In Superman Returns, Academy Award-winning actor Frank Langella played the role of the Daily Planet's head honcho, Perry White, and he did a fairly admirable job. However, if it wasn't for his busy schedule (his show House had just become a huge success) none other than Hugh Laurie would have taken the role. In a USA Today chat back in 2005 Laurie was asked about the role and what he planned on doing to prepare. I will certainly look at the old Superman movies again. To do something new, you have to know what's been done," the actor responded. As stated before, his role as the pain medication-dependent, unconventional, misanthropic medical genius Dr. Gregory House prevented this from happening.