Draft:List of Superman films cast members
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The following is a list of cast members who voiced or portrayed characters appearing in the Superman films. The list is sorted by film and character, as some characters may have been portrayed by multiple actors.
Actor Kirk Alyn the first actor to portray Superman in live-action for the 1948 movie serial Superman and its 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman, as well as Lois Lane's father Sam Lane in 1978's Superman: The Movie. While George Reeves portrayed Superman in the Superman and the Mole Men (1951), which served as the first feature film based on any DC Comics character.[1]. Reeves would reprise the role in the television series, Adventures of Superman (1952–1958) and in the educational short film, Stamp Day for Superman (1954).
Christopher Reeve portrayed Clark Kent / Superman in the Superman film series (1978-87) produced by Ilya and Alexander Salkind. Reeve first appeared in the role in Superman (1978) and in the sequels, Superman II (1980) (and its 2006 director's cut), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). Reeve was slated to have a cameo in Supergirl (1984) with Helen Slater as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl, but bowed out early on. He does appear in a publicity photo of him as Superman later in the film. The 2006 film Superman Returns served as an alternate sequel to the first two Reeve films while ignoring the events of Superman III and The Quest For Peace, with Brandon Routh portraying the same iteration. A CGI version of Reeve as Superman makes a cameo in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film The Flash (2023), alongside a de-aged Slater as Supergirl.
Spin-off films based on Superman supporting characters have been released, Steel (1997) based on the character of the same name portrayed by Shaquille O'Neal and DC League of Super-Pets (2022), with Krypto the Superdog voiced by Dwayne Johnson.
In 2013, a new iteration of the character was introduced in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), portrayed by Henry Cavill. In the films Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017) (and its 2021 director's cut), and an uncredited cameo appearance in Black Adam (2022). Cavill's likeness was digitally recreated for a cameo appearance in The Flash (2023), while a stand-in for the actor made similar appearance in the film Shazam! (2019). Actor David Corenswet will portray a new integration of the character in the DC Universe (DCU) film, Superman: Legacy (2015). Along with Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow being unveiled the first projects from "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters" slate of films.
Bud Collyer first voiced the character in the 1940s animated film series produced by Fleischer Studios (1941–1942) and Famous Studios (1942–1943). Various actors voiced the character in animated features including Adam Baldwin, Benjamin Bratt, Darren Criss, Tim Daly, James Denton, Mark Harmon, Jason Isaacs, Kyle MacLachlan, George Newbern, Jerry O'Connell and Mark Valley in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line of animated films. Theatrically, Channing Tatum voiced the character in the Lego Movie franchise (2014-2019), Nicolas Cage in Teen Titans Go! to the Movies (2018) and John Krasinski in the DC League of Super-Pets (2022).
Other prominent cast members who appear in the films and/or series within the franchise include Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Terence Stamp, Susannah York, Richard Pryor, Peter O'Toole, Faye Dunaway, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Kal Penn, Frank Langella, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jesse Eisenberg, Rachel Brosnahan and Nathan Fillion.
Cast and characters[edit]
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in noteworthy roles.
- An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
- A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
- C indicates a cameo role.
- E indicates an appearance not included in the theatrical cut.
- P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
- S indicates an appearance through use of special effects.
- U indicates an uncredited appearance.
- V indicates a voice-only role.
- Y indicates a younger version of the character.
Feature-length live-action films[edit]
Kirk Alyn serials (1948–1950)[edit]
George Reeve films (1951–1954)[edit]
Salkind/Cannon film series (1978–1987, 2006)[edit]
[edit]
DC Extended Universe (2013–2023)[edit]
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films starting in 2013 with Man of Steel and ending in 2023 with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It was based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU introduced multiple supporting characters from the Superman mythos. Cavill's inspiration for the DCEU version of Superman is based on The Death of Superman, The Return of Superman and Superman: Red Son. The reception to the franchise and depiction of its characters/storylines has generally been mixed among critics and fans.
DC Universe (2025–)[edit]
The DC Universe (DCU) is an upcoming American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. It serves as the successor and soft reboot of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The story of the DCU is divided into chapters, starting with "Gods and Monsters" which will begin in 2024 with the animated series Creature Commandos. DC Studios co-Chairmen and co-CEOs, James Gunn and Peter Safran considered the chapter's first film, Superman: Legacy (2025), to be the true beginning of the DCU. Many Superman storylines serve as inspiration such as All-Star Superman (2005–2008) and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021–22).
| Character | Superman: Legacy |
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBA | |
| Kal-EL / Clark Kent Superman |
David Corenswet | |
Introduced in Superman: Legacy[edit] | ||
| Guy Gardner Green Lantern |
Nathan Fillion | |
| Hawkgirl | Isabela Merced | |
| Michael Holt Mister Terrific |
Edi Gathegi | |
| Krypto | TBA | |
| Lois Lane | Rachel Brosnahan | |
| Lex Luthor | Nicholas Hoult | |
| Rex Mason Metamorpho |
Anthony Carrigan | |
| Jimmy Olsen | Skyler Gisondo | |
| Angela Spica The Engineer |
María Gabriela de Faría | |
Introduced in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow[edit] | ||
| Kara Zor-El Supergirl |
Milly Alcock | |
Feature-length animated films[edit]
Fleischer Studios animated films (1941–1942)[edit]
Famous Studios animated films (1942)[edit]
DC Universe Animated Original Movies (2008–present)[edit]
DC Animated Movie Universe (2013–2020)[edit]
Tomorrowverse (2020–present)[edit]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 51–52. ISBN 9781605490540.