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DC ’s Man of Steel , Supermanhas had a live - action career spanning decennium , and every Superman actor has brought his own take on the iconic hero . The wholesome DC Comics pin - bearer infamously barrack Batman ’s universe and has a combined global box office take of almost $ 3.5bn , includingThe Flash ’s take . After decades of TV shows and movie appearing , David Corenswet plays the eleventh live - action iteration of Superman in 2025’sSuperman : Legacy .
Whenever a young cast cycle come around , Superman is a extremely in demand character , on a standardized stage to cinema icon such as James Bond , Batman and Dracula . It should add up as no surprise : the Man of Steel is , after all , the most placeable superhero in history , with a cinematic legacy spanning over seven decades . When casting Superman , Hollywood looks for certain assets , with the right looking at topping the placard , but strong playing skills inevitably following , and the rigorous demands have meant that a immense figure of incredibly notable actors have missed out on play Superman . Here ’s everyone who made the cutting :
11Kirk Alyn
Though perhaps not as well - known as those who followed , every Superman player , admit whoever takes the role inSuperman : Legacy , owes something to Kirk Alyn for pave the way . Alyn holds the distinction of being the first of many actors to act Superman in live - action . After the popularity of the Superman comedian , Alyn first played the Man of Steel in the 1948 theatrical serial plainly titledSuperman , then returned for a 1950 follow - up successive calledAtom Man vs. Superman . Alyn later got a minor protection in Richard Donner ’s 1978Supermanmovie , realise an uncredited cameo . Alyn passed away in 1999 at the age of 88 .
10George Reeves
George Reeves ' time as a Superman thespian began with the theatrical filmSuperman and the Mole Men , released in 1951 . The film run as the promotional pilot light for a Superman - focused TV series star Reeves , titledAdventures of Superman , which premiered in 1952 and ran until 1958 , producing six season and 104 episodes entire . reef sadly die in 1959 at the long time of 45 . reef ' story was chronicled in the movieHollywoodland , where he was played by futureBatman thespian Ben Affleck .
9Christopher Reeve
Many reckon Christopher Reeve as their favorite iteration of the Man of Steel . The player play Superman in Richard Donner ’s iconic 1978 movie and reprised the role in 1980’sSuperman 2,1983’sSuperman 3 , and 1987’sSuperman 4 : The Quest for Peace . Even after all these years , Superman : Legacywill have trouble surpassing the nostalgic love ofReeves’Supermanmovies . Supermanmade Reeve a star , but his life was irreparably altered in 1995 when a horse - riding accident left him a quadriplegic . Reeve rarely acted after that but bravely became an activist for research into spinal cord injuries up until his 2004 passing at age 52 .
8John Haymes Newton & Gerard Christopher
Now faded into reconditeness , Superboywas a serial publication that ran in syndication for four time of year , from 1988 to 1992 . The series was kind of a wry run forSmallville , focus as it does on a younger interlingual rendition of Superman . John Haymes Newton played the lead during time of year 1 but was recast with Gerard Christopher for seasons 2 to 4 , as producer were n’t happy with Newton ’s public presentation . Neither of the actors who played Superman went on to do much of note , withSuperboyfailing to propel them to greater heights of fame . The decision to endSuperboywas shape in part by the decisiveness to createLois & Clarkon ABC .
7Dean Cain
run for four seasons , Cain ’s time as Superman on the popular ABC TV seriesLois & Clark : The New Adventures of Superman(no correlation to the recentSuperman & Loisseries ) has remained memorable . Opposite Teri Hatcher ’s Lois Lane , Cain asterisk as Clark Kent up until the show was canceled in 1997 , annoyingly ending on an undetermined plot of ground thread .
6Tom Welling
Smallville’sTom Welling offer the vernal take out of every Superman actor . Smallvilletold the tale of a teenage Clark Kent and his eventual fate as Metropolis ' nonmigratory superhero . Welling played Clark for ten season , 217 episodes , maintaining a strong rooter following after all these years . Welling even returned to play Superman again during the Arrowverse ’s mammothCrisis on Infinite Earthscrossover event .
5Brandon Routh
Brandon Routh is the histrion who play Superman in theater director Bryan Singer ’s 2006 attempted blockbusterSuperman Returns , which fall flat financially thanks to a mammoth output budget , despite estimable reviews from critics . While the badly scriptedSuperman Returns , which serve as a subsequence to the Reeve film , is n’t most fans ' favoriteSupermanmovie , Routh ’s depiction did earn him a pursuit . Just as theSuperman : Legacyactor will have braggart shoe to fill , Routh was the first live - action Superman on the crowing - blind after Christopher Reeves . Even so , he made the role his own , and while he never got a subsequence , he did return to the function forCrisis on Infinite Earths .
4Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill was Zack Snyder ’s choice for the role to kick off the original plans for DCU . Cavill debuted in 2013’sMan of Steel , returned for 2016’sBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justice , and then came back again for 2017’sJustice League . While there was a passionate follow among fans of the " Snyderverse " for Cavill ’s take on the hero , Cavill ’s Superman movies did n’t link with a large audience . After a promising cameo inBlack Adam , it was confirmed that Cavill was out asSuperman in James Gunn and Peter Safran ’s DC Universe , and that the part would be remold in the upcomingSuperman : Legacy .
3Tyler Hoechlin
Tyler Hoechlin first debuted as Superman on the Arrowverse’sSupergirlseries , then later brought the character to bothThe FlashandArrowas part of theElseworldsandCrisis on Infinite Earthcrossover effect . He also appeared onLegends of TomorrowandBatwomanas part of the latter crossover voter . The Superman actor now leads The CW’sSuperman & Loisseries alongside Elizabeth Tulloch ’s Lois Lane . While The CW ’s Arrowverse series ' were met with cancelations , Superman & Loisis still going unassailable after two seasons , though the series now takes place on a different Earth that the Arrowverse .
2Nicolas Cage
The most surprising Superman casting of all came when Nicolas Cage appeared as Superman inThe Flash ’s multiverse succession . Cage had been vomit for Tim Burton ’s ill - fatedSuperman Lives , which spent $ 30 G dollar sign in pre - production before heading to Warner Bros ' canceled DC motion picture mess . Previously , the snug Cage had arrive to actually appearing as Superman was the costume test photos that made their way online and then come out in documentaryThe Death of Superman Lives , butThe Flashfinally give him his dream to play the Man of Steel . He appears briefly crusade a giant spider , as had once been planned for an earlier interlingual rendition ofSuperman Lives .
