DC Studios reportedly had no reservations about casting David Corenswet in Superman: Legacy despite the actor's resemblance to Man of Steel's Henry Cavill.
According to Above the Line, inside sources claimed that while there were some concerns that Corenswet looked too similar to Cavill, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had no problems with the resemblance. Cavill previously starred as Clark Kent/Superman in the DC Extended Universe, first appearing as the hero in 2013's Man of Steel. Corenswet will take over the role in DC Studios' upcoming Superman: Legacy.
Corenswet bears more than a passing resemblance to Cavill, but the similarities do not end there. Like Cavill at the time of his casting, Corenswet is also a relatively unknown actor. Prior to his casting, Corenswet appeared mostly in guest spots on shows like Elementary, Instinct and House of Cards.
Despite some concerns about his ability to become the DCU's focal point given his experience, the studio reportedly believes this will be remedied by casting him opposite Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Cavill similarly was paired opposite six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams. Many fans regard Cavill's portrayal of Superman to be one of the best despite the mixed reception of the DCEU movies that have featured his character. According to the report, Corenswet was a popular casting choice for DC fans on the internet.
DC Studios' Superman: Legacy Casting
DC Studios co-heads Gunn and Peter Safran were open to input from Warner Bros. executives as they sought to cast a new Superman and Lois Lane. A list of six actors was narrowed down before Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav signed off on Corenswet and Brosnahan filling the iconic roles. Nicolas Hoult and Tom Britteny were in the running to portray the titular hero, while Emma Mackey and Phoebe Dyvenor were options for Lois Lane. The studio made the casting announcement on June 27, just days before the contract between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP expires on June 30.
Apart from the major casting news for Superman: Legacy, there are also reports of a shortlist for the role of Superman's archnemesis Lex Luthor. DC Studios is reportedly planning to start auditions for Lex, which may include siblings Alexander Skarsgård (Big Little Lies, Succession) and Bill Skarsgård (It films, John Wick: Chapter 4) as options, though this has not been confirmed. Additionally, the film is also reportedly looking to cast actors to play Jimmy Olsen and members of the superhero team The Authority.
Superman: Legacy arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Source: Above the Line