Washington DC [US], July 14: Filmmaker James Gunn has heaped praise on longtime collaborator Bradley Cooper, revealing that his admiration for the actor played a major role in casting him as Jor-El in the new Superman movie, according to Variety.
Cooper portrays Superman’s Kryptonian father in the film’s opening sequence, stepping into a role originally made iconic by Marlon Brando in the 1978 Superman. Gunn admitted that Brando’s legacy weighed heavily on the casting choice.
“I needed somebody who could play Jor-El, who had the stature of what we imagine that character to be. Somebody that could walk in the footsteps of Marlon Brando,” Gunn told Variety.
The two previously worked together on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, where Cooper voiced Rocket Raccoon. That professional history and personal connection made it easier for Gunn to approach Cooper for Superman.
“He’s a friend. We’ve stayed in close contact since the ‘Guardians’ movies, and I admire him greatly as an actor and as a director,” said Gunn.
He recounted how he asked Cooper for a favor to film in England:
“I called him and said, ‘Come down, go to England, we’re going to shoot you in a 3D environment, make a hologram of you, and you can play Jor-El.’”
Star-Studded Cast and Box Office Success
The cast of Gunn’s Superman features:
- David Corenswet as Superman
- Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
- Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
- Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
- Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho
- Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
- Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
Released on July 11, Superman is off to a stellar start, earning $122 million domestically over its opening weekend—the third biggest domestic debut of the year. Globally, the film has already crossed the $217 million mark.
Gunn took to Instagram Threads to thank fans:
“I’m incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm… I’m happy to have made a movie that focuses on the ‘man’ part of the equation—a kind person always looking out for those in need.”
He added,
“That that resonates so powerfully with so many people across the world is in itself a hopeful testament to the kindness and quality of human beings.”