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“Superman: Legacy”: David Corenswet & Rachel Brosnahan Cast as Superman & Lois Lane

Earlier today, we told you about the casting process for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman: Legacywell, we’ve got a rather super-sized update—your next Superman and Lois Lane are David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan. Corenswet and Brosnahan nabbed the highly coveted, hotly contested roles after a weekend of screen tests just this past June 17.

The duo was cast after an intense process. In the end, Corenswet and Brosnahan were auditioning against Nicholas Hoult and Tom Brittney for Clark Kent/Superman and Phoebe Dynevor and Emma Mackey for Lois Lane, respectively. The Hollywood Reporter scooped that writer/director Gunn, who is also the new co-chief at DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, then assembled the footage to show to a deciding committee of top executives.

It’s no exaggeration to say these were two of the biggest roles in the entire history, with all eyes on Gunn and Safran (and now, Corenswet and Brosnahan) as the new co-chiefs of DC Studios and the two performers hope to reinvigorate the DC Studios universe with Superman: Legacy, the first film under the new leadership. For Superman, Gunn needed someone who could play the wholesome, believably dorky Clark Kent and then look stellar in the Superman costume when he’s the Krypton-born Man of Steel. It’s the first time we’ve seen a new Superman on the big screen since Henry Cavill stepped into the role for Zack Snyder in 2013’s Man of Steel. Meanwhile, Brosnahan will offer the first new interpretation of the crucial Lois Lane since Amy Adams took on the character for Snyder’s film. 

Corenswet first broke out in Ryan Murphy’s The Politician and then starred in the TV hitmaker’s Hollywood. He’s also appeared in HBO’s We Own This City and A24’s horror sequel Pearl. 

Brosnahan has been delighting viewers and winning awards with her work in Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She first broke on the scene in the series that started it all for Netflix, House of Cards. 

Now that Superman and Lois Lane are cast, Gunn will likely turn his attention to the villain Lex Luthor. Alexander and Bill Skarsgård were both mentioned, and before them, the role was actually Nicholas Hoult’s had he wanted it, but he decided to try for Superman. Perhaps now he’ll play the iconic villain. 

Gunn’s aiming for Superman: Legacy to begin filming in early 2024 in an effort to hit the July 11, 2025 release date. There are still two movies from the previous DC regime yet to premiere—Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom—yet the future for DC is now clearly visible, and David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan are a huge part of it.

For more on all things Warner Bros./DC Studios, check out these stories:

“The Flash” Director Andy Muschietti to Direct New Batman Movie “The Brave and the Bold”

“The Flash” New Images Tease Michael Keaton’s Batman and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl

James Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy” Will Begin Filming in Early 2024

Featured image: L-r: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 16: David Corenswet attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix’s “Look Both Ways” at TUDUM Theater on August 16, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)NEW YORK; NEW YORK – APRIL 11: Rachel Brosnahan attends Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 5 Premiere at The Standard Highline on April 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

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