Brendan Fraser becomes Superman in new fan art that envisions the actor in the DC movie role he never got to play. The latest actor to don the mantle of Superman on the big screen was Henry Cavill. He’s since left the role behind as DC prepares to reboot the hero with James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy story, which will show Clark Kent starting out as a journalist on the Daily Planet in the new DC Universe. Years before Cavill was cast as Superman, and even before Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns, Fraser was up for Superman: Flyby alongside Hollywood’s best. However, the movie would never materialize.
On Instagram, digital artist @bobby_art shared their vision for what a young Fraser could have looked like if he had been cast as Superman.
Fraser looks pitch-perfect as Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent. The fan art draws inspiration from Superman’s animated series from the 1990s. While Fraser never got the chance to play Superman, he would eventually join DC as Robotman in Doom Patrol, and with a performance as the villain Firefly that was lost with Batgirl‘s cancelation.
Why Brendan Fraser Would Have Been Great As Superman
Fraser is widely known to be one of the most down to earth actors in Hollywood, with the star’s earnest persona making him the perfect choice for Superman. In the 1990s and the 2000s, Fraser was at the height of his popularity, with the period seeing the actor star in films such as Encino Man, George of the Jungle, and The Mummy trilogy. Fraser was at the top of his game when he entered the ring to become the next Superman.
Fraser eyed the coveted lead role of the Man of Steel for J.J. Abrams’ Superman: Flyby script. The actor went in to audition for the role against some of Hollywood’s most popular actors at the time. The list of candidates for the main role in Superman: Flyby included names such as Josh Hartnett, Jude Law, Paul Walker, Ashton Kutcher, James Marsden, and future Man of Steel star Cavill. Fraser later revealed he felt great in the Superman suit for his screen test, but in the end, it was not meant to be.
Superman: Flyby never left the ground, with the project being retooled internally until it became, years later, Routh’s Superman Returns. While Routh excelled at the boyish charm of Clark Kent and the confidence of Superman, it would have been interesting to see what Fraser could have done with the role. The actor has shown his ability to play different sides of Superman’s personality, with Fraser’s recent Best Actor Oscar win for The Whale featuring a performance that shows how well the actor can convey the endearing quality of the Man of Steel. Sadly, Fraser never got to play Superman, and that boat has now sailed.
Source: @bobby_art/Instagram