Actor Michael B. Jordan has long been rumored to play a black version of Superman in an upcoming film, with recent reports stating that Warner Bros. have hired writer Ta-Nehisi Coates to reboot the Superman film franchise alongside producer J.J. Abrams.
In a new interview with CinePOP, in which Jordan discusses his new movie “Without Remorse,” the actor continues to shy away from letting fans know whether he is connected with the Superman film reboot. “I mean I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t really know what is going with that in particular, but I think that everybody’s wants and desires to see black leads in heroic roles are really, really important.”
“Let’s just see how things shake out.”
It doesn’t seem he’s quite attached to the project just yet, but then again, I’m not sure they’ve even got up to casting. I don’t think the script is ready yet either. Regardless, WB will most probably approach him (if they’re not already in preliminary talks). They need a big, recognizable name to make this work. Finances aside, I think Jordan’s only caveat so far has been that he wouldn’t be interested in playing a black Kal-El, he’d rather play Calvin Ellis. I find the whole thing amusing though; you know WB will milk the #*&^ out of this… mere… Read more »
Your mistaken in one part Calvin Ellis is Kal-El the thing Is he just doesn’t want to play Clark Kent. That’s the difference.
I’ll happily be proven wrong, but I’m not sure that the mainstream audience will accept a black “main” Superman, and a film centered on an alternate universe Superman like Calvin Ellis would still need some way of framing it as an alternate universe for the non-comic reading public.
I like Michael B. Jordan as an actor, and after he bulked up (even more) for Creed II, I thought he’d make a great Steel.
With the reaction to Falcon becoming Captain America and Miles as Spider-Man and since there has been people wanting a Calvin Ellis or Val-Zod series I’m sure people would accept it.
That’s kind of my point. The Miles Morales Spider-Man in Into the Spider Verse had to have his story clearly framed as an alternate universe. The comics fans knew that it took place in an alternate universe, but if the general audience, who “know” that Spider-Man is *always* Peter Parker just saw a story that was “Peter’s dead, here’s a new guy…” I’m not sure it would have been so well received.
As a fan of the comics, I’d love to see Calvin Ellis movie. But I’m the first to admit that I’m not “mainstream” in this case.
It would probably garner enough attention with aggressive marketing, but the problem with “mainstream” in this case would be the financial expectations. I wouldn’t expect a Calvin Ellis or Val Zod film to completely tank (unless it’s actually trash), but I don’t see how it could make mainline Superman numbers either. I don’t think the audience would have a problem “accepting” a black Superman per se, but lack of familiarity tends to drive people away and that’s on top of a DCEU that is in shambles and hasn’t earned the trust of the audience or the staying power of, say,… Read more »
Well, I already had issues when they went with a no red trunks Supes, so with a black Supes, I’m sure to boycott. That will be a Super guy, like Hancock, not just Superman. Adding the name Superman to a character isn’t enough to make him Superman. There are some criteria to be met. Once you begin to strip the character one by one of its associated criteria, it isn’t the character any longer, whatever they choose to name him. As for a Calvin Ellis Supes, why not, but do they really think they can make money with this idea… Read more »
It’s looking ***** ALL***** down hill from here.
So basically Michael is just saying what he said last time. I do think if we hear anything Superman movie related or any other big news regarding Superman, it probably won’t be till the summer if they have Sandiago comicron con. I’m hoping and crossing my fingers for something that has Brandon Routh’s Superman. 🙂
They just announced the return of DC Fandome in October…
Thanks afriend. Let’s hope for some great news.
Oops! I meant to say comic con not comicron con. Typo
Guess we’re going to have the wait and see approach how things develop in the near future. Maybe the whole story has been taken out of concept and it is still Superman we know and love. The other story could be true that we are having a black superman on a multiversal level with a different name and identity and I’d be OK with that. If it’s done that way, my suggestion that WB add a caption before opening the movie with something like A multiversal Story or The following events occur on Earth 20 or something. That would help… Read more »
Yea…..these multi universe stories are getting old. They’ve established “Black” Panther, and if one person can play that role then other can as well. This is just more racial pandering of the woke cancel culture the ruinous Phonywood liberals are shoving down our throats. Anything that was successful being “White” must now be remade Black. And now they’re going to destroy Superman.
But first….they’ll have fun.
They’ll have fun with playing and molding until the twisting and shouting from fans reach a top peak then everything will revert back to normal. Unless the Flash film can tackle these issues.
“Destroy Superman”
LMAO.
To you, any version of Superman has been “destroyed”.
And pretty much up until NOW…the movies have never acknowledged a “multiverse”.
Only the comics and TV shows. Animated or Live Action.
But NEVER in the movies.
Until March 18th hit and blew the doors wide open with it.
“We will use the old ways”-Darkseid
To me, any version?? Not sure what that means.
Now they’re going to bring in the bizarre to facilitate this nonsense so they’ll be 20 different versions.
Looks like DC has some ideas about how they will handle their version of things when it comes to a multiverse and who is the one capable of keeping it in check.
You see this, right?
Nonsensical as well.
The two versions of this movie are THAT.
Aquaman is clear evidence.
This is the CORRECT version.
They have been testing the waters with this via other media for some time to see how it could work using other main characters of the Superman Universe.
It will make it’s way to a black Superman.
#RespectTheDCUMultiverse
Here is the formula. The Equation which will lead to a version of Superman that is black.
M: Life Equation
AM: Anti-Life Equation
1978: Superman: The Movie-M
(1979 Wonder Woman TV show ends)-AM
1980: Superman II-M
-The Richard Donner Cut 2006-AM
1982: Swamp Thing-AM
1983: Superman III-M
1984: Supergirl-AM
Also lets not forget that Post-Crisis Superman was supposed to be black.
Before DC got cold feet they were going to reboot the DCU with a more diverse group including making Superman black.
And we are now Post-Crisis 2.0
We need “this kind” of diversity like we need a hole in the head.
If they had done a solid movie series with Clark Kent I might be more up for Calvin Ellis or Val Zod. As is this just feels like they are either giving up on him, and/or viewing him as damaged goods.