When it comes to DC films, the studio keeps on changing their actors for particular roles, like they recently did for Superman. Henry Cavill had just become the face of Superman after appearing in three movies when DC Comics broke the news of moving on from the actor to David Corenswet.
But certainly, Henry Cavill isn’t the only Superman actor that DC replaced. Prior to him, there was Brandon Routh who got his big break as Man of Steel in 2006’s Superman Returns. But after working with DC, Routh shared his biggest piece of advice for the successor of the role, David Corenswet, so as to warn him against repeating the same mistake as Cavill.
Brandon Routh’s Advice for the Superman Successor
Prior to Henry Cavill, Brandon Routh appeared as DC’s Superman in 2006’s Superman Returns. Finding his big break with his role, the actor later landed several acclaimed projects and recently starred on the 6 March 2023 episode of Quantum Leap. Thereafter, he learned about DC’s decision to replace Henry Cavill as Superman.
Addressing the news in March 2023, Brandon Routh opened up about his opinion with E! News. Sharing his biggest advice for whoever takes over the role next (since David Corenswet was yet to take on the role, back then), Routh almost warned the next actor from repeating Henry Cavill’s mistake.
“The most important thing about Superman is that he is a teacher, first and foremost. Putting that as a direction, you can’t go wrong. You can’t overreach because then you become dogmatic.”
Explaining how the next Superman actor must focus on serving the bigger goal rather than reveling in the spectacle and aura of what makes him heroic, Brandon Routh stated,
“It’s understanding that Superman’s role is not just to save the day. It’s to help all humanity find a better path forward.”
Almost advising David Corenswet to imitate Brandon Routh’s version of Superman, the actor warned to not repeat Henry Cavill’s mistake of playing a rather warrior-like action hero.
Also read: Henry Cavill, David Corenswet, Tom Welling Team Up in Their Own Superman: No Way Home Style Art
David Corenswet Shouldn’t Repeat Henry Cavill’s Mistake
As per Brandon Routh’s advice, he wanted David Corenswet to go completely against Henry Cavill’s Superman portrayal in Man of Steel. Personally playing a rather stoic and reserved version of the character, Routh mentioned enjoying the quiet moments and the internal work that shaped his character.
Brandon Routh thus advised the next Superman actor, David Corenswet to follow in his footsteps, rather than in Henry Cavill‘s. According to the films, Cavill’s Superman was more adept at portraying the darker, more conflicted elements of the character while Routh’s version was able to portray the hope-filled idealism of the character.
Even in the case of physicality, Henry Cavill’s Superman was more muscular, powerful, and warrior-like than Brandon Routh’s version. Perhaps believing that his version is better and more realistic than Cavill’s version, Routh advised bringing back the hopeful and humanity-serving Man of Steel in the upcoming Superman: Legacy.
