After it was announced that Henry Cavill will no longer be playing the role of Superman in James Gunn's revised DC Universe, there were a few names circling on who might take over. The actor who came out on top was David Corenswet, known for his roles in Hollywood and The Politician. It's not just that he looks the part, Corenswet will be the first Jewish actor to play the Man of Steel when Superman: Legacy comes out.
As well as Corenswet being perfect visually for the part, finally having an actor from a Jewish background playing a character who was inspired so heavily by Jewish folklore is a proud moment for the entire community. Casting a Jewish actor for the role has certainly been a long time coming, paying homage to the religious heritage of Superman that ultimately lead to the creation of the character himself.
Superman's Jewish Heritage
Back in 1938, Superman debuted as the creation of two Canadian Jewish teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The creator took inspiration from Jewish legends and folklore, most notably from the Biblical prophet Samson, who also had superhuman strength. Superman's real name, Kal-El, can also be translated into Hebrew, meaning "Vessel of God" or "Voice of God." His origin story is also a lot like that of Moses, with him being adopted by people who live a different life after his home is collapsing.
Both Siegel and Shuster were both immigrants who escaped Eastern Europe, which is another element of their experience that they implemented with Superman's story, with him coming from Krypton to America. Superman himself was created in the wake of Hitler's rise, to create a hero that defended the weak. Due to the character's entire origin being based around Siegel's and Shuster's experience with antisemitism, having a Jewish actor play the role is the perfect way to honor the iconic hero's roots.
Although it's taken nearly a century for a Jewish actor to be cast for the role, now that Corenswet has been cast it makes it no less of a proud moment for the entire community. Whilst previous adaptations have all leaned into the heritage of the character as there's no way you can't, having someone who comes from the same religious background as the creators makes Superman: Legacy one of the most important and progressive adaptations to date.
How Superman: Legacy Will Be a Jewish Allegory
While James Gunn hasn't been too vocal regarding the plot of the film, he has revealed that Superman: Legacy will be centered around Superman's heritage, exploring how "both his Kryptonian aristocratic parents and his Kansas farmer parents influence who he is and the choices he makes."
By taking this direction, the film will undoubtedly be a Jewish allegory, as these elements of Superman's life were so heavily influenced by the experiences of his creators. By blending the most personal elements of his story with the Jewish legends that make him the beacon of hope that he still is 90 years on, this film has the utmost potential to honor all the defining aspects that make Superman who he is.
Although a non-Jewish actor could have played this role just as well, most recently with Henry Cavill who fans were gutted to see go after only one solo film, Man of Steel. However, casting a Jewish actor to tell such personal stories from two Jewish artists is a massive step forward in bringing the most authentic version of Superman to the big screen. Upon release in 2025, this film will become a defining moment in Jewish culture in modern media.
James Gunn's DCU Revamp
Superman: Legacy will be the first installment since James Gunn took the reins for the DCU (formerly known as the DCEU). The DCEU seemingly had a plan to rival the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has become the most successful film franchise of all time. Throughout the DCEU's time, many fans were unhappy with the way this universe was shaping out.
As soon as it was announced that James Gunn is taking control, the decision was massively welcomed by fans across the world. After seeing massive success with The Suicide Squad (2021) and the spin-off show Peacemaker, there was a lot of confidence in the air that James Gunn could steer things in the right direction for the future.
By choosing Superman: Legacy as the first film in the updated DCU, especially after a massive recast for the caped protagonist, there's a lot of pressure riding on the film. But by not doing another origin story and instead focusing on elements of Superman's life that are crafted with the most personality from the creators, this film has the chance to offer something unique, whilst paying homage to the Jewish heritage that inspired Siegel and Shuster to create the character in the first place.
Gunn has seen massive success with comic book films not only in DC but in the MCU with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. His unique, creative, innovative style paired with the deep-rooted culture of Superman is a massively exciting combination for Superman: Legacy's potential, not forgetting Corenswet's proven ability to deliver wonderful acting performances. By being Jewish himself, this role will not only be a career-defining moment for him, but a standout moment in cinema for the Jewish community.
Superman: Legacy is scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.