I want a really good Superman movie. After Justice League, Warner Brothers and DC Comics have a uniquely clean slate to move forward, correct past wrongs, and really make a great sequel to Man of Steel. The main cast and world have been established. You don’t need to introduce things or retell the origin. Just make a really good damn movie. One thing that would help with that is to add some of Superman’s wonderful supporting characters from the comics and animated shows beyond the main players that have been established. Lois Lane, Perry White, Martha Kent, are all stables that you need, but there are so many more rich characters to add.
Lets look at a few of these characters and potential actors that could bring them to life.
Mariska Hargitay as Maggie Sawyer. Captain Maggie Sawyer, one of the toughest members of the Metropolis’ Special Crimes Unit. As Lieutenant Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hargitay already plays one of the toughest cops ever put on the screen, now picture her going against the Parasite instead of sex offenders and murderers. Hair color aside, she is also the spitting image of the character.
D.B. Woodside as John Henry Irons, aka Steel. Sure, Superman now has Batman, the Flash, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League as allies, but he needs to expand his family. Supergirl or Superboy are obvious choices, but my favorite member of Superman’s extended hero family is Steel. In Post-Crisis, he originally stepped up to fill in Superman’s shoes after his death and he could do the same here. Maybe while Superman was gone and then teaming with the league, John Henry Irons stepped up to protect the Suicide Slum in the Man of Steel’s absence as Steel. D.B. Woodside looks spot on as Irons. He is as big as him muscle wise and has the perfect presence and intelligence to pull off the engineer turned superhero.
Steve Austin as Bibbo Bibbowski. While speaking about Suicide Slum, how can I not mention (and cast) Bibbo. The big goofy guy who owns and tends bar at the Ace o’ Clubs, happens to be Superman’s biggest fan and could bring much (much!) needed comedic relief to Man of Steel 2. Steve Austin is tough as nails, like Bibbo, and brings a likability and charisma to the character that could be the perfect balance for someone who could too easily turn too cartoony and annoying.
Robert Patrick as Sam Lane. Lois’ father is a war hero and (depending on the version) a sometimes foe of Superman. He needs to be a military man through and through. He also needs to be believable as coming up against Superman, but not having the audience hate him as he is Lois’ father. Will he press on against Superman or flip and end up helping? Robert Patrick is a badass who can be the hero or the villain (changing in an instinct if needed). He is tough enough to look Superman in the eye and tell him to backdown.
John Shea as Frank Berkowitz. This is a smaller character that a lot of modern readers might not know. He was the Mayor of Metropolis introduced Post-Crisis in John Byrne’s “Man of Steel” mini-series. He stood up against Lex Luthor and in return was gunned down by a sniper hired by Luthor. John Shea, who portrayed Lex Luthor in Lois & Clack: The New Adventures of Superman, would be the perfect legacy actor to fill this role. There is something poetic with having a former Luthor be the Mayor who stands up to the new Luthor. He has the look and it would be sad to see him get killed. Bonus: They could use this as a potential cameo for Will Smith’s Deadshot as the sniper.
Adam Hicks as Jimmy Olsen. Jimmy is Superman’s best friend and one of the most important characters in his universe. It is also one of the hardest characters to cast. He needs to be young, but not too young, energetic but not annoying, and needs a full head of red hair. Before you comment, NO that photographer in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was not Jimmy Olsen. I don’t care what deleted scenes or extended versions say. Bring him in Man of Steel 2 as the spunky younger brother of Rebecca Buller’s Jenny Olsen. Have him become an intern at the Daily Planet with dreams of being a photographer. He gets a lucky break with a picture of Superman saving the day and the rest is history. I honestly don’t know Adam Hicks (I’ve never seen Freakish, Pair of Kings, or Zeke and Luther), but he is spot on the spitting image of Jimmy Olsen.
Who would you like to see in Man of Steel 2? Agree or disagree with my suggestions? Let me know in the comments!
Leave a Reply