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

by
June 15, 2011
Source: Variety

Russell Crowe

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!

Find more posts: Casting, Hype, Movie News, Opinions

32 Comments

1

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

shed on Jun 15, 2011

2

ew.

Anonymous on Jun 15, 2011

3

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

Alex Billington on Jun 15, 2011

4

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.

Bltzie on Jun 15, 2011

5

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

Neotheon3 on Jun 15, 2011

6

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.

Anonymous on Jun 15, 2011

7

THIS IS PERFECT!

Anon on Jun 15, 2011

8

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

JR1989 on Jun 15, 2011

9

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

Judasbarronx1 on Jun 15, 2011

10

Nice!

Xerxexx on Jun 15, 2011

11

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

Voice of Reason on Jun 15, 2011

12

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

Anonymous on Jun 15, 2011

13

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

Voice of Reason on Jun 16, 2011

14

Cool

Davide Coppola on Jun 15, 2011

15

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

Loser on Jun 15, 2011

16

i hope they cast timothy olyphant as lex hes better actor than billy zane

Robertmorrison2002 on Jun 15, 2011

17

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

Alex Billington on Jun 15, 2011

18

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 on Jun 16, 2011

19

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.....

Last Son on Jun 16, 2011

20

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. 

tir na nog on Jun 15, 2011

21

So Superman is uncut? Who knew 😉

CinemaNostalgia on Jun 15, 2011

22

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

Anonymous on Jun 15, 2011

23

Awesome! 

Ron on Jun 15, 2011

24

connie nielson to be Lara

Robertmorrison2002 on Jun 15, 2011

25

Poor Tugger. Couldn't stand his singing. 

NEd on Jun 16, 2011

26

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.

Quanah on Jun 16, 2011

27

Meh....waiting for the trailer

!5AAK on Jun 16, 2011

28

yes totally ...

phil audience says on Jun 17, 2011

29

Seems miscast to me. But who knows.

Anonymous on Jun 17, 2011

30

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.

Lamar on Jun 17, 2011

31

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!

Kneel! on Jun 18, 2011

32

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!

jimmydeanfan on Jun 18, 2011

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