Routh was cast as Clark Kent/Superman, according to producers and director Bryan Singer, not just because he looks eerily similar to the late Christopher Reeve. While admitting the resemblance is uncanny, Singer said that was only part of the reason Routh won the coveted role. "It’s actually not what motivated me to cast him," explained Singer. "It just was part of a package. ...He has to look and sound as though he’s stepped out of your collective memory. Part of it is Christopher Reeve and part that is George Reeves. Part of it that is the height, the character of voice, the high voice, the low voice."
Taking on Such an Iconic Character: Although Routh was fully aware of the responsiblity of playing Superman, the actor says he wasn't reluctant at all to take over the part. “It was a great mantel to be able to take on really, an amazing legacy," said Routh. "And, you know, to finally see it… I just saw the final product yesterday as well, is really amazing to be part of something like this. The spirit of Superman is great to have around. I'm really excited to be a part of it and sharing the legacy.”
Finding the Right Tone for Superman: Routh said that only in a roundabout way did he attempt to mimic Christopher Reeve. “Well, the film is written to be the vague sequel to the first two films. Inheritably in the script there are many homages in the character - especially written from that character - so there are similarities because of that. The only thing that was done, really only to mimic Chris’ performances, [was] pushing the glasses up with the forefinger. I did that sometimes. Sometimes Bryan would love a shot and I didn’t do it. He’d tell me to do it because it fit in a certain shot, or sometimes I adjusted the glasses like that.”
The Experience of Seeing Himself on the Big Screen as Superman: “It’s weird. We basically shot the film in chronological order for, Superman anyway, so I think I actually feel that way about it. I feel more confident in the end of film. I think the character is actually making that journey in the film. Even though he’s only been gone for five years, he’s still kind of getting back in the swing of things. I actually feel that emotionally when I’m watching it. It’s still weird for me to watch because I’m Superman. It’s weird. It’s much easier for me to watch Clark. I enjoy watching Clark and it was great fun to be able to play him.”
Getting in Shape to Wear the Superman Suit: Routh got himself into great shape to take on the role and made sure he looked right in the suit. Explaining the process, Routh said, “Well I did a lot of things. I lifted weights obviously. I did Rope Yoga, which is a mix between Pilates and Yoga and my first trainer Gudni Gunnarsson created. It’s a great core building routine. That was put in place so that I could sustain myself with the wires and the harness for extended periods of time, so we did that early on. Also with weights and especially training my body to get in shape. We got my body in shape to be in shape. I mean I was in shape; I was an athlete before that. I did certain things, but never to this extent.”
Routh continued, “By the time we got into Australia, two months into my training we starting hitting the weights really, really hard and building more mass. I put on 22 pounds for the film. It was fantastic to see my body change in five months time. I had a little extra time when we went into Sydney because we didn’t start filming Superman right away, so it was pretty fantastic. I’ve dropped a little bit now because I’m not working out as heavy, definitely now. To actually do it again, if and when we go again…”
Walking onto the Set for the First Time Dressed as Superman: “I think I probably did some mental relaxation and [took] some deep breaths in my dressing room before I went out. The first scene that we shot, if I remember correctly, is actually not in the film anymore, but it’s in the Daily Planet. Some of the crew had seen me in passing for costume tests, and we’d done small things like this. But this was the full crew and actually there were all of the people in the Daily Planet, all of the extras and they couldn’t look and turn around. We didn’t want anyone taking pictures or shots. A photo hadn’t been released yet and so everybody had to keep their backs turned. These 100 extras…You’re in the Daily Planet so that was kind of cool. Just to know the first time it was on camera, it was really powerful. That was kind of the final piece that I needed to be secured in the role, was to actually have some footage in the camera and to know that day was marked and I had become the character.”
Page 2: Brandon Routh on Working with Bryan Singer, Kate Bosworth, and the Future of the Superman Films
