Acting Legend Gene Hackman, Supermanโs Gleeful Foil, Has Died

Hackman, who's career spanned generations of classics from The French Connection to The Royal Tenenbaums, was 95.
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More details are emerging about the death of Gene Hackman.
The Oscar-winning actor was found dead on February 26 at his New Mexico home alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Hackman was 95, and Arakawa was 65.
The Santa Fe Sheriff, Adan Mendoza, confirmed the news to the Santa Fe New Mexican on Wednesday evening but did not disclose a cause of death.
"All I can say is that we're in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant. I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there's no immediate danger to anyone," Mendoza said.
The New Mexico authorities later released an affidavit, also published by the Santa Fe New Mexican, that said the deaths were "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened."
The affidavit also said Arakawa's body "showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet."
One of the deputies cited in the report said two maintenance workers called the authorities, and they told the deputy they hadn't heard from Hackman and Arakawa for two weeks.
The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
At a news conference held on February 28, Mendoza said that an initial examination found that Hackman's pacemaker was last active on February 17, nine days before he and his wife's bodies were discovered.
The sheriff said it was "a very good assumption" Hackman died on that day, based on information from a pathologist.
According to the earlier affidavit, Hackman was found in a mudroom at the Santa Fe residence, while Arakawa was found in a bathroom near an open bottle of prescription medication "with pills scattered on the counter-top."
There were two "healthy" dogs at the property, and a third that was found dead "laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female."
The initial autopsy also found no initial signs of trauma to either body.
Hackman is survived by his three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese. Leslie Anne Allen, their youngest child, spoke with US Weekly about the deaths.
"I think I'm very anxious to find out what happened, and I just don't know how long they had been deceased," she told the outlet on Thursday, adding that the authorities "don't know yet either."
Allen said: "I much would have rather my dad pass peacefully, but hopefully if it was carbon monoxide poisoning [there was] no suffering with that. That's my main concern."
Per the affidavit, the fire department did not detect a carbon monoxide leak in the property.
At the news conference, the sheriff confirmed the initial examination by the medical examiner showed the couple's bodies had tested negative for carbon monoxide exposure.
"The police won't let us go in when they are still investigating," Allen said, adding that she and her siblings would "wait to find out what actually happened" before they traveled to New Mexico.
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Hackman played a wide range of roles over his four-decade career, making him beloved by audiences and peers alike.
His breakout part was in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" when he played the older brother of the gangster Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty), for which he received an Oscar nomination. He became a leading man as the hard-nosed detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in 1971's "The French Connection," which earned him an Oscar.
He spent the 1970s working on movies that would become classics, such as "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Conversation."
On Thursday, Francis Ford Coppola, who directed "The Conversation," posted a tribute to Hackman on Threads: "The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution."
At the end of the '70s, he played Lex Luthor in "Superman" (a role he reprised in "Superman II" and "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace).
The 1980s saw Hackman's star soar with movies such as "Hoosiers" and "Mississippi Burning" (earning him another Oscar nomination). He started the 1990s with another Oscar win, this time for 1992's Clint Eastwood-directed Western "Unforgiven." As the decade went on, he did some of his best work with "The Firm," "The Quick and the Dead," "Crimson Tide," "Get Story," and "The Birdcage."
As the 2000s came around, it seemed Hackman wasn't going to slow down in his 70s. He starred in wide-ranging projects: playing a football head coach in "The Replacements," being part of an ensemble cast in Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums," and outwitting everyone in the clever "Heist."
But Hackman had other ideas.
After starring in 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport" he abruptly retired from acting.
Hackman, who wrote the 1999 novel "Wake of the Perdido Star," focused more on his writing during this period. He wrote four more books, the last of which was the police thriller "Pursuit" in 2013.
screenshot/Mississippi Burning
Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California. He moved frequently as a kid and by the time he started high school his family had set roots in Iowa. At 16, he enlisted in the Marines and served 4 ยฝ years as a field radio operator in the late 1940s. He was discharged in 1951 and, after toying with a career in media by studying journalism and television production at the University of Illinois with the help of the GI Bill, Hackman moved back to California.
