James Gunn,director of the new DC film “Superman,” has revealed that Bradley Cooper was cast as Jor-El due to his ability to embody the character’s gravitas and honor the iconic portrayal by Marlon Brando in the 1978 original.
Cooper makes a significant cameo in the opening moments of “Superman” as the Kryptonian father of the titular hero. Gunn, speaking with Entertainment Tonight, emphasized his desire for an actor who possessed the necessary “stature” for the role, specifically aiming for someone who could follow in the footsteps of Brando’s legendary performance.
The director’s prior collaboration with Cooper on the “guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, where Cooper voiced Rocket Raccoon, facilitated the casting. Gunn shared on “Jake’s Takes” that his established rapport with Cooper made the request straightforward. “He’s a friend,” Gunn stated, highlighting his deep admiration for Cooper as both an actor and director. He recounted calling Cooper to ask for a favor: to travel to England for a 3D surroundings shoot to create a hologram of him playing Jor-El.
The cast of Gunn’s “Superman” is led by David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex luthor. The ensemble also features rachel brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan fillion as Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl.
