The parallels are unmistakably there. Brando and Crowe are both highly-respected, serious actors with that elusive animal magnetism which makes for volatility on, and more often off, camera. Virtuosity aside, getting either of them star in a superhero movie sounds totally against type. Hell, Brando was even around the same age as Crowe is now when he starred in the first Superman. There you go--it's kismet.
Variety’s saying that Mr. Crowe is in talks right now to play Jor-El in Zack Snyder’s forthcoming Supes reboot, the Man of Steel. Those more familiar with the hero's lore will, of course, recall that character's the father of Kal-El (A.K.A. Superman.) Getting a huge name like Crowe for the part had been part of Christopher Nolan’s agenda while he was still godfathering the project and I have to say that I think he fits it better than Anthony Hopkins would have while he was attached to Brett Ratner’s unrealized Superman trilogy. I was always struck by a note from Mario Puzo’s early treatment for the original movies about how father and son should be played by the same actor. The ideal Jor-El should’ve been able to play Superman himself when he was younger.
If this gets locked, it really only leaves one more major character to cast, and that’s Supes’ mother, Lara. How about you Screened Pups start your fantasy casting call for that one?
