Nearly twenty years after he first put on the red cape, Brandon Routh has given his full support to the new Man of Steel. The ‘Superman Returns‘ star said he was moved to tears multiple times while watching James Gunn‘s new Superman film. He praised David Corenswet‘s performance as “fantastic” and admitted he cried “no less than three times.”
Routh, 45, played the hero in Bryan Singer‘s 2006 film, which was a tribute to the Christopher Reeve era. He shared his personal reaction during an interview last year while promoting his new sci-fi horror comedy, ‘Ick‘.
‘Superman Returns’ Star Gets Emotional Over New DC Film’s Family Themes
The actor, who has carried the weight of the Superman legacy for two decades, said that watching Corenswet take on the role brought back a lot of memories and emotions. “I see this in a different way. I come at it from a different perspective,” Routh explained. “I really got into it as I’m watching him navigate those tricky Superman moments in the first conversation with Lois and Clark in the apartment. And then all of the family stuff for me really hit.“
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Routh’s emotional response goes beyond being a fan. His own time as Superman was a mix of highs and career struggles. ‘Superman Returns’ was meant to bring the franchise back, but its box office performance was just okay, and the reviews were mixed. This led to a planned sequel being cancelled. The actor has talked before about the tough time after that, saying he felt he “wasn’t given what [he] thought [he] had earned” in terms of job opportunities after the 2006 film.
Watching Corenswet step into the role seems to have been a healing experience for him. Routh noted that the film, which is the starting point of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran, connected with him in a deep way. He especially felt that way about the scenes showing Clark Kent’s humanity and family problems.
“It’s a big movie. There’s a lot in there. I have to go see it again,” Routh added.
Brandon Routh Encourages Fans to Support New DC Universe
Routh, who also played Superman again for The CW’s ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths‘ crossover, has been open about his support for the new direction of the DC Universe. He previously went on social media last year to urge fans to watch the film, posting “Go see #Superman in theaters now!” on Instagram.
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“I really am excited for the potential for the DC Universe,” Routh said. “A successful launch with this is just good for everybody who wants more of what DC has to offer. There are a lot of great properties that can be explored.”
His praise for Corenswet means a lot given the history of actors who have played the role. Christopher Reeve set the standard in 1978, and Routh was the first to follow him. Henry Cavill took over in 2013, and now Corenswet’s performance has received the approval of a predecessor who knows exactly what it feels like to wear the cape. “It was a lot of fun,” Routh said of the new film. “I really enjoyed it.”
The Superman movie (2025), which stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, performed very well at the box office, earning over $600 million worldwide. As people eagerly wait for its next chapter, ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ Routh’s heartfelt words added a meaningful moment to the character’s history on-screen.
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