With Henry Cavill officially out as Superman in the DC Universe, audiences are eager to see who will inherit his superhero role in James Gunn’s Next Reboot Movie. This reboot, tentatively titled Superman: Legacywill follow the legendary hero through his early years fighting crime and working at the Daily Planet in Metropolis, so fans can expect to see a fresh, youthful face soar through the skies with the iconic red cape.

The search for the right actor to play the new Superman will certainly be a difficult undertaking. Despite this, DC and Warner Bros. have a long and successful history of finding once relatively obscure actors and turning them into household names with the role of Superman. There are plenty of rising stars poised to shine as the next Man of Steel right now, and some have already shown they’re perfect for playing him.

8.Charles Melton

Charles Melton reads a book in The Sun is Also a Star.

If Gunn wanted his Man of Steel to be stunningly handsome and brooding, he can’t go wrong with Charles Melton. the old Riverdale The actor looks the right age for Gunn’s iteration (he’s 32 but almost a decade younger) and in images as diverse as The sun is also a star, bad boys for lifeAnd heart of championsMelton shows he can be a plausible romantic lead as well as an action star.

Additionally, casting Melton would be a first for DC as he is of mixed Korean descent. Melton’s Superman would be the first Asian man of tomorrow and would be a refreshing departure from past portrayals of the character. He also gets bonus points for already perfecting the hair loop key that is iconic to the character’s look.

7. Joel Courtney

Joel Courtney in "Kissing booth 3."

Courtney is probably best known for her role as Lee Flynn in by Netflix kissing kiosk trilogy. However, Courtney first rose to fame for her childhood role as the lead of JJ Abrams’ sci-fi gem, Super 8for which he received a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor, as well as numerous other nominations.

Courtney has already shown he’s a skilled actor, and he’s already starred in the kind of alien adventures that Kal-El has found himself in. He also just appeared in the next movie jesus revolutionand from its trailer, Courtney seems to capture the wide-eyed optimism and worldly wit that would radiate from a young Clark Kent.

6. Fionn Whitehead

Dunkirk movie review

For those who may not remember, Fionn Whitehead had the lead role of Tommy Jensen in Christopher Nolan’s epic war movie Dunkirk, for which he was nominated for an Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer. Despite this movie’s ensemble cast, he showed with his performance that he’s capable of carrying the kind of huge blockbusters that most superhero movies rank among.

Likewise, Whitehead has had experience working in science fiction, having helmed projects like the BBC series Him and those of Netflix Black Mirror Bandersnatch. All of this shows that Whitehead is fit to join James Gunn’s new DC Universe.

5. David Corenswet

David Corenswet as Projectionist in "Pearl."

Audiences have seen David Corenswet rise to prominence in recent years with his roles in two of Ryan Murphy’s TV shows, The politician And Hollywood. He also recently starred in A24 and director Ti West’s beloved horror film pearl as a projectionist, who had a real Smallville, Kansas vibe going for him.

That alone is proof that this up-and-coming actor can bring DC’s favorite superpowered farmer back to theaters in Gunn’s reboot. But more importantly, Corenswet has shown he has the charm and charisma to play a young Superman.

4. Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal looks ahead in Normal People.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, everyone loves Paul Mescal, and with good reason. The 27-year-old actor has been on a hot streak since his gripping debut as love interest Connell opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones in Hulu’s 2020 pandemic miniseries normal people. He followed that up with roles in the acclaimed dramas The lost girl And God’s Creatures and is nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his brilliant work in one of The best movies of 2022, After Sun.

Hollywood has already hired him to lead a successful tentpole, Gladiator 2, so it makes sense that Gunn would select him to usher in the second coming of the DC Universe. Mescal’s Superman would be more moving than the others and tap into the character’s pain of being an orphan and alone in the world. We’ve already had the muscular iteration of Reeves, Man of Steel, and Cavill, so why not go in a different direction and focus more on Superman’s inner life rather than his buff physique?

3. Jacob Elordi

Nate in "Euphoria."

Audiences probably know Elordi best for his role as Nate Jacobs in HBOThe acclaimed and breathtaking series of Euphoria. While it might be hard for some to see this despicable uber-jock as Superman, Elordi played a more conventional teen idol in The kissing booth movies. It shows he has the range and experience as an actor to play Krypton’s Last Son on the big screen.

On top of that, Nate’s struggles with his masculinity and insecurity on Euphoria could translate to Elordi’s performance as Clark Kent, who is essentially Nate’s polar opposite. Part of what makes Superman so popular and relatable is his humility and vulnerability, so Elordi should know how to convey that persona by not acting like Nate. And since his character in The kissing booth is a huge Superman fan, perhaps his casting as an esteemed hero would be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

2. Darren Criss

Darren Criss stands in Hollywood.

Bearing a striking resemblance to Tyler Hoechlin, who plays Superman in the Arrowverse, Darren Criss has the looks and skills to play the Blue Boy Scout on the silver screen. Not only is Criss famous for playing Blaine Anderson on Joybut he also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his gripping performance as notorious killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Such an acclaimed and diverse history as an actor makes Criss a worthy candidate to play DC’s first superhero in Gunn’s film. And Criss is already ahead of the competition because, unlike the other actors on this list, he’s already played Superman in movies. Having voiced the Man of Steel in the animated film Superman: the man of tomorrowCriss has already proven himself capable of embodying the hero in live-action.

1. Eli Goree

Eli Goree as Cassius Clay in the boxing ring on One Night in Miami.

Eli Goree is the perfect choice for Superman. He’s relatively unknown like former Supermen Christopher Reeves and Brandon Routh, but has already shown enough reach and physicality to prove he’s got what it takes to don the cape and spandex. Even though he’s only 28, he has a slew of TV credits on his resume, including sci-fi and superhero shows like The 100, The ringroadand yes, even a DC show (Legends of tomorrow). Plus, he once played a real-life Superman, Cassius Clay, in Regina King’s critically acclaimed film. One night in Miami.

Beyond his impressive previous work, young age, and relative anonymity, Goree has the charm, intelligence, and physique that fit the classic Superman mold. Equally important, his casting would make him the first Black Superman to fly on the big screen. Casting Goree would move things in the right direction and make Gunn’s take more relevant, inclusive and exciting.

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