The lack of diversity in Hollywood is both a long-standing criticism and an existing problem that persists to this day. Even though the industry is slowly working on being more inclusive, it still has a long way to go before it reaches an acceptable level of minority representation, and Justice League director Zack Snyder weighed in on the issue while discussing J. J. Abrams' Superman reboot.
The new Superman project is still in its early stages, but we know for sure that Abrams is set to produce the film. He will be collaborating with Ta-Nehisi Coates, the established journalist for The Atlantic who has widely reported on issues affecting the Black community throughout his career. Such expertise makes him a suitable choice for penning the script and Snyder seems to agree with this sentiment.
According to RadioTimes, he is in full support of Warner Bros.' decision to cast a Black lead actor to portray Superman in the upcoming reboot, which would be a first for the franchise. While he still considers Henry Cavill to be the definitive Superman, he also thinks that having a person of color for the titular role is "bold and cool and probably long overdue." Snyder has not always seen eye-to-eye with Warner Bros' creative choices in the past, but he is on board with this particular decision, adding that it will be interesting to see what the studio has planned for the story.
It is too early to name a director or cast for the new Superman film, but some rumors have suggested that Michael B. Jordan is a top pick to play the next Man of Steel for Warner Bros. While a Black Superman already exists in the DC comic books, there has never been one portrayed in a live-action film, so whoever ends up getting cast for the role will make history for the DCEU.
Currently, Snyder has taken a break from the superhero genre to focus on an apocalyptic zombie film called Army of the Dead. The Netflix film, which will tell the story of a group of legionnaires in Las Vegas who plan a heist during a zombie outbreak, marks Snyder's first feature film since 2017's Justice League. Some big names attached to the project include Guardians of the Galaxy's Dave Bautista, Miss Peregrine's Ella Purnell, and stand-up comedian Tig Notaro.
Whether or not Warner Bros. will ask Snyder to participate in Abrams' Superman film is still yet to be determined. Snyder explained that he is still interested in what they do with the project, but he's not taking part in the decision-making at the studio.
The Superman reboot is currently in development at Warner Bros.
Source: RadioTimes