Supermanhas been a key touchstone of American culture for nearly a century. Since his comic creation in 1938, fans have adored the Man of Steel for his heroic pursuits across various forms of media. For many people across the world, Superman is most recognized for his storied history on the silver screen. And with that in mind, it’s been important to find the right actor to lead the franchise, whether that’s for individual Superman films or an entire collective shared universe of DC Comics characters.
Update August 21, 2025: This article has been updated by Torbjorn Frazier to reflect new additions to the pantheon of actors almost chosen to play the Man of Steel on the big screen.
So, whenever the Last Son of Krypton has needed to be cast for a new iteration of the character, the casting search reaches far and wide, with there always being a list of front-runners. Some are great what-ifs, while others feel like bizarreMad Libs-esque choices. Either way, the act of finding the perfect Superman can create anxiety in the hearts of casting directors. The best bet is to throw some kryptonite against the wall and see what sticks. This list will cover a collection of names almost cast as Superman but just missed the cut.
12Nicolas Cage
Perhaps the most famous almost-Superman wasNicolas Cage. The wild-eyed actor with a propensity for insanity was ready to take over the part and redefine what it meant. Cage’s near-foray into the super world is the stuff of legends. With photos of a long-haired Cage donning the outfit, fans have been clamoring for more than the brief footage online. The intent was for him to not only be Superman but for his suit to have a mind of its own. The suit inSuperman Liveswas almost that of another character. Demonstrating magical alien-like powers, it could conform and help the hero out during his biggest battles.
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Though Nicolas Cage as Superman remained one of the most recognizable “what if” scenarios in modern Hollywood history, audiences had the opportunity to see this casting come to life in 2023. During the predominately multiverse-hopping third act ofThe Flash,Cage made a surprise cameo appearanceas the Man of Steel. While the hypotheticalSuperman Liveswill never truly see the light of day, fans of the eccentric actor will have at least this brief role to visualize what the film could have looked like.
11Ben Affleck
Before he was Batman,Ben Affleckalmost played Superman. Kevin Smith wrote the script forSuperman Lives, and at the time, hewrote the part of Superman with Affleck in mind. The two had previously collaborated on Mallrats and Chasing Amy and were about to start work onDogma. While the studio eventually went with Nicolas Cage, Affleck and Superman would remain connected for years.
Affleck would play George Reeves in the film Hollywoodland. George Reeves played Superman in the popularAdventures of Supermanseries before his tragic death. Affleck was then approached by Warner Bros. to directMan of Steel, but he passed on it. He would then later join the DCEU as Batman inBatman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, where he fought Superman. It is interesting to think there is a multiverse out there where Affleck played Superman instead of Batman or one where Superman and Batman fight and they both look like Ben Affleck.
10Will Smith
Will Smithwas Warner Bros.’s top choice to play Superman in the 2000s and was even sent a script to peruse in anticipation of the role. In the end, though, it didn’t work out. Why? According to Smith, the script was all he needed to see. In a 2008interview with MTV, he explained, “The last Superman I got offered, the script came, and I was like, ‘There is no way I’m playing Superman!”
Instead of donning the cape with this iconic comic book role, the actor wound up taking a leading role in the niche superhero filmHancockin 2008 as an attempt to enter the world of that genre. In the same MTV interview, the actor spoke about how the more grounded and darker tones of that film were more up his alley as an actor than the ultimate pure hero. Smith ultimately though took a part in the greater DC Universe, granted as a shades-of-grey-based lead character in 2016’sSuicide Squad.
9Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraserwas another actor who was in the mix to take on the role of Superman in the 2000s. Before what ultimately becameSuperman Returns, a script for a reboot of the character, titledSuperman: Flyby,was written by J.J. Abrams and was lined up to be one of the newest and biggest reboots of the franchise yet. And with that in mind, Fraser was considered to be a primary front-runner before the Abrams script was scrapped in lieu of a different adaptation of Superman.
Fraser, for a time, was considered a stalwart of Hollywood before the actor faded out of the limelight. However, with hislatest career resurgence, it’s not hard to understand why he’d be seen as a potential Man of Steel. Though even with said resurgence, the actor has still yet to find luck within the DC Universe, with Fraser being part of the ultimately scrappedBatgirlfilm.
