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Russell Crowe Cast as Superman's Dad in Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel'

by Alex Billington
June 15, 2011
Source: Variety

Wow, did not see this casting coming! Russell Crowe playing Superman's dad in a Zack Snyder-directed reboot of Superman? Awesome! Variety is reporting that Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe has been set to play Jor-El, Superman's biological father from Krypton. Though other talented actors like Viggo Mortensen and Sean Penn have been vying for the role (Variety says "Christopher Nolan had all along been seeking an A-list thesp for Jor-El"), it was Crowe who finally agreed to it in the end. That must mean this role is very important to the story, which is great to hear, especially because this is a strong cast Snyder pulled together.

Zack Snyder's Man of Steel is already set to star Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner & Diane Lane as Clark's Earth parents, Jonathan & Martha Kent, and finally Michael Shannon as the Kryptonian villain Zod. I'm looking forward to seeing Crowe play an important fatherly role like this, but it'll be hard for him to live up to Marlon Brando's Jor-El. Production is set to begin next month. This announcement is perfectly timed, as DC Comics is about to launch Green Lantern in theaters this week. Crowe was last seen in Paul Haggis' The Next Three Days last year and Ridley Scott's Robin Hood before that. I'm already looking forward to this new Superman purely based on the cast alone!

Explore tags: Casting, Hype, Movie News, Opinions

shed

Are you not entertained?! .. This is great news, looking forward to this even more!
Anonymous

ew.

http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Ew what? You don't like Russell Crowe?! "Are you not entertained?!"

Bltzie

I like Russell Crowe, I just dont think he's a perfect fit, he is kinda chubby. I would've preferred Mortensen as Jor-el.

Neotheon3

I like now normal, healthy people are considered fat in today's world.

Anonymous

not the biggest Crowe fan for some reason. at least this way he'll only be on screen for 5 minutes. lol. all kidding aside though, he's still a great actor.
Anon

THIS IS PERFECT!
JR1989

Great casting news and its rumored that Connie nielson will play Lara
Judasbarronx1

Crowe and Mortensen have that 'fatherly-role look' to 'em. Should be good!
Xerxexx

Nice!
Voice of Reason

Ew x 2. First Snyder, then Adams, then Costner, now Crowe?!?! How many more unappealing people can they put in this flick?

Anonymous

no to Amy Adams? unappealing...really? get over yourself

Voice of Reason

piss off Bat0u, my Adams-quota is reserved for the Muppets and I can dislike whoever I want....you along with them

http://twitter.com/darktaxidermist Davide Coppola

Cool
Loser

As I understand they are going to cast Billy Zane as Lex Luthor.

Robertmorrison2002

i hope they cast timothy olyphant as lex hes better actor than billy zane
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

I'm pretty damn sure Lex Luthor isn't in this movie...

Last Son

Alex of course Luthor will be in it. They just haven't announced who's playing him yet. They also have not mentioned who's up for Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Lana Lang yet. I just hope Lex has only a small part in the film. He has been done to death already. Billy Zane for Lex Luthor......
Last Son

Lex will be in it. I just hope it's a small part as he has been done to death already. Remember that Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Lana Lang have not been cast yet either. Billy Zane for Lex Luthor.....

tir na nog

Good call,didn't see that coming...sucker punched? this film is sounding better and better, Crowe must have read and liked the script to sign on because he doesn't need the money. And Billy Zane would be great as Luther.
http://cinemanostalgia.net/ CinemaNostalgia

So Superman is uncut? Who knew
Anonymous

So good, and certainly puts faith back in the Snyder camp doesn't now?? Wow, this is sweeet!!
Ron

Awesome!
Robertmorrison2002

connie nielson to be Lara
NEd

Poor Tugger. Couldn't stand his singing.
http://twitter.com/QuanahTweets Quanah

Interesting choice. Good choice. I hope the script supports all this great casting. I have faith Zack can make an entertaining film. My biggest hope for him is that it stands alone as a great Superman film, and not "just another Superman film." I'd equate it to my feelings about Tim Burton's Batman in 1989 and Nolan's Batman Begins. Love them both.
!5AAK

Meh....waiting for the trailer
phil audience says

yes totally ...
Anonymous

Seems miscast to me. But who knows.
Lamar

Russel Crowe as Jor-El, WOW! That's actually pitch perfect casting, Crowe kind of has that Jor-El-esque voice if that makes since. Also have to agree with RobertMorrison2002, I think Timothy Olyphant would be a great Lex Luthor.
Kneel!

Great piece of casting here! Crowe will bring even more star power and gravitas to the role Jor El. His voice alone ans stature probably won him the role. I could have also seen Viggo as a good choice, but Crower is the better fit overall. Penn would not have been a good fit and neither would have Clive Owen. The great casting for this film, means they are all impressed with the story and script by Nolan and Goyer. I hope it is a non-linear, like how Batman Begins was done where we see Clark Ken/Superman doing what he has to do and then other scenes with Jor El leading up to the destruction of Krypton. EPIC!
jimmydeanfan

Wow! Let the EPIC casting for this film continue! I love almost ALL of Crowes films and I always knew who should have been considered as Jor El. I also thought they should have looked at Viggo and DDL, but Crowe is definitely another top choice! Can't wait to hear who winds up being Lex Luthor! All these great actors signing on means they like the story and script!