The chances of that happening always seemed slim though, but with The CW clearly hoping to attract a big audience when Supergirl leaps from CBS to their network, it was confirmed yesterday that the Man of Steel is going to appear and that they're currently looking for an actor who can play him. Chances are that will be announced at Comic-Con, but who should be the small screen Superman?
We know it won't be Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star Henry Cavill, so who are the most likely - and best - candidates to take over? Well, what you'll find here are eight of what I believe to be the best options. One or two have a bit of history with Superman, but the majority have never even played a superhero before now, so there's a very interesting mixture of possibilities listed here...
8. Tom Welling
Ever since the news broke yesterday, one name which repeatedly keeps coming up is Tom Welling. Considering the fact that he played Clark Kent for a decade, you can appreciate why many fans want to see him finally suit up as the Man of Steel (especially after that disappointing Smallville finale which only showed the hero from a distance or the neck up), but would this be too confusing for viewers?
There's simply no way that Supergirl's Superman could be the same one who took centre stage in that series, but if we go by the old doppelgänger rule The Flash has so cleverly used, that may be explanation enough for why this version of the character looks the same as that one. Throw in the fact that Welling has had nothing but good things to say about Supergirl, and there's every chance that he'll be asked to reprise the role; he certainly looks the part of an older, more experienced Superman now!
7. Jamie Dornan
If you only know of Jamie Dornan from Fifty Shades of Grey, you're probably hoping with every fibre of your being that he isn't allowed anywhere near a superhero adaptation. However, just like Dakota Johnson, the Irish actor has done a lot of great work away from that movie, including an awards worthy performance as a serial killer in critically acclaimed BBC series The Fall.
Dornan has the right look and build for the Man of Steel, and while I would argue that he's actually more deserving of a role in a big screen project from Marvel or DC, he's not currently a huge enough star to turn his nose up at the chance to play Superman as part of Warner Bros.' extremely popular DC TV Universe. The attention he received for playing Christian Grey would help bring a lot of new eyes to Supergirl as well, and given The CW's habit of showing their leading men shirtless, we already know he's open to that...and more.
6. Richard Madden
Richard Madden has had mixed fortunes since Robb Stark's story came to an end in Game of Thrones. However, he's fared a lot better than co-star Kit Harington when it comes to movies, taking on starring roles in Disney's Cinderella and opposite Idris Elba in effective, if somewhat forgettable, terrorist drama Bastille Day. Despite clearly hoping to make it big in Hollywood, Madden hasn't shied away from TV projects either, so I definitely don't think him saying yes to playing a character like Superman is outside the realm of possibility.
At 5'10, it could be argued that he doesn't have the right stature to play this iconic DC Comics superhero, but that's the sort of thing which could easily be worked around and his performance is arguably far more important in the grand scheme of things. Based on his impressive Game of Thrones work, seeing Madden's Superman come face to face with Green Arrow and The Flash could be great fun.
5. Alex Russell
Despite being one of the three leads of Chronicle alongside Michael B. Jordan and Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell hasn't broken out in the same way as his co-stars since the Josh Trank helmed movie was released in 2012. He's done some good work since then, but nothing which stands out as much as the projects those two have chosen, and that's a shame as I would argue that Russell was actually the best of the trio in that low budget superpowers movie.
Regardless, it's hard to look at a photo like the one above and not picture the guy as a superhero, and Superman would definitely fit the bill. When it comes to the kind of actor The CW goes for, Russell is pretty much the archetype, and he's unknown enough to be able to make this role his own without too many expectations being put on his shoulders as he goes into it. He may look a little young for the experienced hero, but hey, Superman does age pretty slowly!
4. Ryan McPartlin
If you've been on this site as long as I have, you'll no doubt remember that Chuck star Ryan McPartlin was at one point a fan-favourite choice to take on the role of Captain America in The First Avenger. That obviously didn't happen, and since that series wrapped up, the actor has remained a constant presence on television, making a jump to a show like Supergirl extremely plausible.
With a good build, square jaw, and commanding voice, McPartlin has all of the necessary attributes to play the Man of Steel and also happens to be adept at playing extremely likeable characters. While his blonde hair would obviously need to be dyed black, that would really be all that's needed to transform the actor into Superman, and he would no doubt embrace a major superhero role such as this. McPartlin would fit right in on The CW, and it's surprisingly easy to imagine him alongside Grant Gustin, Stephen Amell, and most importantly, Melissa Benoist.
3. Brandon Routh
Another former Superman, Brandon Routh's name hasn't come up quite as frequently as Tom Welling's in the past 24 hours, but it's entirely possible that The CW could turn to him to suit up as the Man of Steel again. Despite being The Atom in Legends of Tomorrow, Routh could play a doppelganger with the same look and a very different history in Supergirl, but honestly, this would probably be way too confusing, especially now that show is on the same network as the Arrow/The Flash spinoff.
While many viewers would no doubt remember he played the Man of Steel in Superman Returns, a good chunk may just be left wondering why exactly Ray Palmer is now dressed up as a different hero! However, that's not to say this isn't possible, especially if Superman only ends up making a couple of appearances in the show. Still, as with Welling, a fresh start is probably better. Stranger things have happened though...
2. Brett Dalton
Following the events of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season three, it's fair to say that Grant Ward's story has reached its natural conclusion. That frees Brett Dalton up to make a move to the DC TV Universe, and Superman would definitely work. While some might argue that it's too soon to jump from one comic book role to another, Ward was a villain, so playing the Man of Steel would be a huge departure from his last comic book role and is unlikely to suffer from too many comparisons.
Considering the fact that Ward was one of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most likeable characters before being outed as HYDRA, we already know that he can effectively play a hero, while there's no denying that the clean cut version of Ward was pretty much a Superman lookalike! As an actor who already has a pretty committed fanbase and someone who looks the part, you have to believe Dalton will be among The CW's top choices for the role.
1. James Marsden
If The CW wants to spend a little extra and hire a movie star to play Superman for a handful of appearances, James Marsden would be a pretty solid choice. He's the perfect age to portray a Man of Steel who has been saving the world since before Kara even arrived on Earth, but still has that superhero look which was so sorely wasted back when he was playing Cyclops (portrayed pretty much solely as a jealous boyfriend) in the X-Men franchise.
After taking on roles in 30 Rock and the upcoming Westworld, Marsden has proved that he's not against working on television, so chances are he would at least consider suiting up as the Man of Steel. Ultimately though, the fact he still regularly appears on the big screen could be an issue, especially if The CW wants Superman to be a recurring presence. However, when it comes to bigger name stars who may very well say yes, Marsden is a strong possibility.
Who would you like to see play Superman when Supergirl season two premieres of The CW this Fall? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the usual place.