The Hilarious Reason ‘Man of Steel’ Script Left Kevin Costner Disappointed
Undoubtedly, being in a superhero film—especially one starring ‘Superman’—is a wonderful opportunity, but Kevin Costner’s experience with Zack Snyder’s ‘Man of Steel’ was a little different from what he had anticipated. After reading the script, Costner was originally let down by his portrayal of Jonathan Kent, despite playing the pivotal role. But the cause of his disappointment is both humorous and surprising.
The universe of ‘Man of Steel’ is full of high-stakes action and extraterrestrial strength because of the abundance of superpowered characters, such as Michael Shannon’s General Zod and Henry Cavill’s Superman. But not every character in the movie has superpowers. Characters like Christopher Meloni’s Colonel Nathan Hardy and Amy Adams’s Lois Lane are regular people without superpowers.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
Under the yellow sun of Earth, not even Russell Crowe’s Kryptonian Jor-El has any powers. However, the actor who played Jonathan Kent, Kevin Costner, had other expectations for the part. He had anticipated—and even hoped—that his character would also possess superpowers. Costner humorously expressed his dismay in an interview with the ‘ReelBlend’ Podcast, stating, “It’s just my luck to be in a superhero movie and be the only person that’s normal.” “I’m a farmer?” he expressed, joking that he couldn’t beat through walls or fly.
Costner’s portrayal of Jonathan Kent was crucial to Clark Kent’s transformation into Superman, despite his initial dissatisfaction. He thought back to the contentious scene in which Jonathan warns young Clark that he might have to let people die in order to keep his secret. Jonathan’s acts were motivated by uncertainty, according to Costner, but by the time he perishes in a tornado, he has stopped wondering if the world is prepared for Superman.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
Despite receiving negative reviews, especially for how it portrayed Jonathan Kent and Superman’s choice to murder General Zod, ‘Man of Steel’ established the framework for Superman’s character development in ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and ‘Justice League’. These movies depict Superman, shaped by his father’s lessons, struggling with his place on Earth.
Despite his humorous remarks about lacking superpowers, Costner’s thoughts on playing Pa Kent show a deeper bond with the character that was influenced by his own life experiences. In the DC Extended Universe, his portrayal of Jonathan Kent continues to play a crucial role in Superman’s development.
–Farheen Ali
