After a lengthy scavenger hunt, James Gunn has finally found his leading stars for the much-anticipated DCU venture, Superman: Legacy. With David Corenswet set to don the mighty cape of the Kryptonian legend and Rachel Brosnahan ready to step into the shoes of the Metropolitan journalist, Lois Lane, the project is officially off the ground.
The casting decision, however, as these things often go, seems to have raised some eyebrows owing to the three-year age gap that prevails between Brosnahan and Corenswet. Fighting ageism was never a strong suit of the film industry anyways. But perhaps those who appear to be scowling about the age difference are forgetting that Lois Lane having a few years on Clark Kent isn’t anything new and neither has it been approached for the first time.
Every Time Lois Lane Was Older Than Superman
To give you some context, Rachel Brosnahan is 32 whereas her co-star, David Corenswet, who will be saving the world in James Gunn‘s Superman: Legacy is 29 years old. And while three years is a trivial difference that doesn’t affect essentially anything related to the film or how it would materialize, ageist trolls seemed to be baffled nonetheless. But a Twitter user is here to remind them that this wouldn’t be DC’s first rodeo regarding the dynamic pair.
To everybody who’s saying Rachel Brosnahan is “too old” to play Lois Lane since she’s three years older than David Corenswet, a) she’s only 32, shut the fuck up and b) Margot Kidder was four years older than Christopher Reeve in the original SUPERMAN so again, shut the fuck up pic.twitter.com/Uxbk2rG1k4
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) June 27, 2023
In the very first Superman film which dates back to the ’70s, the leading stars who depicted the superhero and Lois Lane had a similar situation going on with Christopher Reeve, who had been 24 at the time of the film, was four years younger than his co-star, Margot Kidder, who had been inching toward her ’30s back then.
But that’s not all. Even Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel which premiered a decade ago featured an older Lois Lane. In fact, Amy Adams, who took over the role, was easily nine years older than Henry Cavill, who was just 30 when they made the 2013 film. Even Bitsie Tulloch and Tyler Hoechlin who portray the duo in CW’s Superman & Lois had a six-year age difference. Not to mention, the character has virtually always been a few years older than Superman in the comics as well, so it makes sense for the same to transpire in the films too.
Fans Lash Out at the Recurring Issue of Ageism in Hollywood
Unlike those who seem to be under the misconception that a woman in her ’30s is “too old,” fans, for the most part, seem to have no complaints whatsoever about Gunn choosing The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star for his new project as they call out people for partaking in the outmoded stereotype that older women, in general, don’t fit certain on-screen roles.
How is a woman being 3 years older than the man “old”??? What? People’s ageism and misogyny are wild.
— Roma Kong (@RomaKong) June 27, 2023
She’s been written as a few years older than him literally since 1938 lmao what are these people even on about
— Down Bad Patrol (@reneiscursed) June 27, 2023
Isn’t Lois older in than Clark in the comics?
— Becca R 🧜🏿♀️ (@acceber910) June 27, 2023
— Tevin (@thetevinator) June 28, 2023
She’s perfect I’m sooooo fkn happy about this
— Brody_Bruce 🇮🇪🇨🇦 (@irishman78) June 28, 2023
She’s literally the best choice
— SUPPORT THE WGA STRIKE!!! (@dauntlessdalton) June 27, 2023
Though the film industry has evolved dramatically in the past few years when it comes to matters of inclusion and representation, the problem of ageism is still as pervasive, if not more. The stereotypes and discrimination against female actresses based on their age are issues ingrained in the very fabric of Hollywood, the brunt of which has been suffered by countless women, including Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Wilde, and Melanie Griffiths, to list a few.
Nevertheless, as people remarked, Brosnahan is indeed the perfect pick for Lois Lane.
Superman: Legacy is slated to release on July 11, 2025.
Source: Twitter
