Elseworlds | Will Smith as SUPERMAN

Will Smith

The return of Superman on the big screen years after Christopher Reeves portrayal would be a very different film.  It would probably be less a Donner love letter but a film for a more modern time.  It would be a very interesting film if it got made.  However, Smith turned down the role which later filled in by Brandon Routh a splitting image of the late Christopher Reeves.  

Here's what Will Smith said at that time: “The last Superman I got offered, the script came, and I was like, ‘There is no way I’m playing Superman!’ 

“Because I had already done Jim West ( Wild Wild West ) and you can’t be messing up white peoples’ heroes in Hollywood. You mess up white peoples’ heroes in Hollywood, you’ll never work in this town again!” 

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Elseworlds: Paul Walker as SUPERMAN

Paul Walker

In a 2003 interview Walker said that - “They (powers that be) made it very clear that Superman was mine if I wanted it. I was aware that with all the deals that went with it, the merchandising and all that stuff, I would be made for life financially."

“So I asked the director whether I should do it and he said that if I said yes, the studio would effectively own me for another 10 years and that I'd be identified with the role of Superman until I died."

“I came to the conclusion that I didn't need that at this stage of my career." 

Paul, thanks for the Fast and Furious movies, you are missed.

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Elseworlds: Brendan Fraser as SUPERMAN

Brendan Fraser

Before the 2006 Superman Returns, there was another movie being developed by JJ Abrams entitled Superman: Flyby.  Abrams eyed Fraser for the lead role.

This is what Brendan Fraser said if the movie had been made - (it would be) "far superior to Bryan Singer’s film.  JJ had a vision that was larger. It spanned galaxies. It was Lord Of The Rings . I mean, it was that huge. It was like a Third World War on Earth involving different planets and universes, and brotherhoods - sibling rivalry and the collision of enormous powers."

Well Brendan, we can only imagine.

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Elseworlds: Sylvester Stallone as SUPERMAN

Sylvester Stallone

The year is 1978, a very different Superman: The Movie would have been shown in the cinemas if Sly who "lobbied hard" for the role got it.

Too bad for "Rocky" the Godfather himself, Marlon Brando, landed the role of Jor-El.  Brando had casting approval for the role of Superman, and he did not approve of Sly.  Even the producer of the movie had a hard time imagining Stallone for the role.