David Corenswet’s SUPERMAN Audition Tape Proves He Was Born to Play Clark Kent

The audition comes from an early version of the interview scene with Lois Lane in the film. Some things are different, like the use of a different fictional DC Comics country, Bialya. Despite auditioning over 400 actors, James Gunn has said the Juilliard-trained actor was his first choice almost from the jump. Interestingly, Christopher Reeve also went to the legendary acting school, so maybe this was just fated to be. Gunn told GQ “From the very beginning, he was the guy to beat.” Watching the scene, you can see why. When an actor can convincingly go from mild-mannered Clark to Superman with just an octave change in one word? Then that’s 50% of the role right there.

Although he’s not reading with Rachel Brosnahan in his audition, Gunn said that Corenswet’s chemistry with Lois was key. He told Entertainment Weekly “We mixed and matched these different actors and actresses to find out not only who was the best Clark and who was the best Lois, but who was the best ‘Clois,’ who was the best together. I do think that David was the best Clark, Rachel was the best Lois — but they also had the most chemistry together.” The audition tape really demonstrates exactly how much Corenswet just gets what has made the character click for 87 years. We can’t wait to see him fly over Metropolis again and save some more squirrels.