Hackman's acting career began in the 1960s at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. There, he befriended a fellow aspiring actor, Dustin Hoffman, and the two hit it off as they tried to navigate their careers.
The pair moved to New York City to try to make it big and soon befriended another California actor with the same goal: Robert Duvall.
Alongside off-Broadway plays, Hackman found work with small TV parts. In 1964, he got a part in the movie "Lilith," starring Warren Beatty, leading to his big break with "Bonnie and Clyde."
From then, Hackman would become an all-time great thanks to his passionate performances and ability to play gruff everyman characters, but with a charming quality whenever he flashed a smile or gave a crackling laugh.
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In 1956, the actor married Faye Maltese, a bank clerk from New York. The couple had three children, Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne Hackman. They divorced in 1986 after 30 years of marriage.
In 2000, the actor told the Irish Independent that he wasn't always present as a father. "I couldn't always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California, they've had my success always hanging over their heads,' Hackman said.
Sometime after Hackman and Maltese split, he started dating Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist who was 30 years his junior. They got married in 1991.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Hackman's status as a legend only grew after his retirement, as one of few icons able to walk away and stay away from the business.
In one of his final interviews, in 2011, GQ asked him whether he'd ever do another movie:
"I don't know," he said. "If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people."
Correction: February 27, 2025 โ An earlier version of this story misstated the circumstances of Gene Hackman's death. The Santa Fe New Mexican cited Sheriff Adan Mendoza as saying Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead Wednesday afternoon, not that they died Thursday. Mendoza was said to have confirmed their deaths Thursday.
Giles Keyte / Disney / Warner Bros.
Three animated movies are making the jump to live-action in 2025, among the 11 reboots scheduled to premiere this year.
When done well, remakes can be lucrative for movie studios.
Disney's live-action remakes of classic animated movies have made more than $5 billion since 2015's "Cinderella." Universal is also joining in on this trend.
There will also be two major superhero reboots, two "Frankenstein" remakes, and another adaptation of "Romeo & Juliet."
Here is what to know about 2025's reboots.
Matilda Firth / Universal Pictures
Premiere date: January 17
Since the 2010s, Universal has been trying to revive its "Monsters Universe" with little success.
Critics and fans panned 2017's "The Mummy" reboot, which was supposed to start an interconnected franchise, so the studio pivoted to individual movie reboots instead.
"Wolf Man," starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, is based on a 1941 movie of the same name about a man who is bitten and cursed by a werewolf while trying to reconnect with his father.
In the reboot, Blake (Abbott) and his wife and daughter visit his childhood home in rural Oregon when they're attacked by an animal. As they barricade themselves inside the house, Blake also starts to transform, forcing his wife to defend herself and their daughter.
The release has taken $27.6 million at the box office worldwide and has a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Premiere date: February 14
Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is one of the most famous love stories in the world, and Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" is the most famous and highest-grossing adaptation of the play.
"Verona's Romeo & Juliet," the newest adaptation on the map, is a modern pop musical retelling of the tragic romance between two children of rival families.
Jamie Ward and Clara Rugaard play Romeo and Juliet, and the film also stars Rebel Wilson, Jason Isaacs, Derek Jacobi, and Rupert Everett.
Disney
Premiere date: March 21
Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was the first full-length animated movie, and was the highest-grossing animated film for more than half the 20th century.
Disney is now remaking the movie as a live-action movie with new songs and computer-generated dwarves.
In this new version of the tale, Rachel Zegler stars as Snow White, who is trying to save the kingdom (instead of being saved) from her evil stepmother, played by Gal Gadot.
Disney's last two live-action musicals, "The Little Mermaid" and "Mufasa: The Lion King," both made over $500 million in theaters. If it can avoid controversy, the "Snow White" remake may match those films at the box office.
