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.

Warner Bros. Names the Next “Man of Steel”

2012 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for film with projects featuring The Avengers, James Bond, Hobbits, Pirates of the Caribbean, Titans, Spiderman, Batman, and Superman among many coming to theaters.  With 2011 getting off to a disappointing start, especially among our most anticipated films of the year, it is never too early to look forward to future projects.  The film I’m most excited about in 2012 is Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, the latest installment inf the Superman mythos.  Superman has always been my favorite of the Superheros and one I feel has been slighted on-screen due to his lack of worthy adversaries (seriously, Richard Pryor?).

If no one else is taking this seriously, then why should I?

The biggest casting news from the weekend came from the Warner Bros project as the Man of Steel had been cast.  Candidates granted screen tests for the role included Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Armie Hammer (The Social Network), Matthew Goode (Watchmen), and Colin O’Donaghue (The Rite).  Ultimately though, the role went to The Tudors actor Henry Cavill.  Just as suspected, the role went to a lesser known actor and one that was reportedly linked to other super hero films in the past including: Batman Begins, The Green Lantern, and even Superman Returns.  Cavill was in fact  cast as Superman once before, until Bryan Singer replaced McG on Superman Returns.

While there were certainly worse options on the bill, namely Colin O’Donaghue whose performance in the recently released The Rite is not receiving welcoming reviews, there is something so fundamental in the Superman mythos that Cavill cannot possibly authenticate, Americana.  Sure by now Superman is an international brand but doesn’t he fight for “Truth, Justice, and the American way”?  No matter how stellar Cavill’s performance in this film may be, the prospect of watching our Corn-fed, Kansas raised savior from Krypton being portrayed by a Brit doesn’t sit right.  You know who else was British, Terrance Stamp and Callum Blue;  what do they have in common, they both played Zod.

Come and kneel before ... Superman?

What do you think?  Does the casting of Henry Cavill as Superman further your excitement for this film’s release?  Is there anyone else out there who is just a little bit uncomfortable with a foreign actor playing the iconic American role?  Who else would you like to see cast alongside Cavill as Lois Lane and Lex Luthor?