Man of Steel Casting Rumors: Who Will Play General Zod?

The casting rumors for Superman: The Man of Steel seem to be heating up as news of the casting of Ursa, Jonathan Kent, and Kal-El himself have stirred up internet sites routinely.  The most anticipated casting of the entire film (besides maybe Superman) will be for the role of the principal villain, who we now “know” to be General Zod.  After the Ursa rumors hit the mill everyone was clambering to hear the name for the Zod casting.  Aside from Lex Luthor, whose appearance in this film is still unknown, General Zod is the most well-known of all Superman villains.  He appeared on film in the Donner films played by Terrance Stamp, and was most recently portrayed by Callum Blue on the CW’s series Smallville. 

I am General Zod. Your ruler.

Yes, today begins a new order.  Rumors of the casting of General Zod in Zack Snyder’s upcoming adaptation have given the fanboys two names to debate – Viggo Mortensen and Daniel Day-Lewis.  The Hollywood Reporter has identified Mortensen as a person Warner Bros. is heavily interested in for the role opposite Henry Cavill’s Superman.  Mortensen is also in negotiations for a role in Snow White and the Huntsman, and with his involvement in both being unlikely he’ll most certainly have to decide between the two.

this sounds eerily familiar

I’d like him to follow in Kristen Stewart’s footsteps and join her on Snow White, not because I am interested in that film or dislike Mortensen, but because I’d like to see Daniel Day-Lewis play Zod.  This rumor has also been picking up steam, and it certainly is the more exciting of the two.  Daniel Day Lewis’s filmography reads like a timeline of Academy Award winning films and roles and to see him take on the role of Zod would definitely be worth the price of admission.  Unfortunately, until I see the official press release of his casting I’ll remain highly pessimistic.  Like Mortensen, Daniel Day Lewis’s name is also attached to another film – Steven Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln biopic; and the disappointment still lingers from the falsehood of the rumors that Lewis would play Moriarty in the Sherlock Holmes sequel.

Aww, did I drink your milkshake?

It seems that actors/actresses/directors turning down roles might be this film’s saving grace.  Reportedly Zac Efron, Kristen Stewart, and Ben Affleck have all turned away from this film leading to better personnel decisions being made; will Viggo Mortensen be the next name added to this list?  Warner Bros. is scheduled to release Superman: The Man of Steel on December 17, 2012.