Top Nine Bizarro Moments of Superman Casting [List]

Casting is a tricky thing. When it’s good, it’s great. When it’s bad, it’s awful. Christopher Reeve was the perfect Superman and casting genius, but the casting decisions haven’t all been that good.

Some have been truly bizarre. From casting comedic actors in serious roles to serious actors with comedic acting skills the history of Superman films is littered with actors that just aren’t right!

Here’s a list of nine truly bizarre casting choices in recent history from the bizarre Nicholas Cage to the goofy Tim Allen.

9. Jon Cryer as Luthor’s Nephew

The costar of Two and a Half Men starred in Superman IV as Lex Luthor’s dimwitted nephew Lenny. Saying that Cryer overacted as the “Valley Boy” is an understatement.

His irritating performance makes Damon Wayans look like Shakespeare.

8. Ashton Kutcher as Superman

The star of Punked almost punked us by starring in Superman. Brett Ratner wanted to cast him when he was slated to direct Superman Returns.

Ashton went as far as filming a screentest. He himself said it was weird and his legs were “not proportionally right.”It would have been “shibby.”

7. Tim Allen as Brainiac

The star of Home Improvement was rumored to play the part of the evil computer Brainiac in the 1998  Kevin Smith version of Superman Lives.

Since Allen has never played a villain, I can’t imagine how awful that would have been. on the other hand, he’s already been arrested once…

6. Robert Downey Jr as Lex Luthor

When McG was developing his Superman film Superman: Flyby he was planning to cast Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr. as the villain Lex Luthor. McG gushed, “We had Robert Downey Jr. locked up to be Lex Luthor, which I think would have been extraordinary.” This one’s weird, but kind of makes sense. He has those big evil looking eyes.

5. Woody Harrelson as Jor-El

When Tim Burton was casting his famously bizarre Superman Lives, he was planning to cast Woody from Cheers as Superman’s father Jor-El.

He’s a versatile actor, but I can’t imagine him competing against Marlon Brando’s performance.

4. Will Smith as Superman

Before Brandon Routh was cast in Superman Returns, Will Smith was offered the role. The change in ethnicity would have a bizarre twist to the character.

After playing the historically white character of Jim West in Wild Wild West he turned the role down saying, “You mess up white people’s heroes in Hollywood, you’ll never work in this town again!”

3. Richard Pryor as a Computer Genius

In Superman III Richard Pryor played a computer genius responsible for creating the “supercomputer” that almost kills Superman. The character could have worked with a more serious actor.

Instead, we got Pryor’s mugging and giddiness. It’s bizarre that he could use a computer with all the cocaine he was snorting.

2. Nicolas Cage as Superman

The star of such classics as Con Air and Raising Arizona was Tim Burton’s number one choice for Clark Kent in Superman Lives.

Cage was so dedicated to the role he named his son after Superman’s Kryptonian name “Kal-El.” Cage’s bizarre antics and acting style would have been legendary as Superman.

1. Nick Nolte as Superman

Back in the 1970s, many actors were considered for the role of Superman before Christopher Reeve. The relatively unknown Nolte was a front-runner for the role, but he turned it down because he wanted to play him as a clinical schizophrenic.

After he said this, one interviewer laughed. Nolte glared at him and said, “No. I’m serious.” Bizarre.

That’s it! From the insane Nick Nolte to Will Smith there have been some bizarro Superman casting decisions. We’ll always have Christopher Reeve.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.