This casting news couldn’t have come soon enough for director Zack Snyder. As people try to regain their footing after taking a Sucker Punch – Sucker Bomb would be more appropriate – Warner Bros. is doing its best to sweep the box office performance under the mat and move on to something else. That something else would be the announcement that Michael Shannon will play General Zod in the upcoming Superman film, which has officially been titled Man of Steel. No word on if Superman will remain a prefix, or if will be ambiguous like The Dark Knight.
In recent weeks, we heard that Zod will be villain and that Viggo Mortensen was in the forefront to play the character. Then there was that Internet rumor, possibly a holdover from April Fool’s Day, that General Zod wouldn’t factor into the Superman movie at all. Instead it was going to be Lois Lane’s father, General Lane, and another villain known as Metallo.
With the casting of Shannon as Zod, Superman has a formidable foe. An exile from Superman’s home planet of Krypton, the character was last seen on-screen in Superman II and was played by Terrence Stamp. Personally, the casting of Shannon is inspired. As was the casting of Amy Adams as Lois Lane.
Regarding Zod as the villain in Man of Steel Snyder stated, “Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”
Now the question remains if Lex Luthor will also play a role in the film. Considering that Luthor will always be Superman’s perennial nemesis, it may be a situation where he will be briefly acknowledged and then have a fuller interpretation in the sequel – just like The Joker in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
Shannon, has played odd and showy characters in films like Bug, Revolutionary Road, and The Runaways. Now he joins Man of Steel with what looks to be an impeccable cast that already includes Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Ma and Pa Kent and Amy Adams as fiery Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane.
Man of Steel looks to fight for truth, justice and the American way (slogan no doubt to be changed for foreign territories) when it arrives in theaters in December 2012.
