Brendan Fraser Recalls Screen-Testing For J.J. Abrams’ Would-Be Superman Movie: “It Was Shakespeare In Space”

Remember Brendan Fraser? The charismatic star of "The Mummy" movies? Well, it turns out he almost donned the iconic red and blue suit. Long before Henry Cavill took flight and even before Brandon Routh’s “Superman Returns,” Fraser was in the running for a Superman adaptation. This one was to be helmed by none other than J.J. Abrams and produced by Brett Ratner.

Brendan Fraser Recalls Screen-Testing For J.J. Abr...

Fraser recently reminisced about the screen-testing experience for this superhero flick that ultimately never took off. Warner Bros. instead went with Bryan Singer’s vision back in 2006. And honestly, it's kind of fascinating to hear about these "what ifs" in Hollywood.

Speaking to Josh Horowitz on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Fraser shared some tantalizing details. “I loved that screenplay,” he confessed. “They let me read it. They locked me in an empty office in some studio lot, I signed an NDA. It was printed black on crimson paper, so you couldn’t photocopy it or sneak it out the door inconspicuously. I mean, it was Shakespeare in space. It was a really good screenplay.” Crimson paper, an empty office, an NDA... that's some serious secrecy!

He also touched on the immense pressure and potential life-altering impact of taking on such an iconic role. He described the "anathema" of even thinking about taking a photo in the Superman suit. "You feel a little certain anxiety anyway when you’re going up on some big job,” Fraser said. “But I also remember thinking: ‘If I do get this job, then, well, I think Superman’s gonna be chipped on my gravestone.’ There’s an element of, you are that for the rest of your days, your career. And that’s not a bad thing; I’m not saying it’s gonna kill me any time soon, but it is something that becomes part of your entire brand, who you are. And I don’t know if I was ready to take that on then. I mean, I felt I was because [it was a] big opportunity, and excitement, et cetera, et cetera.” That's a really insightful perspective. It's not just about the role itself, but the legacy it carries.

Now, even with James Gunn developing his own Superman movie starring David Corenswet, the Abrams’ project isn't entirely dead. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed last year that Abrams’ version was still in the works. Back in 2021, it was rumored that Abrams was producing a Superman reboot with Ta-Nehisi Coates writing. Reportedly, this Kal-El would exist in an alternate universe, separate from Gunn’s upcoming 2025 film. Could we potentially see two Supermen flying across our screens in the near future? Only time will tell.