Superman: The Man of Steel will begin
filming in June, an almost unmovable start date as Warner Bros. are contractually obliged to begin production in the summer as the rights to the character become problematic for any film released after 2013. Director
Zack Snyder and producer
Chris Nolan have now started the lengthy process to find their new Man of Steel. That man is likely to be aged between 28-to-32 and WB are said to be casting a "wide net" as the studio expects to look at hundreds of young candidates before making a decision, probably on an unknown, or at best a t.v. star.
Christopher Reeve and
Brandon Routh were both 24 and almost complete unknowns when they were given the red, yellow and blue costume in January 1977 and October 2004, respectively. Out of those names regular rumoured this time around...
Armie Hammer (who played the twins Winklevoss in
The Social Network and was previously cast as Batman in George Miller's failed
JLA movie) is similarly 24 years of age but that might make him too young for this.
True Blood's
Joe Manganiello, who claimed during a recent movie junket that he was in contention. He is 34...
Mad Men's Jon Hamm would be 40 when filming begins in June...
But could it be the opportunity for perennial superhero casting runner-up
Henry Cavill who carries the unfortunate stigma of being known as the unluckiest young man in Hollywood. He auditioned for Batman in
Batman Begins, Superman in
Superman Returns, James Bond for
Casino Royale, Superman again for
JLA and I'm certain he was circling
Watchmen and
Green Lantern - but despite favourable feedback from all directors - he was always pipped to the post by someone else. Notably he was also
Stephenie Meyer's choice to play Edward when she was writing the lucrative
Twilight novels but by the time they became films, he was too old. Talk about unlucky. Cavill is now 27 years of age and will no doubt audition once again. Could his time to wear the tights finally have come?