Warner Bros. is obviously determined to make each Sunday a “Super” Sunday as once again they announce a major piece of casting for Zack Snyder’s Superman.
Previously it was Amy Adams as Lois Lane and today the press release brings word Michael Shannon (“Boardwalk Empire”) will play the villainous General Zod in what is now officially titled Man of Steel. As General Zod, Shannon will go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman in the film. Along with Cavill, Shannon and Adams the film co-stars Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent.
Shannon was among other names including Viggo Mortensen and Edgar Ramirez (“Carlos”) in contention for the role. Shannon, you may remember, played a particularly nasty character in Sam Mendes’s Revolutionary Road as well as delivered the only notable performance in Floria Sigismondi’s The Runaways as the eccentric producer Kim Fowley.
Quoted in the release, Snyder said, “Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.â€
Zod was last played on the big screen by Terence Stamp in Richard Lester’s Superman II back in 1980.
Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the serving as producers on the film with a screenplay David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.
Man of Steel will shoot this summer for a December 2012 release.