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Premiere date: April 18
Before Ang Lee won two Oscars and directed classics such as "Life of Pi," "Brokeback Mountain," and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," he rose to fame with a small romantic comedy called "The Wedding Banquet."
The film follows a bisexual Taiwanese immigrant man who marries a Chinese woman so that he can get approval from his parents and she can gain a green card.
Andrew Ahn, the director of 2022's "Fire Island," is directing a remake of the romantic comedy. Bowen Yang, the star of Saturday Night Live, Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone, Joan Chen, and Kelly Marie Tran will play lead characters in the reboot.
Disney
Premiere date: May 23
Although 2002's "Lilo & Stitch" was a success, grossing $273 million and creating a beloved new character for Disney to base new merch and toys on, the franchise was moved to a small screen for its sequel direct-to-video movies and TV shows.
Now, the franchise is coming back to the big screen in live-action format with a CGI-animated Stitch, voiced by the original voice actor Chris Sanders.
In the original movie, Stitch is an artificial-created alien built to be a weapon, but he learns how to be human after crashing on Earth.
Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong play the two main human characters who meet Stitch, Lilo, and her sister, Nani. Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis play the alien duo sent to capture Stitch, Pleakley, and Jumba.
Universal Pictures
Premiere date: June 13
Dreamworks is embracing Disney's live-action remake trend, starting with 2010's "How to Train Your Dragon." The franchise has been super lucrative for the studio, grossing $1.4 billion across three movies and having multiple series across various streaming platforms.
The film, directed and written by Dean DeBlois, the original director and writer of the series, follows a young boy who wants to become a mighty Viking like his father but ends up befriending his village's enemy โ a dragon.
The film stars Mason Thames as the lead character, Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut, and Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut. Gerard Butler is reprising his role as Hiccup's dad, Stoick.
Warner Bros.
Premiere date: July 11
After years of box office flops, franchise direction changes, and movie cancellations, DC studios hopes to make a big comeback with its most famous superhero, Superman. 2025's "Superman" is the seventh solo movie about Superman and the third time the character has been rebooted for a live-action film.
David Corenswet plays Superman, Nicholas Hoult plays Superman's nemesis, Lex Luthor, and Rachel Brosnahan plays Superman's lover, Lois Lane.
Nathan Fillion, Milly Alcock, Edi Gathegi, Isabela Merced, Anthony Carrigan, Maria Gabriela de Faria, Sean Gunn, and Frank Grillo play other heroes and villains in the DC world.
The film is directed and written by James Gunn, the CEO of DC Studios, who helmed the "Guardians of the Galaxy" Marvel movies.
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Premiere date: July 25
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" will be the fourth "Fantastic Four" movie, the second reboot, and the first "Fantastic Four" movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though the story will be in an alternate dimension than the rest of the franchise.
Pedro Pascal plays Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby plays the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn plays the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays the Thing.
Together, they're the Fantastic Four, a group of scientist-turned-superheroes on a mission to stop a planet-eating alien called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
Other big names including John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne also appear.
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Premiere date: September 26
Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," is another classic story that has been adapted into TV series and film numerous times.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is directing a reimagining of a 1935 adaptation of the book called "The Bride of Frankenstein," which focused on the part of the novel where Victor Frankenstein attempts to create a bride after creating a monster.
"The Bride!" is set in 1930s Chicago and stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, Penelope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard. The film follows Frankenstein and Dr Euphronius as they bring a young woman back to life.
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Premiere date: November 7
After Glen Powell's success with the "Twisters" sequel and "Anyone But You" Shakespeare adaptation in 2024, he's now one of Hollywood's brightest major stars. His next film is based on a pre-existing story.
"The Running Man" is based on a Stephen King novel published in 1982, about a dystopian US where people can participate in a reality show where they win money by evading a team of assassins. Coincidentally, the novel is set in 2025.
The novel was originally adapted in 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the lead. Edgar Wright is directing the remake, with Powell in Schwarzenegger's role. Lee Pace, Josh Brolin, Karl Glusman, Katy O'Brian, and Daniel Ezra are also set to star.
