Kevin Costner played Pa Kent in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Costner’s role was as a pessimistic father, who wanted his son to hide his superpowers. Nevertheless, Costner shared some emotional scenes with Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent. Costner has now opened up about his Man of Steel role, joking that he should’ve read the script a little more carefully.
Zack Snyder received flak over the death of Jonathan Kent in the film, however, both Snyder and Costner defended the scene in the film. Pruitt Taylor Vince will follow in Costner’s footsteps as Clark Kent’s adoptive dad in James Gunn’s Superman.
Kevin Costner Says He Should Have Read Man of Steel Script More Carefully
Kevin Costner appeared for an interview with ReelBlend podcast to talk about his film Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1. During the interview, Costner shared his thoughts on his role as Jonathan Kent in the 2013 DCEU film, Man of Steel. Costner joked about how his role was the only normal person in the superhero movie.
Reflecting on David S. Goyer’s script of the film, Costner shared that he should have read the script closer. He initially thought that he had powers in the film, but he later found out that he was just a farmer and he couldn’t fly. Costner shared with ReelBlend:
It’s just my luck to be in a superhero movie and be the only person that’s normal. I was like, ‘Really? I can’t fly? And I can’t put my fist through the wall? Maybe I should have read this thing closer. I’m a farmer?’
Costner also commented on the tornado scene that claimed his character’s life in the film. Costner shared that his character was rooted in doubt from the get-go. However, the Waterworld actor shared that the only time Pa Kent took a firm decision was when he put his hand up and stopped Clark Kent from saving him. Costner shared:
So I looked at that and I said, ‘Okay, I can be that.’ I thought it was rooted in doubt. But there was no doubt that he puts his hand up and says, ‘Stay there’, to his son.
Jonathan Kent’s death scene stirred quite the controversy and even generated a meme fest. While the scene was meant as an emotional trigger to move the story forward, fans ridiculed the scene for its over-the-top execution.
Zack Snyder Defended The Death Scene of Kevin Costner’s Jonathan Kent
Jonathan Kent became a questionable character in Man of Steel when Costner’s character scolds his son for risking his identity by saving a school bus. However, what irked fans more was how Pa Kent was killed off in an unnecessary sacrifice in the film.
Zack Snyder recently defended the scene in an interview with GQ while promoting his film, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. While many were furious over Kevin Costner‘s death scene, Snyder shared that it played into how Clark becomes finally ready and assumes the role of mankind’s protector as Superman. Snyder shared with GQ:
The conversation is exactly what he [Superman] says to Lois… I let my father die to protect the idea that my father was trying to protect. The idea that I wasn’t ready to be outed to the world because I wasn’t Superman. I’m just a teenager that could’ve made a mess of it.
I have the power to do it, but have I ever used my powers in this way? I trusted that his vision for what I could be was bigger than him. This little incident in Kansas was not the thing that was going to expose me to the world.
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was released in theaters on Friday. The second part of the film will be released on August 16, 2024. Costner also plans to release a third and fourth part of the film, which are yet to be announced.
Man of Steel is now available for streaming on Max.
