SUPERMAN: LEGACY (2025): David Corenswet & Rachel Brosnahan cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane by James Gunn

David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan cast in Superman: Legacy

David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have been been cast in DC Studios‘ Superman: Legacy (2025). David Corenswet has been cast as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman in the superhero film. “Superman was born on the fictional planet Krypton and was named Kal-El. As a baby, his parents sent him to Earth in a small spaceship moments before Krypton was destroyed in a natural cataclysm. His ship landed in the American countryside, near the fictional town of Smallville.

He was found and adopted by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, who named him Clark Kent. Clark began developing his various superhuman powers and abilities, such as incredible strength and impervious skin. His adoptive parents advised him to use his powers for the benefit of humanity, and he decided use his powers to fight crime.

To protect his personal life, he changes into a colorful costume and uses the alias “Superman” when fighting crime. Clark resides in the fictional American city of Metropolis, where he works as a journalist for the Daily Planet.”

Rachel Brosnahan has been cast by Lois Lane. “In the Golden Age comics, Lois was an aggressive, career-minded reporter for the Daily Star (the newspaper’s name was changed to the Daily Planet in Action Comics #23 in 1940). After Clark Kent joined the paper and Superman debuted around the same time, Lois found herself attracted to Superman but displeased with her new journalistic competition in the form of Kent.”

The actor and actress were chosen by DC co-CEOs Peter Safran and James Gunn, the latter of whom is directing Superman: Legacy. James Gunn also wrote the screenplay for the film, based on the DC characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Peter Safran is producing the film.

The Casting Process

“The decision comes after the two were among the few selected to test in front of DC co-chairs Peter Safran and Gunn…in full costume and makeup for the parts.

The tests took place over two days with the men; one of the days saw the three actors in full Superman attire. Sources close to the situation said that each actor had closed test deals that would expire after two business weeks.”

From the start, [Corenswet’s] name has floated to the top and, following that final audition, sealed the deal on the biggest role of his career so far.

Brosnahan “also has been at the top of the list of woman to play Lois Lane following what many have described as the best audition of the process.”

Casting in General

“In the performing arts industry such as theatre, film, or television, casting, or a casting call, is a pre-production process for selecting a certain type of actor, dancer, singer, or extra for a particular role or part in a script, screenplay, or teleplay.

The casting process involves a series of auditions before a casting panel, composed of individuals within a theatrical production such as theatrical producer, and theater director. However, within a given television production a casting panel can consist of a television producer, or within film production a casting panel could contain a film producer, film director, and/or choreographer. Usually, in nearly all areas of show business, a casting director is on this panel as well. In the early stages of this process performers often may present, or are presented with prepared audition pieces such as monologues, songs, choreography, scripts and or sides.

These audition pieces are usually videotaped, typically in the form of screen tests and then attached with resumes, as well as head shots and or viewed online via websites such as IMDb, then shared with film producers, film directors and or studio executives. Later stages may involve groups of actors both union, (SAG-AFTRA) and non-union depending on the size and scope of the production, attempting to read material from the work under consideration, paired off in various combinations of two, three or more. With each of the actor’s overall motivational choices evaluated, the casting panel considers both the individual actor, and the “chemistry” created from either one of the combinations set forth within the read-through.

An actor may go through several casting calls before receiving a part, and even though well-known actors or actresses often still go through this very necessary process, some are privileged enough to have well-known writers, screenwriters, directors and/or producers pitch a project for their intent to be cast in a role. The well-known actor or actress often negotiates producer credit as well as very lucrative monetary compensation.

Most films use either a casting agency or a casting director to find actors to match the roles in the film, apart from the lead actors, who are often chosen by directors and producers. The job of a casting director is to know a lot about a lot of actors, so that they can advise and present to the director the best of the available talent. Casting directors are highly influential and are usually on the project because the director trusts their judgement; they are also the ones who decide who the director does see.”

Release Date

Superman: Legacy is part of a DC Universe re-set instituted soon after Peter Safran and James Gunn were hired as co-chairs of DC Studios.

Superman: Legacy will be released in U.S. theaters through DC Studios on July 11, 2025.

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