10 Actors Who Could Star in Superman: Legacy

The new and improved DCU led by James Gunn and Peter Safran has been dominating the nerd news cycle for months now, with comic book fans everywhere ecstatic over the prospect of a whole new universe of films to enjoy. Henry Cavill is out, Batfleck is no more, and it seems as though James Gunn is looking for a younger, more diverse Justice League to put together. Fans will always look at Henry Cavill fondly as perhaps the perfect actor to play Superman, but the torch has been passed, so here are just a few actors who could lead the new DCU.

1. Austin Butler

Exploding onto the scene as an A-list actor with Elvis, Austin Butler has been one of the consensus top choices to become the new Superman. On top of his newfound star power and knack for conveying small town Southern charm, Butler has a chiseled jaw and iconic look for the Man of Steel as well.

2. Eli Goree

It is very likely that James Gunn will want to do something with Superman that has never been done before, and if he decides that the hero should be portrayed by a person of color, then Eli Goree is the man for the job. Giving a legendary performance as Muhammad Ali in One Night in Miami and possessing the god-like physique to match, Goree has all of the traits to make for a memorable Man of Steel.

3. Nick Robinson

Nick Robinson exploded onto the scene in 2015's Jurassic World, making a name for himself as a young actor with a bright future. Since then, he has also starred in Love, Simon, giving him experience in both action movies and films that are a little more poignant.

4. KJ Apa

Archie and Superman usually are not considered to be in the same category, but Riverdale's KJ Apa has brought washboard abs and an incredible jawline to the newest rendition of the character. Apa can capture the same kind of all-American feel that Clark Kent has growing up in Kansas, and could easily go from Riverdale to Smallville.

5. Harris Dickinson

While The King's Man received fairly positive reviews upon its release, many casual movie-goers have soon forgot about the bookend to the Kingsman franchise, and sadly forgotten the breakout action hero role for Harris Dickinson. Dickinson has an amazing physique and could be young enough in his acting career to be the fresh blood Gunn is looking for, as well as already having some solid experience in action blockbusters.

6. George MacKay

The main protagonist of the Oscar winning film 1917, George MacKay has experience conveying a hero who is the personification of perseverance. While MacKay has not had the career boost one might expect from being in such critically acclaimed movie, the Superman role will likely go to a relatively unknown actor (as it did with Cavill at the time), and George checks all the necessary boxes.

7. Aaron Taylor-Johnson

A much more popular and prolific choice, Aaron Taylor-Johnson appears to be the favorite for every action hero. Batman, 007, Superman, fans want to see him do it all, and he's proved through Bullet Train, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Kick-Ass that he has what it takes to be a superhero in any capacity.

8. Dacre Montgomery

An instant heartthrob and fan favorite character from Stranger Things, Dacre Montgomery is past due for a superhero role. Montgomery could bring a degree of hubris to a young, immature Superman, and certainly would not need any padding to fill out the red and blue suit.

9. Jeremy Allen White

With the emergence and popularity of The Bear, Jeremy Allen White has not only been booking more prolific projects, but been suggested for just about every role under the sun. White is the kind of actor that submerges himself into a character like it's a swimming pool, and does everything he can to seem as authentic as possible. The forthcoming film The Iron Claw will see him take on an extreme body transformation into a professional wrestler, so adding the unreal musculature in with the acting prowess should make for a unique Superman.

10. Felix Mallard

A relatively unknown actor, Felix Mallard initially broke out in America with a starring role in Happy Together, a sitcom in which he plays a character based on Harry Styles. In that sitcom, he proved that he can perfectly adapt to an existing figure or media personality, and given enough time he could do the same for Clark Kent.

Who should play Superman? Let us know in the comments!