Writer, director and DC Studios co-head James Gunn is inching ever closer to finding his Superman and Lois Lane, as well as a host of other characters who will either dangle or be dangled high in the sky in the upcoming Superman: Legacy. Sources also report efforts to cast Lex Luthor and members of the Authority, a supergroup of antiheroes who don’t feel as strongly about law and order as Supes does.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn screen-tested six potential Clarks and Loises over the June 17 weekend. Sources say Nicholas Hoult (Renfield) and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) tested together, as did Tom Brittney (Grantchester) and Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton). The third pairing was internet-favorite David Corenswet (Pearle) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education).
Of course, it’s possible Gunn will select actors from two different groups, but it’s good to know he’s aware of how important Clark and Lois’ chemistry is. The rooftop interview between Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder has yet to be topped, and given that Gunn is on record as loving Superman: The Movie, we’re hoping that’s the kind of thing he’s aiming for.
But that’s not all: Gunn is also screen-testing for Lex Luthor, so hopes that Jessie Eisenberg’s jittery pee-gifter would be grandfathered into the new DC slate have officially been dashed.
According to sources, siblings Alexander and Bill Skarsgård are both being considered for the role, as well as potentially Hoult if he doesn’t land the part of Superman. Hey, it worked for Cillian Murphy in Batman Begins. After Luthor, casting efforts apparently will move on to the Authority, although no names have been floated for those roles yet.
Since most of the actors up for Superman are British, we vote for allowing one of the runners-up to be the new James Bond, just to save everyone the time and speculation.
Superman: Legacy soars into theaters July 11, 2025, so the actors better start deadlifting pronto.