Michael Shannon cast as Zod in ‘Man of Steel’
Via a Warner Bros. press release on Sunday afternoon, it has been officially announced that Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire, Jonah Hex, Vanilla Sky) has been cast as General Zod in the franchise-reboot of Superman entitled Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder, and starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, and Kevin Costner.
Viggo Mortensen had been previously rumored to fill the role made famous by Terence Stamp.
Below is the official press release from Warner Bros.
Michael Shannon to Star as General Zod in “Man of Steel” From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures
BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Michael Shannon will star in the role of General Zod in director Zack Snyder’s new Superman film, titled “Man of Steel.”
“Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”
Snyder stated, “Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”
As General Zod, Shannon will go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman in the film. The main cast also includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent.
Michael Shannon was honored with an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Shannon was most recently seen in the award-winning HBO drama series “Boardwalk Empire,” from executive producer Martin Scorsese. He will next be seen in Sony Pictures Classics’, “Take Shelter,” from director/writer Jeff Nichols.
Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.
“Man of Steel” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Keep with PanelsOnPages.com for all of your Man of Steel news!
–Knize
Filed Under: News
FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU– WHY ZOD, WHY?
Hey, is Superman going to peel off his emblem like a fruit roll-up in this one, too? Is it possible to make a Superman movie that’s not just rehashing the one from 30 years ago?
only thing i rememeber this guy as it the goofy couldn’t talk right guy in pearl harbor
While Zod wasn’t my first choice for a villain, at least with him we may actually get to see Superman fight someone. I do like Zod, but I was hoping for someone who hasn’t been used in the movies before.
I was really hoping for Darkseid or Metallo, but at least it’s not Bizarro. I hate Bizarro.
I haven’t seen Michael Shannon in anything. I hope he’s good.
To be fair, we haven’t seen Zod in a Superman movie in 31 years. I’m willing to cut them alittle slack on this one and see what they do with it. It’s not like some other remakes currently being developed where we just saw the characters 4 years ago..
I agree with drock and thatcher. On one hand there are a ton of baddies but the same get picked, but drock is right its been years. Let’s cut this movie team some slack and see what’s going on. I will be a zod bad guy fan if we get to see a knock em out fight … if its a psychology fight then well boring