois knows about Clark’s secret identity or not. For those eager to speculate and create fan theories, examining the character list alongside comic book plots could yield interesting connections. Here are the characters set to debut when DCU launches on July 11, 2025.

David Corenswet

31-year-old actor Corenswet is set to portray both the character of journalist Clark Kent and Superman, the Kryptonian refugee, in the upcoming production. As per Gunn’s explanation, this interpretation of Clark is intended to be approximately 25 years old and has already become a well-known superhero, which means that it won’t focus on his origin story.

Originally from Philadelphia, Corenswet honed his acting skills at Juilliard in New York. His breakout role came in the 2018 political thriller “Affairs of State,” followed by notable guest appearances on TV shows like “House of Cards,” “Elementary,” and “Instinct.” He has since found success with Netflix, starring in series such as “The Politician” and “Hollywood,” and the film “Look Both Ways.” Moviegoers might also recognize him from his roles in 2022’s A24 horror movie “Pearl” and this year’s disaster flick “Twisters,” where he played the character Scott, a tornado chaser.

Gunn has praised Corenswet repeatedly, referring to him as the ideal choice for Superman. On Thursday, he commented: “I’ve never collaborated with an actor as dedicated as Corenswet throughout my entire career. Every day, he pushed me to bring out the best in his character and the story. Everything he performs in the film is authentic. There’s not a single instance, even while watching daily takes, where you think, ‘David acted unconvincingly, unnaturally, or insincerely,’ there never was. He always gave his full attention.

Rachel Brosnahan

In the upcoming movie where Lois Lane is portrayed, it’s Rachel Brosnahan, a 34-year-old actress renowned for her work on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which earned her an Emmy award. Interestingly, both Brosnahan and Corenswet have previously worked together, but Brosnahan’s role in House of Cards from 2013 to 2015 was more substantial compared to Corenswet’s single episode in the same series in 2018.

As a devoted cinephile, let me share my thoughts on the upcoming portrayal of Lois Lane: I’ve always envisioned her as a brilliant woman with an unyielding spirit. This character is pivotal to any compelling Superman narrative, standing tall among the other romantic leads in the comic book realm. The intrigue surrounding this movie lies in the mystery of whether Lois already knows Clark’s secret at its outset, or if we’ll witness her piecing it together throughout the story.

Nicholas Hoult

In this film, Nicholas Hoult takes on the role of Lex Luthor, a character who is famously bald in the trailer. Given that Luthor has been depicted numerous times on screen before, there’s a significant expectation for Hoult to measure up to earlier portrayals while also making the role his own. Fortunately, the comic books offer rich material for developing Luthor’s character further within the DC Universe.

I’m thrilled to bits because Hoult is an old hand at bringing comic books to life — he’s famously portrayed “The Beast” Hank McCoy in X-Men: First Class right up to X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Plus, his geek cred is top-notch with genre film roles like Clash of the Titans, Mad Max: Fury Road, Tolkien, and Renfield under his belt. At 35, he’s gearing up for a leading role in the chilling A24 horror Nosferatu, set to hit theaters on Christmas day.

Edi Gathegi

Actor Edi Gathegi, who hails from Kenya and America, was seen in X-Men: First Class, portraying the mutant Darwin. Similarly, he assumes a formidable character in Superman, where he is Michael Holt, more famously known as Mr. Terrific. This rendition of the character boasts unparalleled intelligence across various scientific fields like engineering and medicine. He inherits the mantle of previous Mr. Terrific, utilizing his intellect to excel in martial arts and technology creation for crime-fighting purposes. These technologies include hovering robotic “T-Spheres” that accompany him, aiding him not only in combat but also in espionage. His distinctive mask enables him to command the spheres and sense different types of energy in his surroundings.

45-year-old Gathegi, born in Kenya and raised in California, had his college basketball career halted by an injury. Instead, he shifted to acting lessons and discovered a passion for the art. He relocated to New York to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts graduate program and started his career on stage. His first film role was as the taxi driver in “Crank“. Gathegi is mainly recognized for his portrayal of Dev in the Apple TV+ series “For All Mankind“, which concluded this year.

Isabela Merced

Among this group, the youngest standout is Isabela Merced, a 23-year-old actress who gained notoriety by starring in the 2019 live-action film “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” She also portrayed Izabella, the war orphan turned Autobot ally, in “Transformers: The Last Knight,” and more recently played Kay in “Alien: Romulus.” This year, she made her mark in comic book movies debuting as Anya Corazón in “Madame Web.” Next year promises to be another significant milestone for Merced, as she will join the cast of HBO’s “The Last of Us” as Dina.

DC enthusiasts have had ample exposure to Hawkgirl not only through the comics but also from animated series like “Justice League Unlimited” of the 2000s. In these shows, the character Shayera Hol (portrayed by Maria Canals-Barrera), an extraterrestrial hailing from the planet Thanagar, was featured. She had been sent to Earth with her partner in hot pursuit of a criminal. Once their mission concluded, they developed a fascination for Earth’s crime-fighting techniques and decided to stay behind, eventually joining the Justice League.

It remains uncertain which Hawkgirl character, Shayera or Kendra Saunders (the reincarnation of Shiera Sanders Hall from the Golden Age), the DCU will opt for. With numerous variations of this character appearing in recent comic releases, it’s possible that Gunn could choose a unique take on the character by blending elements from different Hawkgirls’ histories. In other words, he might select certain aspects that resonate with him to create a fresh and original version of the character.

