Who can fill Supe's tights?

By: Paresh Jha

Posted: 10/6/08

Welcome to "Casting Call," a bi-weekly column of The Daily Campus that explores the art of casting a feature film. Every week or so, we will take the time to pick a movie that has yet to be made and give our opinions on who should play which role.

Superman

Superman is arguably one of the greatest superhero movies with Christopher Reeve. Ever since that fateful movie in the 70s, things have not gone as well as possible. The recent "Superman Returns" was met with a lukewarm response from fans and critics alike. The problem with the movie was that it was more of a rehash of the old Donner/Reeves films than something fresh and new. If a studio is going to make a good "Superman" movie in the future then it has to be a fresh concept with a new direction. As much as people love nostalgia, the reason Superman has lasted as long as he has is because of reinvention. The Kryptonian is long overdue for a resurrection. So let's take a moment to cast the right people that can bring Superman into the new millennium.

Superman/Clark Kent:

Tom Welling

Let's face it, Tom Welling has been playing Clark Kent so well on the hit CW show "Smallville" for so many years that he deserves a shot at the title role in the next movie. On "Smallville," Welling brilliantly portrays Kent as a hero searching for meaning as he wrestles with his true destiny. Christopher Reeve said that Welling is ideal for a new version of Superman when he guest starred on the show many years ago. He will be able to bring Superman the qualities of strength and humanity that he needs to exude. Welling was rumored to be up for the role in "Superman Returns" before Brandon Routh was cast as a Christopher Reeve clone so it is about time that he gets the show he deserves. It will also be an excellent time for him to properly break into the film industry after a little over a decade on TV.

Runners up: Brendan Fraser ("The Mummy")

Lex Luthor

Rufus Sewell

This guy is relatively unheard of. Those familiar with the movies "A Knight's Tale" and "Tristan and Isolde" will recognize him as the villain in both of those films. He is also the star of the new show "Eleventh Hour." He can truly give Lex Luthor the complexity and deviancy he deserves. It will also be refreshing to see Luthor as the same age be Superman, as in the comic books. There is no longer a big need name actors who could care less about the actual character. Luthor also needs to be portrayed as a character with humanity who does not see himself as the villain. Luthor always saw himself as a hero and Sewell could really bring that humanity to his villainy.

Runners Up: Liev Scrieber ("The Omen")

Lois Lane

Anne Hathaway

Lane needs a combination of sexiness, sincerity and spunk. Hathaway showed her sexiness in this past summer's "Get Smart" and her believability in movies like "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Devil Wears Prada." This also happens to be the perfect time to put her in a movie of this magnitude. Hathaway is on the upward swing of her career and this will definitely put her in the center of the action. She has never had a chance to showcase her abilities as portraying a powerful woman until "Get Smart" and Lane will only take her abilities to the next level.

Runners Up: Rachel McAdams ("Wedding Crashers")

Jimmy Olsen

Ben Savage

Maybe it's nostalgia for "Boy Meets World" or maybe it's something else, but it is becoming increasingly clear that Savage is due for a comeback. Olsen is the somewhat innocent boyish photographer and also Superman's pal. He needs to have charismatic yet goofy qualities that Savage exemplified as Corey Matthews in "Boy Meets World."

Runners Up: Michael Cera ("Superbad") Emile Hirsch ("Into the Wild")

Brainiac

Jude Law

In addition to Luthor, the "Superman" movies are in desperate need of a quality villain that can really challenge the Man of Steel. Brainiac is essentially a computer (or artificial intelligence if you will) from the last days of Krypton. Brainiac actually stands for the BRAIN Interactive Construct. His intelligence allows him to take any form, he is generally portrayed as bald and green for whatever reason in the comic books. Law could give the lifeless character some menacing qualities. His performance could result in something as sinister as Javier Bardem's role in "No Country for Old Men" except with a more alien quality. Law has proven his capabilities as a balanced actor in movies like "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain," and he will undoubtedly give Superman his greatest challenge ever.

Runners up: Keanu Reeves ("The Matrix") and Ewan McGregor ("The Island")