David Corenswet, who rose to fame through
his standout performances in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series The Politician
and Hollywood
, once considered the role of
Superman a far-off
dream—something he admired from a distance, never truly expecting to claim it.
That dream, however, became reality in June 2023. He follows Henry Cavill
, who
portrayed Superman in Man of Steel
, Batman v Superman: Dawn of
Justice
and others. Recently, Corenswet revealed a lesser-known Superman
tradition—an
intriguing ritual few fans have ever heard about.
In a recent interview, Corenswet gave a sneak peek into the audition tradition, ahead of the much-anticipated release of his Superman.
A new Superman, a legacy to uphold: David Corenswet follows in Henry Cavill’s footsteps
James Gunn recently shared, as reported by ABC News
, that trying on a predecessor’s Superman suit has almost become a rite of passage. Henry Cavill once screen-tested in Christopher Reeve’s iconic costume, and Corenswet continued the tradition — this time donning Cavill’s suit, which he called a “marvel of engineering.”
But when it came time for him to wear his own suit for the first time, the moment was not exactly magical. Instead, it was “wonderfully mundane”.
The new Superman added, “I remember the feeling of kind of growing into the suit and the suit growing around me fitting by fitting
“.
David Corenswet reportedly tried on Henry Cavill’s #Superman suit during his first screen test, he called it a “marvel of engineering.” pic.twitter.com/pJ6UCTqm0S
— 𝑲𝒐𝒏-𝑬𝒍 (@DCUSuperboy) May 1, 2025
With a talented costume team shaping it over months, it slowly began to feel like home. However, the true impact hit him when he saw the reactions of others. While it felt familiar to Corenswet, the cast and crew’s awe revealed how special the moment truly was. James Gunn has also opened up about the reasoning behind casting Corenswet as the new Superman.
Superman
director James Gunn revealed why David Corenswet stood out as the perfect Man of Steel from the start, offering fresh insights into the qualities that made him the ideal choice.
The Secret to Casting Superman: James Gunn on David Corenswet’s Appeal
In a recent interview with ABC News, James Gunn revealed that David Corenswet was one of the first actors to audition for Superman
. Gunn instantly felt a sense of relief, drawn to Corenswet’s unexpected playful charm, which was not evident in his role in Pearl.
The actor’s sense of humor made Gunn think, “this might be a really good match
,” sparking the director’s confidence in Corenswet as the new Man of Steel. While the transition from Henry Cavill to Corenswet was met with some backlash, fans quickly defended the casting choice, rallying behind Corenswet with overwhelming support
.
James Gunn highlighted that Superman’s character and David Corenswet share a unique similarity in their demeanor. He described Corenswet as having a classic, old-school charm, listening to timeless music like Dean Martin and Cole Porter on his iPad—traits that align perfectly with Superman’s traditional, wholesome image. And from what it seems, fans are starting to catch onto Gunn’s vision too.
What do you think about David Corenswet wearing Henry Cavill’s Superman suit? Let us know in the comments below!