Michael B. Jordan promises that if he were to play Superman, his version would remain authentic to comic book history. Known for his roles in Creed and Black Panther, Jordan has long been rumored as a potential Man of Steel. In 2018, Jordan’s name was floated for Superman, potentially succeeding Henry Cavill. In September, speculation had ramped up once again when fans learned that Jordan had met with DC to pitch a vision for the iconic character. Given how all the actors that have portrayed Superman in live-action adaptations have been white, from Kirk Alyn to Tom Welling, it would certainly be a departure in one sense. But a look into the pages of DC Comics shows there is a basis for a black Superman that would qualify as canonical.
There have been four different African-American versions of Superman. Two of those, Sunshine Superman and Superman from Earth-D, appeared too briefly to have much of a backstory. However, the remaining two have been major characters with rich histories of their own. Created by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke, Calvin Ellis made his debut in 2009. With inspiration from former President Barack Obama and the legendary Muhammad Ali, Ellis was introduced as the Superman of Earth-23. The character would inspire other superheroes, forming his own Justice League. He would also become the U.S. President, much like the real life persona he was based on. Jordan has expressed interest in Calvin Ellis before. Val-Zod, of Earth-2, is another worthy option for adaptation, however. He has a complicated, layered arc that would likely translate well to the big screen.
Jordan might have had those depictions of Superman in mind when he was asked, by MTV News, about the persistent rumors that he is in line to portray Superman. The actor initially takes a lighter approach, pointing out that he’s been namedropped for other high-profile projects. From there though, Jordan admits he’s mindful of the importance of staying true to what has been established in comic books. “Anything I do dive in has gotta be done the right way. It has to be full of authenticity.” He said. “I’m a fan of comic books, you know? I understand the fans being upset at… ‘Oh no, why are doing this and why are they changing that?’ I would feel the same way about certain things. So, just know, if I ever were to dabble in anything, it would be authentic and something that I feel like people would really support.” Check out the clip below.
Jamie Foxx, Jordan’s co-star in Just Mercy, seems to have a different take based on his facial expressions. It could be that he believes Jordan, and any black performer, would face backlash for stepping into the role of a typically white character. Halle Bailey can attest to this, having encountered racist remarks after she was chosen as Ariel for the upcoming Little Mermaid live-action remake.
Looking past the concerns of a certain subset of the audience, and purely from a narrative perspective, Calvin Ellis and Val-Zod are both very distinct personas that would shine in movies of their own. The story of Ellis as U.S. President could prove to be particularly resonant, if done well. Given that Jordan is a well-read lover of comics, it’s a safe bet that he’ll bring his nuanced perspective to any Superman project he joins - if he does. It would stay true to the source material, while widening the scope of DC’s universe.
More: Recasting Superman In The DCEU After Henry Cavill’s Departure
Source: MTV News