Nathan Fillion

In simpler terms, Nathan Fillion portrays Guy Gardner, who initially was a troublemaker but became a cop, in the role of Green Lantern. Although Hal Jordan was chosen as the ultimate recipient of the Green Lantern ring, Gardner is the second choice. The movie adaptation appears to have established Gardner’s possession of his own ring for quite some time.

53-year-old Fillion starred as The Detachable Kid in Gunn’s 2021 DCEU film, “The Suicide Squad,” but this role is no longer part of the DC Universe’s continuity. Before that, Fillion was already a legend in geek culture, known for his roles in “Firefly” and “Serenity,” as well as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” While he has a rich history with DC, most of his work is in voice-overs. He played Vigilante in “Justice League Unlimited” and later voiced Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, in six animated movies from 2011 to 2018. These can be streamed now on Max.

There’s much excitement among fans about the part that Gardner and the Green Lantern Corps will play alongside Superman, but information is limited. It remains uncertain whether Gardner has been working in the open or if there’s already a connection between him and Superman. Furthermore, it’s still unknown whether he’s the sole Earth-bound Green Lantern at this stage.

Anthony Carrigan

Actor Anthony Carrigan, known for his role as Barry on “Barry,” is set to take on the character of Rex Mason, more popularly recognized as Metamorpho. Excited about playing a hero instead of the usual villain, Carrigan, who suffers from alopecia, has expressed his enthusiasm to bring an honest and genuine portrayal to the role. With a history of playing the Batman antagonist Victor Zsasz on “Gotham” from 2014 to 2019, fans of DC Comics may recognize Carrigan’s face.

Metamorpho originated in 1965 and has undergone numerous transformations throughout the years, fittingly so. His unique trait is the ability to alter his physical form into various elemental substances on command, enabling him to morph, become invulnerable, and maneuver through compact spaces. This extraordinary power was bestowed upon him during his archaeological endeavors when he came into contact with an ancient Egyptian artifact crafted from a radioactive meteorite.

María Gabriela de de Faría

To wrap things up, let’s introduce the last character with extraordinary abilities, Angela Spica, also known as The Engineer, portrayed by María Gabriela de Faría. In the DC Universe’s upcoming story arc, we’ll see The Authority, a superhero team that The Engineer is a part of, making their debut. Although there’s no announced release date for their standalone movie, it seems fitting to establish them in this series first. Interestingly, Angela is the second character to bear the title The Engineer; both share the ability to possess nanites in their bloodstream that grant superhuman capabilities.

Originating from Venezuela, Faría is primarily recognized for her work in Spanish-language TV series and films that are broadcast across South America. In the United States, some of her notable television appearances include “Deadly Class,” “The Moodys,” and “Animal Control.” To a global audience, however, she is most famously associated with her role in a Nickelodeon sitcom titled “Isa TKM.

Skyler Gisondo

Shifting focus from the superheroes, let’s delve into Clark’s civilian circle, beginning with Jimmy Olsen, the photographer at the Daily Planet. He will be portrayed by Skyler Gisondo, a 28-year-old actor who has made a name for himself in various notable roles. Recently, he starred in ‘Licorice Pizza’ and was a main cast member in ‘The Resort’. His other notable credits include ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, ‘Santa Clarita Diet’, and television series such as ‘The Bill Engvall Show’ and ‘Psych’. Comic book enthusiasts might remember him for his roles as Howard Stacy in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and its sequel.

Jimmy Olsen, a cherished figure in the world of Superman, can take on various roles – from friend and confidant to sidekick and curious observer, or even an adversary. It’s hard to predict exactly how Jimmy will feature in this upcoming film.

Wendell Pierce

Experience-wise, Pierce is exceptionally fit to portray the troubled editor Perry White at the Daily Planet. At 62 years old, he boasts an impressive resume that includes playing Detective Bunk Moreland on The Wire and Reverend Hosea Williams in Selma. However, he has also demonstrated versatility by seamlessly blending dramatic roles with action-packed ones, such as his appearances in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series.

In many stories featuring Clark Kent, Perry White is crucial when his secret identity is on the line, which could hint at the plot of this film. Notably, this movie seems to draw from the 2005 comic book series “All-Star Superman,” and in that storyline, White plays a significant part.

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Given his extensive experience, Vince’s portrayal of Pa Kent should be rich with wisdom, as he has previously appeared in numerous comic book adaptations such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Walking Dead, The Cape, and Constantine, along with many other roles. Notably, Vince is recognized for his work in Identity, Angel Heart, and Mississippi Burning at the age of 64.

It’s uncertain at this point what part Jonathan Kent will have in the story, as revealed by Gunn. Although the upcoming story isn’t an origin tale, Jonathan’s death is significant in Clark’s decision to become Superman. He might only appear for flashback scenes, or alternatively, the DC Universe could delve into various timelines from the start.

Neva Howell

In the end, Neva Howell has been cast as Martha Kent, often referred to as “Ma” by Clark. Howell is renowned for her performances in films like “Burden,” “Run the Race,” and “Novitiate,” and the TV show “The Resident.” She assumes a poignant role in any Superman tale, serving as his ethical guide, source of comfort, and protector rolled into one.

Other characters are reported to possibly feature in this upcoming film, even though they’re not yet included in the official cast roster. Of particular interest is Milly Alcock from “House of the Dragon,” who is said to portray Supergirl; however, it remains uncertain whether she will make an appearance in this movie. We’ll find out when Superman premieres in theaters on July 11, 2025.

2024-12-20 00:10