James Gunn has officially cast the new Clark Kent for his rebooted DC Universe, David Corenswet, and the actor has a ton of great performances to check out before he takes on the mantle of the Man of Steel in Superman: Legacy. Ever since his casting was announced, Corenswet has been hailed as a perfect physical match for the role. Corenswet has the smoldering eyes, the strong jawline, the boyish charms, and a full head of thick, dark hair. He also has the trustworthy, all-American look that makes Superman the perfect symbol of truth, justice, and the American way.
Rachel Brosnahan has been cast opposite Corenswet as the love of Superman’s life, Lois Lane. Like Corenswet, Brosnahan has the spot-on look to portray the comic book icon she’s been cast as. And she doesn’t just have the look; Brosnahan’s incredible performance as Midge in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel proves that she also has the dry comic timing and feisty attitude to pull off the role of Lois. Corenswet might not be the headlining star of a hit long-running TV show like Brosnahan, but his résumé is full of terrific performances that show he has the acting chops to play the last son of Krypton.
Corenswet began his acting career with roles in the short films Following Chase, which he also wrote, and Michael and Clyde. He went on to produce and star in the comedy web series Moe & Jerryweather. In 2018, Corenswet guest-starred in the penultimate episode of House of Cards and scored his first major movie role as Michael Lawson in the political thriller Affairs of State. Before he stars in Superman: Legacy, Corenswet has landed roles in the upcoming musical The Greatest Hits and the highly anticipated Twister reboot Twisters, and will star alongside Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram in the Apple TV+ limited series Lady in the Lake.
Corenswet Played Jack Castello In The Netflix Miniseries Hollywood
Corenswet first collaborated with TV kingpin Ryan Murphy on the satirical Netflix series The Politician. The show revolves around Payton Hobart, a wannabe politician who runs for student body president at his high school. Corenswet had a key supporting role as River Barkley, Payton’s ex-boyfriend and rival in the race for student body president, and he knocked it out of the park. Murphy tends to reunite with actors he’s built a strong working relationship with, and he brought Corenswet back for a larger role in his next Netflix series, Hollywood.
Taking place in an alternate version of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Hollywood revolves around an ensemble of aspiring artists hoping to make their showbiz dreams a reality. The show’s cast is made up of a mix of fictional characters and fictionalized incarnations of real-life figures like Rock Hudson and Henry Wilson. Corenswet leads the series with his turn as the fictional Jack Castello, a World War II veteran who dreams of being a movie star. Hollywood was criticized for the artistic license taken by its writers, but Corenswet was widely praised for his performance. He radiates the charisma and star power that every A-list actor needs, but he also brings real depth and nuance to the series’ more dramatic turns.
After Hollywood brought Corenswet to a wider audience and raised his profile, he was cast in the HBO miniseries We Own This City. David Simon and George Pelecanos’ follow-up to The Wire, We Own This City is a gritty crime drama chronicling the rise and fall of the Baltimore P.D.’s Gun Trace Task Force. Corenswet plays David McDougall, a veteran of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force. This role shows off Corenswet’s ability to play nobility and grace under fire, and proves that he’ll be in his element with the crimefighting action of Superman: Legacy.
Corenswet Played The Projectionist In Pearl
Superman: Legacy will mark Corenswet’s first starring role in a feature film, but he’s played a handful of movie roles before. He played the minor role of Scott Glenn in the independent film The Sunlit Night and the supporting role of Natalie Bennett’s love interest Jake in the Sliding Doors-style romantic dramedy Look Both Ways on Netflix. Corenswet’s highest-profile and most acclaimed film role is “The Projectionist” in Ti West’s slasher prequel Pearl. Pearl meets the projectionist at the movie theater where he works. He takes a liking to her and invites her into his booth to watch the first hardcore porno ever made, A Free Ride.
This projectionist lives in a much more X-rated world than the colorful, superhero-infested DC Universe occupied by Superman, but Corenswet gives off the boyish, all-American vibes that will make him the perfect actor to play Kal-El. The projectionist’s death is one of the most gruesome kills in the movie: he’s stabbed with a pitchfork and his remains are fed to Pearl’s pet alligator, Theda. This is a much darker performance than Corenswet will give as Superman, but he still exudes the charisma that makes him the ideal choice to play the iconic Kryptonian hero.