In the cinematic showdown of colossal proportions within Man of Steel, Michael Shannon’s dedication to portraying the formidable General Zod surpassed mere script adherence. Behind the scenes, a revelation unfolded, exposing the 49-year-old’s immersion into an astounding fitness regimen.
This regimen, revolving around an astronomical volume of squats, was meticulously crafted to authentically pit him against Henry Cavill’s Superman.
Michael Shannon’s Zod Training To Confront Henry Cavill In Man of Steel
In the epic face-off in Man of Steel, Michael Shannon’s dedication went beyond just reading lines. He dove into intense training, sculpting himself to be the imposing General Zod against Henry Cavill’s Superman.
Despite having a long-acting career, Shannon’s portrayal of Zod in the 2013 film remains one of his most iconic roles.
General Zod, a well-known Superman antagonist, was previously portrayed by Terrance Stamp in the late ’70s and ’80s films. As a Kryptonian with superhuman abilities, Zod’s goal is clear: take down Cavill’s Superman.
Shannon’s preparation involved a significant focus on goblet squats, a key element in Mark Twight’s designed workout routine. These squats, involving holding a kettlebell under the chin while squatting, emphasized the lower body and core, a crucial regimen for Shannon.
As per GQ (Celebwell), Shannon humorously summed up his intense training, stating, “It’s all about the squats, man. These frickin’ squats.” According to him,
“If it was up to [‘300’ trainer Mark Twight], you would do those things all the time, that’s all you would do. He would line them up from the lightest to the heaviest and you would start with the light one and work your way up to the heaviest one.”
While General Zod gains his powers similarly to Superman in the comics, Shannon knows the importance of looking the part. Convincing the audience that he could go one-on-one with the Man of Steel required commitment to challenging workouts.
Each squat and training session became a vital step in authentically embodying the iconic antagonist. In addition, Shannon previously unveiled secrets about the Man of Steel armor, providing further insights into his role preparation.
Michael Shannon Unveiled Secrets Behind Man of Steel Armor
Michael Shannon spills the beans on General Zod’s armor secrets in Man of Steel. Rocking Kryptonian battle gear, Shannon, as Zod, doesn’t wear the real deal; the CGI does the magic.
When Zod hits Earth in search of Superman (Cavill), the slick alien look is all computer-generated, avoiding any uncomfortable real armor.
He only sports a physical costume during his trial, a modern upgrade from Terence Stamp’s ’80s Zod. As per US Today, he disclosed,
“You should count your lucky stars it’s CGI. You put on a metal suit, boy, and you’ve got about four hours before you pass out.’ And this coming from a big, strong fella.”
Shannon reveals the necessity of CGI, sparing him the agony of clunky armor, especially during intense scenes with Cavill. He opened up about his time as Zod in a recent interview with Vanity Fair. Reflecting on his debut in 2013, he shared what made the experience special.
In the chat, Shannon pointed out that Man of Steel wasn’t just your typical blockbuster, it brought depth to Zod’s character, offering different motivations. He states,
“I would argue that Man of Steel is, in a way, this significant story, like, culturally. Not just an entertainment thing. Because at the end of the day, it was about a civilization that ruins their planet – I’ve never heard of that before – and the solution to that is to go to another planet and take it and then we’ll just go live there.”
This, for him, made the narrative important. These revelations give us a peek into movie-making reality, making Man of Steel not just entertainment but a culturally significant narrative.