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Guillermo Del Toro is also tackling a "Frankenstein" adaptation for Netflix.
His film features rising stars Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth alongside Oscar Isaac, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, Christoph Waltz, and Felix Kammerer.
Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein, and Elordi plays Frankenstein's monster.
Del Toro has built a reputation for pulling off intriguing movies involving monsters, which means there's high anticipation for his take on "Frankenstein."
Paramount Pictures
From anticipated sequels like "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" to Marvel blockbusters like "Thunderbolts*," there's much to be excited about at the movies in 2025.
Here are the 32 titles we're most excited to see this year.
Universal
Director Leigh Whannell follows up his acclaimed remake of "The Invisible Man" in 2020 with another remake of a horror classic.
With "Wolf Man," he again teams with Blumhouse to modernize this thriller. Here, Christopher Abbott plays a father attacked by a werewolf who transforms into something horrifying, especially when there's a full moon.
Lionsgate
In this thriller set inside a small plane, Michelle Dockery plays an FBI agent who transports Topher Grace, who's playing a mafia informant.
Mark Wahlberg portrays the plane's pilot, who turns out to be a hitman hired to take out Grace's character.
Mel Gibson directs this movie, which will surely be one of the wackiest thrill rides of the year.
Eli Adรฉ/Marvel Studios
Anthony Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, the latest Captain America.
Wilson must uncover the mastermind behind an incident that follows the election of President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford).
Sony
In the latest installment of the popular franchise, the beloved Paddington Bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) returns to his native Peru with the Brown family in tow to check in on his Aunt Lucy.
Warner Bros.
Writer-director Ryan Coogler took a break from the "Black Panther" franchise to make this horror movie.
It stars Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers who, after a tough stretch, return to their hometown for a restart only to encounter a great evil.
Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, and Delroy Lindo also star.
Disney
This is the latest live-action remake of a beloved Disney animated movie.
Rachel Ziegler plays Snow White, while Gal Gadot is cast as the evil Queen.
Warner Bros.
Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Danielle Brooks star in this big-screen take on the popular video game Minecraft.
Expect a lot of zany comedy, as "Napoleon Dynamite" director Jared Hess is at the helm.
Warner Bros.
Six years after his acclaimed movie "Parasite" became the first non-English-language movie to win the best picture Academy Award, director Bong Joon-ho finally gives us his next movie โ and he's going in a different direction.
In this sci-fi black comedy, Robert Pattinson plays an "expendable," a disposable employee who sets out on extremely dangerous tasks that always result in his death. Afterward, his body always regenerates, leading to an unusual situation when one of his iterations survives.
Marvel Studios
Kicking off the 2025 summer movie season is this Marvel movie that focuses on the anti-heroes of the MCU. It includes Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Red Guardian (David Harbour).
Disney
We will get two live-action Disney remakes in 2025.
Here, Dean Fleischer Camp, the director of "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On," will update the beloved 2002 animated movie.
Chris Sanders, who directed that movie, will voice Stitch as he's done since 1985 when the character was originated . Zach Galifianakis, Bill Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Courtney B. Vance, and Hannah Waddingham also star.
Paramount Pictures
Marking the eighth installment in the "M:I" franchise and the direct sequel to 2023's "Dead Reckoning" (that's the one where Tom Cruise drove his motorcycle off a cliff), get ready for a thrilling end to this latest chapter that's certain to be full of dazzling stunts.
Lionsgate
Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro, a ballerina turned assassin.
The movie is set between chapters 3 and 4 in the "John Wick" franchise.
Pixar
In the latest movie from Pixar, we follow Elio, a young boy who accidentally becomes Earth's ambassador when aliens from the Communiverse make contact.
Now, Elio must form bonds with lifeforms across the galaxy to fix a major intergalactic crisis.
Sony
In the latest movie in the zombie franchise, original director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland return.
Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, and Cillian Murphy returns are starring this time.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
In this sports drama from "Top Gun: Maverick" director Joseph Kosinski, Brad Pitt plays a popular Formula 1 driver from the 1990s who was forced to retire after a horrific crash.
Now, an old friend (Javier Bardem) convinces him to come out of retirement and join his team to mentor a rookie (Damson Idris).
Universal Pictures
When the summer hits, Blumhouse is blessing us with the sequel to its hit 2022 horror movie. Allison Williams returns to battle M3GAN, presumably AI, after her doll form was destroyed at the end of the first movie.
Universal
Hollywood and moviegoers seemingly can't get enough of the "Jurassic" franchise.
Three years after closing out the "Jurassic World" trilogy, we now fast-forward five years later after the events of "Dominion" to follow a covert operations expert, played by Scarlett Johansson. She leads a team to secure genetic material from three massive dinosaurs that will bring life-saving benefits to mankind.
Gareth Edwards ("Rogue One," "The Creator") is directing the movie, which also stars Mahershala Ali.
Warner Bros.
We all have July 11 circled to catch a glimpse of James Gunn's anticipated take on the Man of Steel.
It will star David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
Jeff Hahne/Getty Images for Netflix
Despite not having an official title yet, we have a good idea there will be a lot of slashing in the fourth movie in this horror franchise, created in the late 1990s.
Madelyn Cline ("Outer Banks," "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery") stars along with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who both appeared in the first two movies.
Gilbert Flores / Variety via Getty Images
The latest reboot of the beloved superhero team is set in a 1960s retro-futuristic Earth where they take on Galactus and Silver Surfer.
Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby is Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach is Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Universal Pictures
The characters from the popular children's book series return for a sequel.
Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramon, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, and Lilly Singh all reprise their roles.
Disney
Twenty one years after the beloved body swap tale, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, the two return for another freaky tale.
Universal
Bob Odenkirk returns as the unlikely badass.
Connie Nielsen, RZA, and Christopher Lloyd return for the sequel, complete with new characters played by Sharon Stone and Colin Hanks.
Marc Piasecki/Getty Images for Netflix
Maggie Gyllenhaal writes, directs, and produces this remake of the 1935 classic "Bride of Frankenstein."
Jessie Buckley ("The Lost Daughter") will play Frankenstein's bride with Christian Bale portraying Frankenstein's monster.
The movie is a family affair as Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard, and her brother, Jake, will star. Penรฉlope Cruz, Annette Bening, and Julianne Hough also star.
Lionsgate
Director Antoine Fuqua takes on the complex life and legacy of Michael Jackson.
Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael, is playing the late King of Pop. Colman Domingo and Nia Long also star as Michael's parents.
Universal
Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber in the sequel to Scott Derrickson's spooky 2021 horror from Blumhouse.
Presley Ann/Getty Images
This marks the second adaptation of the Stephen King novel; the first famously starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987.
In this version, directed by Edgar Wright, Glen Powell stars as Ben Richards, the latest contestant in the deadly game show where you literally have to run from hunters to win your freedom.
Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, and William H. Macy also star.
Universal Pictures
We return to the Land of Oz for the thrilling conclusion of the box-office hit musical.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return to once more play the leads.
Walt Disney Animation Studios
After the original was released in 2016 and grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, you knew it was only a matter of time before Disney hit us with a sequel. Eight years later, it's finally here.
Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) return to use their detective skills to crack the latest big case in Zootopia.
Patti Perret/Universal Pictures
Following the surprising 2023 box-office success of the big-screen adaptation of the popular video game series, Blumhouse gives us a sequel.
Disney
We once again return to Na'vi and catch up with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family following the events of 2022's "Avatar: The Way of Water."
Netflix
We cannot wait for Daniel Craig to play detective Benoit Blanc again for Rian Johnson's latest chapter in his whodunit franchise.
Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Josh O'Connor, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Cailee Spaeny, and Andrew Scott star this time.
Though Netflix has not shared a release date yet, if the previous films are any hint, it will likely come out around Thanksgiving 2025.
