Echoing exactly what I said, James Gunn confirms Kurt Russell won’t be playing Jor-El in Superman: Legacy. Why? Because Kurt Russell is too old. Okay. So how about Pa Kent, then? So that leaves someone to play Jor-El, Bradley Cooper?
It was rumored that James Gunn was looking at Kurt Russell to play Superman’s dad on Krypton, who played Star-Lord’s dad, Ego, in Guardians of the Galaxy 2, but at 72 years old, I said that’s too old for someone to have a newborn baby.
A fan asked Gunn on Threads, “Hey James! According to IMDBPro Kurt Russell is playing Jor-El in Superman Legacy, is this true?”
Gunn replied shooting down the rumor, “I just answered this to someone else but, no. Love Kurt, and, although the mores of Krypton are certainly different than ours, I’m not sure I see him as the first-time father of a newborn!”
Who should play Pa Kent?
As I tweeted (see below), in the Richard Donner Superman movies, Marlon Brando played Jor-El and was 54 years old when Superman The Movie was released, so I suggested to look for the “Marlon Brando” of today.
I also tweeted that Jor-El should actually be played by somebody in their 20s or so, as again, Jor-El has a newborn baby.
However, also as I said, using Marlon Brando or an older version of Jor-El makes it easier to believe he is Superman’s father later on in the movie in those Fortress of Solitude scenes on Earth when Superman is an adult.
The new Man of Steel, David Corenswet, happens to be 30 years old, so it seems likely James Gunn could also go with an older actor.
Interestingly enough, Pa Kent is usually depicted as being the older of the two, so how about Kurt Russell as Pa Kent?
Who should play Jor-El? Or Brainiac?
So who can play Jor-El in Superman: Legacy?
If we stick with the Marlon Brando approach of someone in their 50s or so, I could see Bradley Cooper landing the role. Cooper was rumored for Lex Luthor (Gunn just confirmed Nicolas Hoult) and the two have a history with the Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy movies, so maybe Cooper will play Jor-El? Or how about Brainiac (Cooper played the “brainiac” in Limitless)?
Some guesses for Jor-El:
Who's the equivalent of Brando today? There's your Jor-El. https://t.co/KpCvNHTfVR
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
He’s 72 years old. So he just had a baby? Makes no sense. Brando was 54 in Superman which is also old. They really should go with a 25 year old. However I am guessing they went with a 50 year old because of the later scenes in the Fortress and an older Superman. @jamesgunn
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
Reeve was like 25 so Brando looked old enough to be his dad
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) November 23, 2023
David Corenswet is the new Superman
Superman: Legacy has a July 11, 2025 release date.
David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent and Superman, and Rachel Brosnahan is playing Lois Lane. Isabela Merced is Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion is Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Edi Gathegi is playing Mister Terrific. María Gabriela de Faría is playing The Engineer from The Authority described as a “villain,” with Anthony Carrigan cast as Metamorpho. Skyler Gisondo is Jimmy Olsen, and Sara Sampaio is Eve Teschmacher. Nicholas Hoult is Lex Luthor. Sean Gunn is playing Maxwell Lord.
Superman: Legacy is described by DC as telling the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.
