Jude Law Explains Why He Turned Down Playing Superman in Unmade Brett Ratner Movie

Years ago X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner was developing a Superman film for Warner Bros. and Jude Law was at the top of the list to take on the role of Superman / Clark Kent in the project.

Law went through the whole process of being courted for the film, but he explains that through the experience, he resisted taking the role and ultimately, after trying on the costume, he turned it down.

During an interview with The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast, the actor talked about his experience and explained why he ultimately felt the role wasn’t right for him.

When asked about it, he said: “So this is true. Yeah. And there was a process of flirtation going on, and I always resisted because it just felt like [off]. And I know you can say, ‘Well, but you played Yonn-Rogg and Dumbledore!’ It just felt like a step too far.”

He continued: “And it was when Brett Ratner was going to direct, I think. And they didn’t have a script, if I remember rightly. Did they have a script? I don’t remember reading one. This is a long time ago. They brought me the suit. They thought, ‘This might change your mind.’”

The actor was then asked what version of the suit he tried on and he said: “No, it wasn’t the Reeve suit. It was a kind of like it was more metallic.”

As for what he thought when he tried on the suit, he said: “I tried on and I looked in the mirror and part of me initially was like, ‘Wow, this would be a [good thing],’ and then I just thought, ‘No, you can’t – you can’t do this. You can’t.’

“And I didn’t sell myself to myself. And I stepped away and the film never happened anyway. So maybe it probably wouldn’t have done anything.”

While I like Law as an actor, It’s hard to imagine him in the role of Superman. It would have been an interesting casting choice, but he knew that deep down it wasn’t the role for him.

Do you think Law would’ve made for a good Superman?