Meet David Corenswet, the Heartthrob Set to Play Superman in New Film

Director James Gunn has spent months trying to find the perfect actor to play the Man of Steel in the upcoming Superman: Legacyfilm. As part of the DC Extended Universe, the role would catapult any actor into A-list levels of fame.

After screen testing in full costume and makeup for Gunn and DC co-chair Peter Safran, actor David Corenswet was cast as Superman/Clark Kent, opposite Rachel Brosnahan who scored the role of Lois Lane.

This all had to happen quickly so that they could finish the casting of the main stars before the possible Screen Actors Guild strike could halt work on the film later this week. The roles of Lex Luther and Jimmy Olsen have yet to be cast.

Corenswet broke onto the scene playing major roles in two queer-inclusive Ryan Murphy joints for Netflix. First, as River Barkley on the hit show The Politician and then as Jack Castellow in Hollywood, where he played a character based off of James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Montgomery Clift.

While the actor is no stranger to the big screen — last fall he landed the role of The Projectionist in Ti West’s horror movie Pearl — this will be the first time he’s ever played a leading role in such a huge blockbuster film. He’ll also have big shoes to fill considering he’ll be replacing Henry Cavill, who played the Krypton native in five films before hanging up his cape.

It sounds like Corenswet will be playing a younger version of Superman. “Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas,” according to the official plot synopsis. “He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American Way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”

The film is set to come out sometime next year and though the plot description is vague, with the hunky Corenswet (who is 6 foot 4 inches by the way!) in the lead role, we’ll be watching no matter what.

Scroll through to see all the delicious photos of this heartthrob!