Back in February, the casting rumor mill had Kevin Costner being courted for the latest Superman film directed by Zack Snyder.
Now that rumor can be put to rest. Kevin Costner is no longer in talks for a role in Superman: Man of Steel. He has inked a deal to play Jonathan Kent, Supes adoptive father. He joins Henry Cavill, who is playing the Man of Steel, and Diane Lane, who is playing Martha Kent, Superman’s adoptive mother and wife to Jonathan Kent.
Regarding the casting of Costner, Snyder stated in a press release, “Jonathan Kent is the only father figure Clark has ever had, the man who was there to help Clark understand what he was meant to do in the world as Superman. Kevin will be able to communicate the quiet strength of this rural American man who raised the greatest super hero of all time.”
Zack Snyder is directing the new Superman installment for Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. The Superman film is being produced by Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. The new Superman is targeted for release in December 2012.
With casting of the Kents out of the way, now speculation can commence on who should play the villain and Lois Lane, the spunky news reporter of The Daily Planet. One of the viable contenders for the villain role is Viggo Mortensen, but that may be a pipe dream if he decides to go with the Snow White and the Huntsman project instead. As for Lane, if I could make the casting decision my top choice would be Olivia Wilde (of Tron: Legacy, and the upcoming release Cowboys & Aliens).
