Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan responded to rumors he could be the next Superman while speaking with Oprah.
Rumors of Jordan becoming the next Superman surfaced in September when Deadline reported:
“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.”
My colleague Phillip Pratt even speculated on three ways Jordan could become Superman.
Jordan addressed the rumors while speaking with Oprah:
“Yeah, that was a rumor, I heard that. I heard that. I heard that. I heard a few rumors buzzing around. I think just to be in those conversations, it’s flattering. It’s very humbling.”
Oprah would then ask if Jordan wants to play Superman. He responded:
“It’s tough. You know why because I hate being a businessman also and understanding both sides of the situation. I think there’s a huge upside to it, but there’s being under that microscope and being picked apart and compared to so many different versions of Superman. I would rather do something original.”
Oprah then says, “the chance to be Superman in your skin” referencing Jordan’s race.
Jordan says:
“I would be Calvin Ellis. There’s another version of Superman from Earth-23. I’m a comic book guy…There’s another version of Superman in another dimension that is black already in the comic books that exist. I think the comic book purists can accept that more than Clark Kent from Kansas. That’s a different thing.”
What do you think about Michael B. Jordan taking on the role of Calvin Ellis? Do you think he would make a good Superman?