Thread: First Look at Brandon Routh as Superman!

Yeah I think he will do a good job as Superman. He is not tall enough though, only 6'2" but he will wear special shoes to work around that.
Funny is how he got the role, just because he went to a Halloween party dressed as Superman.

very cool

I would have liked to see a slightly bigger superman. Not a roided up BBer, but still a little bigger.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

I would have liked to see a slightly bigger superman. Not a roided up BBer, but still a little bigger.

Good point Dale, he does look small in thr crotch area.
His ears are also too big.

Originally Posted by min0 lee

First look: 'Superman Returns'
By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY
The look of Superman literally rests on the broad and buff shoulders of newcomer Brandon Routh.

Brandon Routh: New super suit has classic look, with slightly darker colors.
Warner Bros. Entertainment

This first look at Superman Returns— due in theaters in June 2006 — shows that the skin-tight costume stretches over only the actor's muscles and frame, without the augmented armored pecs or abs of recent movie superheroes.

Director Bryan Singer famously changed the fluorescent spandex suits of the X-Men into dark, leather-like uniforms for those movies — both of them smashes that sold more than $364 million in tickets. But on Superman Returns, he says, he wanted "something classic."

Tinkering too much with a hero's suit can aggravate traditionalist comic fans, who grumbled that Jennifer Garner's Elektra wasn't wearing her midriff-baring red suit in Daredevil or that Batman's armor had nipples in Batman Forever. They aren't likely to have much to carp about with Superman Returns.

Instead of reinventing the character's appearance, Singer — via e-mail from Australia, where he's shooting the film — says he wanted to remain faithful to the previous incarnations of Superman, from the Max Fleischer cartoons of the 1940s to the black-and-white George Reeves TV show to the Christopher Reeve movies of the 1970s and '80s.

Singer decided to keep the cape, the blue body suit, the red tights — even the V-cut opening of Superman's boots.

But Superman Returns makes a few subtle changes to the suit:

• The character's S insignia is slightly smaller and higher on his chest, and instead of being painted on, it's more of a three-dimensional plate.

• The insignia is added to Superman's belt buckle.

• Costume designer Louise Mingenbach preserved the blue, red and yellow motif, but the shades are slightly darker than the bright primary colors of the comics. Superman's yellow belt is more golden, and his cape is a deep scarlet.

The key to filling it out, however, depends entirely on the physique of Routh, 25, the Iowa native who was briefly on the soap opera One Life to Live in 2001. Singer says the Superman costume wasn't complete without Routh.

"I always had the general idea of the suit. However, when the conceptual art was evolving around the same time that I cast Brandon, I privately had paintings rendered with Brandon's face, which certainly brought it to life."

Superman's body is the key to his power, Singer says.

"With X-Men, although they had extraordinary powers, they also had physical weaknesses," he says. "The suits were for protection as well as costume. Superman is the Man of Steel. Bullets bounce off him, not his suit."

What does the movie's costume say about this Superman's personality?

"He's not afraid," Singer says.

Hi minO,

NOT to "down" him but when I think SUPERMAN I would think someone could come up with someone much more muscular and totally built. This Guy is ok but not who I would personally choose for the role - at least not physically speaking. He seems to me to be too much of an "office-type" which I realize is supposed to be his "undercover job"...

Take Care, John H.

I think NICK AUGER would make a much better Superman. Rockgazier put up his photo for me on another thread here ("Which Bodybuilder would you be")- maybe she can post those photos here. And with Nick I'd add about 15 pounds more muscle to his body and I think he would be a perfect Superman. He was featured in FITNESSRX FOR MEN (November, 2004, issue) on the cover and and inside spread. If I remember right he is 6'2" and weighs 192.

Take Care, John H.

Originally Posted by John H.

Hi minO,

NOT to "down" him but when I think SUPERMAN I would think someone could come up with someone much more muscular and totally built. This Guy is ok but not who I would personally choose for the role - at least not physically speaking. He seems to me to be too much of an "office-type" which I realize is supposed to be his "undercover job"...

Take Care, John H.

Hi John H.

Keep IT in YUR pants.

Take care, Dale M.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

Hi John H.

Keep IT in YUR pants.

Take care, Dale M.

Hi Dale!

I DO!! But it can be "seen".

Take Care, John H.

Originally Posted by John H.

Hi minO,

NOT to "down" him but when I think SUPERMAN I would think someone could come up with someone much more muscular and totally built. This Guy is ok but not who I would personally choose for the role - at least not physically speaking. He seems to me to be too much of an "office-type" which I realize is supposed to be his "undercover job"...

Take Care, John H.

I agree, he needs more muscles.

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I agree, he needs more muscles.

Hi minO,

Can you go to that "Which Bodybuilder would you be" and put up NICK AUGER's photos here? Rockgazer put them up for me there.

I think another 15 pounds of muscle on him and he'd BE PERFECT. His "look" with clothes on would not "give him away" as Superman but his TOTAL BODY would certainly BE a SUPERMAN.

What do you think?

Thanks, and Take Care, John H.

how does superman build muscle? wouldn't the weights at the gym be too light for a man who could push the moon out of it's orbit?

I don't know what he would look like with slightly longer, blonde hair, but that Nick Auger guy would make a good Captain America...assuming he can act.

Originally Posted by busyLivin

how does superman build muscle? wouldn't the weights at the gym be too light for a man who could push the moon out of it's orbit?

On the similar note, why would he need to be built at all? Hes like Neo(The cool one from Matrix 1, and not the one from 2 and 3; which, to preserve the coolness of the 1st, should be considered a seperate series.) His power doesnt come from his muscles. If it did, then Superman would be a movie of about like.. Ronnie running around NYC in his posing shorts fighting crime.. Which would be pretty damn cool if I do say so myself.. but he wouldnt be able to fly, or resist bullets like 50 cent.. more like tupac Id imagine.

My point being, the role doesnt require a muscular actor, just as grape soda doesnt need to be purple.

I think he is pretty true to the idea of Superman. Sure he could be huge, but I think this look is more traditional. I can kinda see where they are coming from, and I have to admit the dude does have the right face for the job.

Nick Auger. John H. has a point.

I think Lee wanted the role.




This pic is awesome

That is one hot dude.

Is that real?

Originally Posted by Vieope

That is one hot dude.

Originally Posted by Vieope

That is one hot dude.

Can a bunny go to jail for beastiality?

Luke, awesome post...Lee has always been my favorite BB.
But he would be too big for the superman role

Though he did pose for the making of the Hulk

I think he looks great! The mainstream person doesn't have a BBer as the ideal body type, and the guy needs to fit into the environment at the paper where he's working I heard Kate Bosworth is going to be Lois lane, man she's hot! She's hotter as a blonde though..

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Hi mino,

THANKS for putting that up for me! That's him!!! Perfect in my book!!!!!!!

Take Care, John H.