Russell Crowe's role as Jor-El in 2013's Man of Steel was brief but an important part of Kal-El's journey to becoming Superman. Despite Clark Kent's father being immediately killed off, the actor himself believes there's more to his story that demands to be explored.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Crowe said: “I think that you know, those kinds of conversations happen all the time. You know, once somebody has something like that going and you know how else you can sort of make things out, I would have loved to have done like a Jor-El story pre the Superman story, and while him and [General Zod] our friends and the buildup of the political tension. That would have been interesting.”
Crowe’s Jor-El appeared in the same film that Henry Cavill marked his first appearance as Man of Steel. However, given that Cavill is no longer coming back as the titular hero and James Gunn is building a brand-new version of Superman, the Gladiator actor's desire to return for a prequel is inconceivable.
MORE LIKE THIS: James Gunn Gives Reminder to Fans Regarding DCU Casting Rumors
For the new DC Universe, Gunn is helming the first entry of their Chapter 1 slate. He said, “Yes, I’m directing Superman: Legacy to be released on July 11, 2025.” The upcoming film is set to showcase a younger Clark Kent and will feature a new actor in the role. According to the filmmaker, no one has been cast yet, but it’s currently underway.
Even if Crowe won't be making a Jor-El prequel anytime soon, he is set to return to another fatherly role in a big-screen adaptation of Kraven the Hunter, in which he will play Nikolai Kravinoff, the father of Aaron Taylor-johnson's anti-hero.
Over the years, Crowe has been both a Marvel and DC actor. Just recently, he addressed his future as Zeus in the MCU. The actor’s King of the Olympians first appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder, and the film's post-credits scene hinted that audiences would see more of Zeus in the future.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!