Brendan Fraser has revealed that he was once in contention to portray comic book superhero Superman in a film adaptation. According to the actor, he took part in a screen test for a project led by J.J. Abrams and Brett Ratner where he auditioned for the role of the Man of Steel, although the project ultimately didn’t progress much further.
Brendan Fraser Could Have Played Superman
At the start of the 2000s, Fraser was among the most in demand movie stars in the world, la felt thanks to his success in âThe Mummy.â So it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that he was considered to lead large franchises, even if it isn’t easy to picture the actor playing Superman on screen.
While appearing on the âHappy Sad Confusedâ podcast, Fraser discussed the process with Josh Horowitz. He explained that he thought the script was great but was not necessarily prepared to commit to such a demanding role. Â
âI loved that screenplay,â Fraser said. âThey let me read it. They locked me in an empty office in some studio lot, I signed an NDA. It was printed black on crimson paper, so you couldnât photocopy it or sneak it out the door inconspicuously. I mean, it was Shakespeare in space. It was a really good screenplay.â
Fraser Wasn’t Sure if the Role Was Right For Him
He then went on to discuss how he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be associated with Superman for the rest of his life and if he was prepared to dedicate a huge portion of his career to a property like âSuperman.â
âYou feel a little certain anxiety anyway when youâre going up on some big job,â he said. âBut I also remember thinking: âIf I do get this job, then, well, I think Supermanâs gonna be chipped on my gravestone.â Thereâs an element of, you are that for the rest of your days, your career. And thatâs not a bad thing; Iâm not saying itâs gonna kill me any time soon, but it is something that becomes part of your entire brand, who you are. And I donât know if I was ready to take that on then. I mean, I felt I was because [it was such a] big opportunity, and excitement, et cetera, et cetera.â
In the end, Warner Bros. opted to move ahead with Bryan Singer’s âSuperman Returnsâ and the J.J. Abrams project was abandoned. That meant Fraser never had to make the life-changing decision. However, he remained philosophical about the situation, quoting âWhatâs not for you will pass you by,â something director Terry George told him on the set of âWhole Lotta Sole.â
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