8Robert Redford
The 1978 incarnation of Superman was known for its wide-ranging and eccentric roster of potential casting choices. While names like Burt Reynolds turned down the part, it wasRobert Redfordwho turned heads as a candidate. Apparently, Redford rejected a large sum of money for the role, but a possible run as the Man of Steel would have been a major change in the trajectory of Redford himself, too. The thought of the heartbreaking actor donning the suit and flashing a smile would be enough to make Lois Lane melt. Based on his body of work, it’d be hard to see Redford in that type of role. But if the actor ultimately decided to take on the role of Superman, there’s a good chance it would’ve been a memorable performance.
7Paul Newman
Considered to be one of the most acclaimed actors of the mid-to-late twentieth century, Redford’s frequent co-starPaul Newmanalmost notched the accolade of appearing in another revered classic in 1978’sSuperman. Newman was actually approached to play any of the three male leads in Superman himself, the character’s father, Jor-El, and arch-nemesis Lex Luthor.
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Though in the hypothetical that Paul Newman portrayed the Last Son of Krypton, it could be argued that his performance would’ve painted a new light onto the franchise as a whole. Whereas Christopher Reeve was a relative unknown at the time of casting, the potential draw of aSupermanfilmcould’ve been the absolute star power that Newman had at the time of the film’s release. Paul Newman was around 30 years older than Reeves, which means that the characterization of Clark Kent and Superman would’ve been most drastically different from what audiences saw on the big screen.
6Nick Nolte
Superman looking a little haggard? That’s what people could have said ifNick Noltehadn’t tanked his own audition and donned the cape for this 1978 part. According to Nolte, the part was his to try for, but his enthusiasm just wasn’t there. He knew before the day was over that he didn’t want the role on his resume. Nolte ultimately would’ve onlysigned on for a specific takeon the character: “Oh, they were interested in me, but I turned them off by saying that I would only do it if I could play him as a schizophrenic. That’s sabotage. It would have been very strange to play that.”
Ultimately, based on the type of actor Nolte is and the perspective that would’ve driven him towards the characters, it’s probably for the best that he didn’t end up playing the purely heroic Superman. Nolte would join another DC Universe, where he played the villain of David Banner in Ang Lee’sHulk.
5D.J Cotrona
D.J. Cotronawas actually cast as Superman. The actor was set to play the role inGeorge Miller’sJustice League: Mortal, which was set to introduce the Justice League on film in 2009. Cotrona did a costume test and everything, but the project was eventually scrapped due to the production delays from the 2007 to 2008 Writer’s Strike and changes in shooting locations from Australia to Canada.
The idea was that ifJustice League: Mortalwere successful, the various heroes would be spun off into their own films, and it likely that Cotrona would lead his own Superman film. Cotrona would later join the DC Universe, playing the older Pedro in bothShazam!andShazam! Fury of the Gods. The connection is especially humorous as not only is he part of a superhero team like the Justice League, but during the 1940s, DC Comics sued the original Shazam (then called Captain Marvel) publisher, Fawcett Comics, claiming the character was too similar to Superman.
4Joe Manganiello
During the casting process for the Zack Snyder-directedMan of Steel,Joe Manganiellowas considered to be a primary front-runner to become the Superman to lead the then-newly forming DCEU. This reached the point where the actor was havingmeetings with Zack Snyder himselfand other producers attached to the film. Though his casting ultimately never came to be, and it appears that potential scheduling conflicts with the HBO seriesTrue Bloodwere the main impetus for it falling through.
Manganiello would’ve been the most physically imposing actor to play Superman if he was cast, which would’ve brought entirely different directions to the characterization of the Last Son of Krypton. Despite missing out on playing Superman, the actor made brief appearances in the DCEU as the villainous Deathstroke.
3Josh Harnett
Josh Harnettwas considered for the role of Superman twice. The first was when director Wolfgang Peterson was set to helm aBatman vs. Supermanmovie in 2004, which notably was looking to cast Christian Bale as Batman before he would eventually land the role inBatman Begins. While that project never went anywhere, eventually, another Superman film written by J.J. Abrams and set to be directed by Brett Ratner entered development.
The movie was calledSuperman Flyby, and Harnett was again one of the actors considered for the role. The film did not come to pass, but it is interesting that two separate Superman projects in the early 2000s considered Harnett to play the role of Superman.
