As soon as the story broke that Henry Cavill was out as Superman, other information regarding the actor's situation began to disseminate online. Some outlets confirmed that this is a done deal, others indicated Cavill's not done wearing the cape just yet, and Warner Bros. official statement offered no real clarity on the subject.
One of the more peculiar claims arrived in Deadline's report of the story. According to the Hollywood-based outlet, "The word has been out that Warner Bros. has been mulling a completely different direction with its Superman canon for some time, even considering casting Michael B. Jordan in the role down the road."
Many fans picked up on this bit of potential news and took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction over the possible casting. But, frankly, it's a little hard to believe. You see, every time a new superhero project gets announced, Jordan's name seems automatically linked to it. It's understandable, considering how he's starred in a few superhero flicks already, and he's a major star that every franchise wants to get into bed with.
This latest rumor, though, sounds like the broken telephone effect in action. We break it down into four realistic potential scenarios.
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First, Jordan and Warner Bros. recently announced a new program to increase diversity and inclusion on both sides of the camera. The initiative has been "established in partnership with actor Michael B. Jordan, [and will] apply to all productions going forward, beginning with Jordan's Just Mercy".
It undoubtedly shows that Warner is high on Jordan, and we should expect to see him involved in the studio's blockbusters in the years ahead. It's also entirely possible that this piece of news crossed a few wires and someone made assumptions that it was a discussion about Superman. For all we know, Jordan may have joked in a meeting that he'd like to play the Man of Steel, and someone took it at face value.
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The second possibility is that the project in question is about Calvin Ellis, a Superman from another reality in the DC Multiverse who was modeled on Barack Obama. The character isn't a replacement for Kal-El, but an alternate version introduced in the comics. A movie such as this wouldn't be part of the main canon, but could find a home under the same banner as Joaquin Phoenix's Joker and be a standalone, non-DCEU project. Whether the concept is strong enough to be a live-action effort is another story, though it does lead to the next possibility...
Jordan could be playing the Man of Steel in an upcoming animated film. He's certainly no stranger to DC animation, having already voiced Victor Stone/Cyborg in 2013's Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. With Warner ramping up its animated movies, it's plausible that the studio has met with Jordan and offered him a role. For the most part, the studio has focused mostly on Batman features, but the recent success of The Death of Superman may have inspired it to put more faith in the Man of Steel at the heart of future releases. Attaching a big name like Jordan to one of these projects would certainly get attention beyond the level they typically receive.
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The final possibility is that Warner Bros. could, indeed, be planning on recasting the role down the line, and is indeed in talks with Jordan for the role. This "color-blind" casting approach would prove to be revolutionary, and if successful, would encourage other studios to follow suit. In 2004, the studio showed the courage to cast Halle Berry as the traditionally white Catwoman (albeit as a character named Patience Phillips and not Selina Kyle). While the film might've been critic Kryptonite and a financial flop, it demonstrated that Warner will try to do different things and get out of its comfort zones once in a while.
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Or maybe the rumor is just plain false. When it comes to DC films, we've seen some wild and wonderful tall stories gain traction among fans and Hollywood professionals alike. From Batman Beyond film murmurs to talks of Armie Hammer appearing as the Green Lantern in Justice League, we've heard it all. Sure, it makes it fun to debate and talk about with our friends and frenemies, but it's also important to put all of this into context.
For now, just keep in ind that you'll be seeing endless rumors and hot takes about the future of Superman in the days to come, and some fans will lose their minds over every tidbit. It's important to apply a little common sense and question the legitimacy of the information and sources. In terms of Jordan as Superman, nothing is even remotely close to being official yet, so don't get too carried away with it. If it does prove to be true, though, it'll be an interesting, and groundbreaking, choice.