Late actor of the Fast and Furious fame, Paul Walker, could’ve nearly donned Superman’s cape and embodied the role of the Man of Steel had he not been wary of one particular element attached to the role.
Although it is unclear when the celebrity was presented with this opportunity, prior reports suggested this may have been for an unrealized 2000s J.J. Abrams-penned film. Not only was Walker screen-testing for the part, but statements made by his manager affirmed his status as a “frontrunner.”
Hollywood tends to pigeonhole its talents into endeavors that become definitive of their career.
Becoming tied to a character that may lead to similar outcomes and bind one to similar roles for the rest of one’s life is a professional bump many find themselves avoiding. It leads to stagnancy and may muddy one’s aspirations of being regarded as a multi-faceted performer. This and adorning the superhero’s classic outfit are said to have formed the basis for Walker’s ta-ta from the potential franchise fame-booster.
In an ironic twist of events, though, such was the fate ultimately dealt to the star—most commonly known for his F&F stint as Brian O’Conner.
Paul Walker Wanted To Avoid One Professional Bump By Rejecting Superman
In the 2018 documentary, I Am Paul Walker, exploring the legacy of the late actor who passed away at age 40 in a 2013 car accident, Walker’s manager Matt Luber alleged that at one point in time, the star had been screen-testing to play Clark Kent (via People). The prospect of playing the legendary, beloved superhero in itself can enthrall many stars, but here, the opportunity also meant a multi-million dollar deal role.
Alas, Walker deemed it reasonable to turn the role down. The actor’s stunt double and childhood friend, Oakley Lehman, stated in the documentary:
“I knew he was up for it. I knew he was thinking about doing it, and I knew he did not want to do three or four Superman [films] and be Superman for the rest of his life.”
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It was an understandable dilemma. While the portrayal of the part among the live-action iterations has guaranteed profitable, lucrative, and status-boosting returns, it has also often led one’s identity as an actor to be entangled with Superman, even beyond retiring from the role. Playing the superhero, then, can be a double-edged sword. Some actors can find this a deterrent when contemplating signing up. Deals such as this often span several years, too.
Funnily enough, the iconic red and blue attire became the apparent tipping point for Paul Walker to decline the superhero-themed movie. Manager Matt Luber recalled the phone call he received from the actor, where the latter affirmed:
“‘I’ve got an ‘S’ on, I got a cape, boots, tights … this is not me. I’m getting the f—k out of here. Gotta go. F—k you.’ And he was gone.”
Though Walker’s reservations about the part were sensible, his stint in Fast & Furious inevitably brought forth what he had intended to avoid with the Superman role.
Paul Walker Is Mostly Associated With His Fast & Furious Stint
Walker’s breakthrough role had been The Fast and the Furious (2001), the first installment whose success eventually spawned a film franchise. By taking on the leading man role of LAPD police officer Brian O’Conner, he established his career, opening doors for further endeavors within the actioner premise.
O’Conner was reprised by Walker in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). The actor would continue to return to the role in the fourth, fifth, and sixth installments, turning the film series into a fundamental mainstay in his filmography. Furious 7 marked the final film performance of Paul Walker, who untimely passed away in a car accident in 2013.
This doesn’t imply that the Flags of Our Fathers alum didn’t feature in other projects. However, Fast & Furious is widely thought to be the source of his most unforgettable on-screen outings—a role that defined the greater extent of his career.
Of course, there is no inherent issue to being commonly recognized for one particular role—that has been the case for many Hollywood talents! However, Walker’s F&F stint, contrasted with his initial reservations about signing up for Superman, presents an intriguing irony. The star had reportedly been reluctant to play the superhero in multiple films. He wasn’t keen on portraying or being regarded as Superman for “the rest of his life.”
And yet, his iconic journey through the Fast & Furious franchise was determined on similar grounds—appearing in numerous films and becoming synonymous with the series and the character.
The Superman suit must be to blame, then. Donning a superhero’s attire could pose daunting challenges. At least, that’s what the stars who have done it have said! Jokes aside, there may have been additional considerations that refrained the actor from taking on Superman—factors that we aren’t (and presumably won’t be) aware of.
Whatever the reason, it is well within an actor’s right to reject an endeavor that doesn’t align with their aspirations at the time.
Perhaps what hadn’t resonated with Walker when contending for Superman had done so with Fast & Furious. And that’s why he established himself as the franchise’s mainstay, where the weight of his legacy as Brian O’Conner can be felt even today.
