New Hope’s Bradley Cooper made a special cameo appearance in James Gunn’s new Superman movie, which hit theaters on July 11, writes Allison Hambrick for ScreenRant.
Gunn cast Cooper to play Superman’s father, Jor-El, a role previously held by Marlon Brando and Russell Crowe. The director noted that he wanted someone “who could walk in the footsteps of Marlon Brando.”
“A lot of times, Jor-El is played by a 70-year-old man and that means he was 70 when he had a baby, so I wanted somebody that wasn’t too old,” said Gunn.
This isn’t the first time the director and actor have worked together. Cooper originally appeared in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, playing the role of Rocket Raccoon.
However, while Cooper appeared in the new film as the superhero’s father, he was initially considered for another role.
Gunn revealed he had a brief conversation with Cooper about him playing Superman’s arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor.
Though Gunn believed Cooper would have made an excellent Luthor, he ultimately decided that the villain needed to be played by an actor closer to Superman’s age.
Cooper was happy to take on the mantle of the Kryptonian’s father as a favor.
Read more about Bradley Cooper’s surprise cameo, his history with James Gunn and what almost was on ScreenRant.
_______