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
It's been over a decade since audiences last saw a solo "Superman" movie in theaters, but director James Gunn has finally revealed the first trailer for his new DC reboot.
The film stars "Twisters" actor David Corenswet as the new version of the Man of Steel, as he takes over the role from Henry Cavill. The trailer starts with Superman crashing down in the snow before calling his dog, Krypto, for help.
It then introduces audiences to the new iteration of the DC Universe as Clark Kent balances his life as a young reporter at the Daily Planet and as a superhero. It puts some of the focus on his relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) a fellow reporter, as well as Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), a nefarious tech billionaire.
The action also sees Superman fighting a huge monster and a mysterious black-suited figure. Take a look below.
Warner Bros Pictures/DC Studios
Corenswet is known for his roles in "Pearl," "The Politician" and "Look Both Ways." He also starred in 2024's "Twisters" alongside Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones.ย
He told the "Manly Things (Sort Of)" podcast that he bulked up significantly for the role.
Corenswet said: "Getting to bulk up for 'Superman'ย was...ย I was looking for an excuse to really throw on some weight. I thought 210 was going to make me happy, but then I got up to 238... I wasn't 238 when we started shooting. 238 was my max."ย
He added: "It didn't feel great... I did it so quickly that my body just hadn't adjusted to the extra weight... But that was at the peak of my bulk, and then I slowly lost weight before we started shooting.ย
"I started shooting at about 228. I put on one of those sweatshirts, and I was like an XL or double XL, and I was like, 'I fill this out. This is amazing.' I didn't fit into any of my pants."
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane, a determined reporter at the Daily Planet and the love interest of Superman/Kent.ย
The actor is known for her roles in "House of Cards" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," she reportedly beat actors like "Sex Education" star Emma Mackey, "Bridgerton" lead Phoebe Dynevor, and "Ready or Not" actor Samara Weaving to the role.
In February, Brosnahan told Variety what drew her to the role, saying: "I have always loved Lois Lane. She's smart, ambitious, and can be funny. She knows she's the smartest person in the room more often than not."
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
British star Nicholas Hoult originally auditioned to play Superman in the film, but Gunn decided to cast him as the hero's archnemesis, Lex Luthor, instead.ย
Hoult told The Hollywood Reporter that he enjoyed working with Gunn on getting Luthor right.
He said: "I was like, 'Oh, this is exciting where he imagines this character being, and hopefully I can bring the energy that he wants to what he's written on the page.'ย Yeah, you do want him to be imposing and dangerous. That's something about that character. Whenever you're playing the villain, I suppose you want people to feel that they are dangerous."
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
Nathan Fillion voiced the Hal Jordan Green Lantern in several animated movies and starred in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and "The Suicide Squad."
In "Superman," he's playing Guy Gardner, a hot-headed member of the Green Lantern Corps.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
Isabela Merced is playing Hawkgirl, a hero with a complicated backstory involving reincarnation. She also appeared in the Sony Marvel movie "Madame Web" as another superhero, Anya Corazon, and had a very gross role in "Alien: Romulus."
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
Edi Gathegi is playing Mr. Terrific, a tech genius who uses his inventions to fight injustice. The actor has also played a superhero before โ Darwin in "X-Men: First Class."
John Shearer / Getty Images / DC Universe Infinite
Carrigan can briefly be seen as Metamorpho toward the end of the trailer โ although he's easily mistaken for another character, Brainiac, due to the alien-like design of his face.
But it is definitely Metamorpho due to his purple crystal shoulder that can be seen on the right of the screen.
โJorge (@djodjeee_) December 19, 2024
The character is typically a hero in the comics, but this ominous shot might suggest he has a villainous role to play in the film.
Carrigan is best known for his role in "Barry" but he has played two supervillains in DC shows "Gotham" and "The Flash."
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios
James Gunn previously told fans on Instagram that his version of the character was inspired by his rescue dog, Ozu.
He wrote: "Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?" - and thus Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life."