It looks like we have more details on the planned Superman movie set to star a black actor in the title role.
While we learned in February that the movie was in development (here), we didn’t know a lot about it. We originally hoped that the movie would focus on Calvin Ellis, the black Superman in DC’s comics – a Kryptonian, like Clark Kent/Kal-El – who has the powers of the better known Superman. Oh, and he’s the President of the US.
However, it seems that no, this isn’t the case.
The latest report has it that the movie’s writer, author Ta-Nehisi Coates, “is crafting a Kal-El in the vein of the original Superman comics and will have the protagonist hail from Krypton and come to Earth. While the story is currently being crafted and many details could change, one option under consideration is for the film to be a 20th century period piece.”
There are a few interesting pieces of information to glean from this. Firstly, this will likely be Clark Kent and not Calvin, so it will be race-swapping the character. Secondly, if this is a period piece, then it’s likely not connected to the wider DCEU and, rather, like Joker or the upcoming The Batman, will be its own self-contained movie/story and, thirdly, while this report was released today – on Henry Cavill’s 38th birthday (that timing is no accident), it’s likely that he is still able to play the prime universe Superman in the DCEU.
How that all pans out, is anyone’s guess right now.
However, while the movie is being produced by JJ Abrams, will not be directed by him (that would be ‘tone deaf’) but rather the studio is looking at other talent to come in and helm the adventure, with word being that they are looking for a black director and are, coincidently, talking to many of the same people that Marvel are speaking with for their Blade reboot (more on that later tonight) including Creed II’s Steven Caple Jr, JD Dillard and Regina King.
While no actors are currently being bandied around at the minute, it seems the name still attached in Creed star Michael B Jordan who recently said of the rumoured casting: “I’m flattered that people have me in that conversation. It’s definitely a compliment, but I’m just watching on this one.” Does that mean he’s in talks? Only time will tell.
Coates is expected to deliver his script by Christmas this year.
Source: THR
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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