Known for his iconic portrayals in westerns and action films, Clint Eastwood is widely regarded as a Hollywood legend. What many may not realize, however, is that the Oscar-winning actor and director was once considered for the lead role in the 1978 film, Superman. As reported by MTV, in an interview with Hero Complex, the veteran performer, who is now 92-year-old, shared that he had no interest in portraying the Kryptonian hero but expressed a desire to play Marvel’s Namor the Sub-Mariner.
Clint Eastwood said he declined the offer to play Superman when Warner Bros. executives approached him, as he felt that it wasn’t his type of role. He revealed that he had no interest in the part, as he preferred roles that he deemed to be more “grounded in reality.” Despite expressing his disinterest in “caped crusaders,” the iconic actor did mention that he was a massive fan of the Marvel character Namor the Sub-Mariner during his youth.
Namor is one of Marvel’s oldest and most complex characters, with a rich history that spans decades of comic book storytelling. He is a half human, half-Atlantean prince who has superhuman strength, speed and agility, as well as the ability to breathe underwater. Namor is often depicted as a brooding and volatile figure, torn between his loyalty to his people and his desire to protect the surface world from threats both human and superhuman.
It’s rather peculiar that Clint Eastwood favored the Marvel hero over DC‘s much more widely recognized Superman. However, it sounds like the actor saw the potential in Namor’s complex backstory and conflicted motivations. Maybe he felt he could bring his trademark toughness and charisma to the role.
Unfortunately for Clint Eastwood, during the peak of his career, there were no projects revolved around the Marvel character that were being considered. In fact, it was only in last year’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that Namor finally made his big-screen debut. While the aquatic hero is finally receiving the recognition he deserves, with fans even demanding a solo movie centered around him, it’s probably safe to say Eastwood is far too old to play the character.
The good news is that, despite his age, Clint Eastwood is still very active in the entertainment industry. Although he missed out on the opportunity to play Marvel’s Namor, he still retains his position as one of the most notable and recognizable stars in Hollywood. That certainly counts for something.
Next up for Clint Eastwood is the legal drama Juror #2. We exclusively reported last week that the upcoming film will serve as his final directorial film. Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette are attached to star in the picture.
The plot revolves around a member of the jury in a murder trial who suspects that he might have played a role in the victim’s death. He finds himself in a moral dilemma about whether to us his secret to influence the jury’s verdict and shield himself from punishment or confess his crime and submit himself to the justice system he is assisting. While the film doesn’t sound nearly as exciting as a project centered around Marvel’s Namor, we’ll still be checking it out.