Jude Law Reveals He Turned Down The Lead Role In ‘Superman: Flyby’ After A Costume Fitting

Yon-Rogg
The fix is in when Yon-Rog (Jude Law) crashes the party in Captain Marvel (2019), Marvel Studios

Captain Marvel actor Jude Law recently revealed his involvement in the unmade Superman: Flyby. The JJ Abrams production was the second swing at rebooting the legendary Man of Steel after Superman Lives and zoned in on Law for the main lead. 

all 5tar superman legacy
The Man of Steel (James Denton) looks directly into the sun in All-Star Superman (2011), Warner Bros. Animation

RELATED: Rumored ‘Superman’ Plot Leak Teases A “Bizarro” From Another Earth And An Optimistic Man Of Steel Who Is An Outcast To “Edgy” Heroes That Kill

In an interview with The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast, he discussed how close he got to landing the part and how badly director Brett Ratner wanted him, despite Law not feeling all right with it.

“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 Yon-Rogg and Dumbledore!’ It just felt like a step too far,” he said.

You can't do this
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) overshadows Yon-Rog (Jude Law) in Captain Marvel (2019), Marvel Studios

Law also wasn’t sure about the script which he never saw. “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,” he explained.

With mounting doubts, they thought they could win him over by fitting him for the suit. “They brought me the suit. They thought, ‘This might change your mind,’” Law added. 

“Anyway, 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,” he continued.

The blood pact between Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is broken in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), Warner Bros. Pictures
The blood pact between Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is broken in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), Warner Bros. Pictures

RELATED: ‘Doom Patrol’ Actor Matt Bomer Claims Being Outed As Gay To Producers Cost Him The Role Of Superman And A Three-Picture Deal With Warner Bros.

In the end, it was all a wash when the film was canceled. “And I stepped away and the film never happened anyway. So maybe it probably wouldn’t have done anything,” said Law. 

Jude Law, funnily enough, had another flyby with the Man of Tomorrow around the same time. He was also considered for a pre-Snyderverse Batman vs. Superman movie that also wasn’t made.

Batman (Kevin Conroy) and Superman (George Newbern) are amused in Justice League Unlimited Season 3 Episode 13 "Destroyer" (2006), Warner Bros. Animation
Batman (Kevin Conroy) and Superman (George Newbern) are amused in Justice League Unlimited Season 3 Episode 13 “Destroyer” (2006), Warner Bros. Animation

Development of Superman: Flyby was a mess unto itself, but it was embedded in the larger chaos of getting a new Superman movie made. Doom Patrol’s Matt Bomer also auditioned for it, while a young Henry Cavill had a screen test.

Recently, Bomer shared his experience trying out for the cape and ultimately losing the opportunity. He claimed he had a contract and hinted at a planned trilogy. His account and Law’s paint very different pictures.

Bomer unbound as Superman
Things will look up for Superman (Matt Bomer) even if he forces them to in Superman Unbound (2013), Warner Bros. Animation

It sounds like nobody really knew what was going on with that production, which for the record, had a script. It’s available online for anyone curious enough.

NEXT: Marvel Reportedly Cans ‘Ant-Man 4’, ‘Captain Marvel 3’, And ‘Eternals 2’, Disney CEO Bob Iger Said To Have Personally Shut Down ‘Eternals’ Sequel For Fear It Would Have Been A Guaranteed Bomb

Mentioned This Article:

More About: