Brendan Fraser Confirms Surprising Superman Audition
As Brendan Fraser comes back to Hollywood in a big way, The Mummy star explains why he was turned down for playing Superman.
09th Feb 2023 14:15
ABC | Warner Bros.
Brendan Fraser Confirms Surprising Superman Audition
As Brendan Fraser comes back to Hollywood in a big way, The Mummy star explains why he was turned down for playing Superman.
09th Feb 2023 14:15
ABC | Warner Bros.
We truly are in the Brenaissance, as Brendan Fraser continues to be the man of the moment. From George of the Jungle and The Mummy to an Oscar-nominated turn in The Whale, the former Hollywood heartthrob is back in a big way.
While Fraser was everywhere back in the day, a tragic turn of events saw him drop out of the limelight. The star has been opening up about his exile from Tinsel Town, and in his latest interview, confirms he could've added Superman to his resume.
What Happened To Brendan Fraser's Superman Audition?
Speaking to Howard Stern, Fraser revealed how he auditioned for Superman: Flyby but lost out on the role due to industry "politics." In the early noughties, J.J. Abrams was attached to the Superman reboot that never came to be.
"Everyone in town was reading for Superman," said Fraser. "Like, again, we're testing I think six or seven guys in 2002/2003... I remember Paul Walker was before me. They were like the usual suspects."
Admitting that playing Superman would be "a life-changing amazing opportunity,” Fraser said he didn't want to be typecast. He explained, "Okay, say you do get the job to be the Man of Steel, it's gonna be chipped on your gravestone, are you okay with that? I mean, forever more known as the Man of Steel."
"I felt disappointed that there was an amazing opportunity and it didn't come to fruition," added Fraser. "It had to do a lot with some shenanigans and studio politics. And probably, inherently, in my screen test. I think that's why you test… they could kind of see I was only there like 98%."
Flyby was circling everyone from David Boreanaz to James Marsden, Jerry O'Connell to Ashton Kutcher - with the latter also not wanting to be typecast. Interestingly, Flyby even shot footage with Henry Cavill before it was canned. In the end, it was reworked as Superman Returns with Brandon Routh.
Who Will Play Superman In The DCU?
James Gunn and Peter Safran have just unveiled their first phase of movies for the rebranded DC Universe, with Chapter 1: Gods & Monsters of the DCU including a Superman reboot.
Although Henry Cavill reprised his role as the Metropolis Marvel for Black Adam, Gunn and Safran have largely burned the DC Extended Universe to the ground and left Cavill out in the cold. Now, the upcoming Superman: Legacy will cast someone new - with a focus on a younger Clark Kent.
As for Fraser, his superhero days just might not be on the cards. He was due to star in the Leslie Grace-led Batgirl alongside Michael Keaton, with Fraser playing the villainous Firefly. Sadly, the movie was axed as a tax write-off.
Still, the DCU and Marvel Cinematic Universe are expanding at an exponential rate. The MCU is destined to introduce the X-Men any day now, and we could Fraser him as any number of those marvellous mutants or beyond. Can anyone else see him as Ben Grimm in the Fantastic Four reboot?
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
