Russell Crowe’s role in 2013’s Man of Steel was quite brief, although it served a crucial part in Superman’s narrative. The actor portrayed Jor-El, who sent his infant son Kal-El away from the crumbling planet of Krypton. He was ultimately slain by General Zod, and while his screen time was short-lived, Crowe believes there was so much more to explore.
The only way to tackle this idea is through a Jor-El prequel, a project that has enticed fans despite never coming to life. Crowe also expressed interest in exploring Jor-El’s backstory and wishes he could have turned that into a reality.
Russell Crowe’s Jor-El Prequel Could Have Explored More Of Kryptonian Politics And History
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Russell Crowe discussed his hopes for a Jor-El prequel:
“I think that you know, those kinds of conversations happen all the time. You know, once somebody has something like that going and you know how else you can sort of make things out, I would have loved to have done like a Jor-El story pre the Superman story, and while him and [General Zod] our friends and the buildup of the political tension. That would have been interesting.”
This would have been a great addition to the Superman movie franchise, but unfortunately, the project never took shape as well as the much-anticipated Man of Steel sequel. With DC Studios now under the new management of James Gunn and Peter Safran, fans will see a brand-new version of Superman and many other characters.
In December 2022, Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill confirmed his exit from the project just a few weeks after he announced his comeback as the iconic Superman. The news came as a shock to everyone given that he appeared at the post-credits of Warner Bros’ Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson. The actor said on his Instagram account:
“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran, and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life.”
Despite a heavy heart, Cavill accepted that he would no longer wear the symbol of hope. The actor wished Gunn and Safran the best of luck with their plans for the new DC Universe they will build.
James Gunn Wants A Younger Superman
The new DC Universe will introduce a new version of Superman which Gunn announced in March. He confirmed via Twitter that he will be helming the upcoming project:
“Yes, I’m directing Superman: Legacy to be released on July 11, 2025.”
Superman: Legacy will serve as a reboot of the franchise, although it won’t be an origin story. It will feature an established Superman with an actor “younger than in his forties.”
Meanwhile, Russell Crowe is looking forward to working on another comic book adaptation, Kraven the Hunter. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the Gladiator actor will portray the anti-hero’s father, Nikolai Kravinoff. He also confirmed that fans could anticipate “an unexpectedly dark world” from the movie.
Sources: Happy Sad Confused, Instagram, Twitter
