Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, and Henry Cavill are all known for playing Superman, but a new actor will step into the iconic red and blue suit next year.

David Corenswet was confirmed in 2023 to be the new Superman, after replacing Cavill in the role, and he will make his debut in DC boss James Gunn's forthcoming film Superman: Legacy, which is due to drop in July.

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Nicholas Hoult and Tom Brittney were also said to be in contention to take on the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and the former will now portray supervillain Lex Luthor in the movie, which will feature Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

Gunn has recently been bigging up the project and claimed Corenswet will "blow people away" in the iconic role.

Speaking recently at New York Comic Con, Gunn said: "The movie is going extraordinarily well. We're deep in the process of editing. David Corenswet is going to blow people the f*** away.

"He is the movie star that everyone just dreams he could possibly be. And I don't think anyone really understands the depth of this guy's talent; dramatically, comedically, he's the best physical action star I've probably ever worked with... He's an amazing actor, and with Rachel Brosnahan, people are going to die for her as well."

It's some praise and if Corenswet is as well received as Gunn expects, then he could be in the role for the long haul.

But one day he will, no doubt, be replaced—but by who?

Cavill's Return

Cavill has already had a go at portraying Superman after doing so in the 2013 movie Man of Steel, followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Joss Whedon's 2017 movie Justice League.

He also played the character in Zack Snyder's Justice League, which dropped in 2021, and had an uncredited cameo in both Black Adam and The Flash. However, some Superman superfans want more and think Cavill wasted potential.

Cavill had turned 30 a month before his debut Superman movie, Man of Steel, was released in 2013, and Superman: Legacy is due to drop just three days after Corenswet turns 32 in July.

_{Peter Safran, David Corenswet and James Gunn attend 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' New York Premiere. (Image: Sipa US)}

While it's not yet known what will happen to Superman after Corenswet hangs up the iconic suit, one possibility is movie bosses opt for an older actor to portray the character. And some supporters would be delighted if Cavill was given another go. Some say Cavill's Superman was wasted because the actor didn't get given a decent car at a set of solo movies.

Even before Corenswet was cast as the next Clark Kent, there were calls for Cavill to return, and while it would be some turn around if he did come back as the superhero, he is a 5/4 favourite to do so. 

Bomer Or Routh To Revisit Man Of Steel

If Cavill doesn't reprise the role but DC still want an actor in their 40s, or by then 50s, to portray an older Superman after Corenswet, there could be plenty of potential suitors. 

Matt Bomer is a 13/8 second favourite to take on the iconic role in a post-Corenswet era, and he is no stranger to the character. Bomer previously voiced the superhero in the direct-to-video 2013 film Superman: Unbound, which was based on Geoff Johns' 2008 comic book story Superman: Brainiac.

Brandon Routh, who is a 4/1 chance, is another star who has previous experience with Superman. He portrayed the character in the 2006 movie Superman Returns, which gave his career a huge boost. 

Routh went on to appear in the likes of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and while the 45-year-old star is likely to be in his 50s when another Superman is needed, he could fit the bill if an older actor is required.

_{Brandon Routh could reprise Superman in the future as older version of the hero. (Image: AJ Pics / Alamy)}

Another actor currently in their 40s who could work is 2/1 chance Charlie Cox. Years before Cavill landed the role, Cox is said to have been eyed as the Man of Steel. Kingsman creator Mark Millar previously revealed Kick-Ass' Matthew Vaughn—who was close to directing Man of Steel before his and Millar's idea was rejected—wanted Cox for the part.

Speaking to The Aspiring Kryptonian podcast, Millar said: "[Matthew] and I had a lot of chats about who could play Superman. We never really talked about stories.

"Weirdly, his idea was really interesting, which was Charlie Cox, the guy who played Daredevil. And Matthew had just worked with Charlie on Stardust a year or two before. And there's something just really likable about him. 

He said, 'I know he’s not big and Superman’s always 'big'—like Charlie's maybe 5'8 or 5'9 or something. He says, 'He looks a lot like the Golden Age version of Superman, you know when he was a bit more like a regular person.' "

Elordi Distances Himself

Like Bomer and Routh, Jack Quaid also has Superman experience after lending his voice to the animated superhero in TV series My Adventures with Superman

He is 9/2 to portray the iconic part after Corenswet, but if DC go back to a familiar face, then 5/2 shot Brittney could be in with a chance again.

_{Elordi passed on a Superman audition because he 'gets restless' watching superhero movies. (Salt)burn. (Image: Album / Alamy)}

He narrowly lost out to Corenswet for the role this time, and he is said to have auditioned opposite Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor, who was trying out for the part of Lois Lane.

Brittney is relatively unknown on the international stage after starring in the ITV series Grantchester, but he could be destined for another big role instead.

The actor has similarities to Game of Thrones star Richard Madden (6/1), and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see either end up as James Bond when the next 007 movie finally hits cinemas.

Another man of the moment who could play Superman or Bond is Saltburn star Jacob Elordi. He is 8/1 to portray Kent/Superman, but previously admitted he turned down a request to audition for the part because he gets "very restless" watching superhero movies.

Speaking to GQ Magazine last year, Elordi said, "I’ve always been told to say a rounded answer or my agent will get mad at me. ‘Anything can happen.' And obviously anything can happen, but at this stage in my life, I don’t see myself having any interest in that. 

"I like to make what I would watch, and I get very restless watching those movies. I’m supposed to finish it with: 'Never say never! Well, they asked me to read for Superman. That was immediately, 'No, thank you.' That’s too much. That’s too dark for me."

It clearly wasn't too dark for Corenswet, and there will be plenty of potential suitors when Superman is next recast.