Zack Snyder Looking For A Middle Aged Superman?

We don't know much about the new Superman movie. We've heard from a few sources that Zod is the villain, although even that Zack Snyder has written off as just a rumor. While another report claimed that David Goyer's script follows Clark Kent, a journalist traveling the world "trying to decide if he should, in fact, even become Superman." Snyder has said that the film is not a remake, won't be connected at all to the Richard Donner films, based on any particular comic, and will probably feature the character's early days.

And everyone is wondering who will play Superman this time around, and now we have a report that claims they are looking for someone aged 35-40 to play the man of steel.

Snyder has said that Brandon Routh is unlikely to return. But when AICN talked to the actor a few months back he said he'd been contacted by Legendary and was starting to train again. This is before Mr. Snyder was tapped to direct, so it's possible that things have changed. Snyder now seems to have backpedaled on his previous comment in an article from the News of the World:

Studio Warner Bros originally demanded that the next Superman film, due in the Summer of 2012, would have an all-new cast after they were underwhelmed by Superman Returns' weak box office take. But Zack revealed that Brandon WILL be considered for the role after he saw an online fan campaign to have the star reinstated. "I know!" he told the News of the World. "I didn't realise there would be such a groundswell."

Armie Hammer, who almost played Batman in George Miller's canceled Justice League: Mortal film, has been gaining traction on the fansites as a possible contender for the role. Hammer, who is best known for playing the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher's The Social Network, says that he talked to his agent about the possibility and was told they are looking for someone older. Here is the quote from Vulture:

"I did talk to my people recently about [Zack Snyder's film] for the first time, and I think they're going a little older with Superman. I hear they're going 35, 40."

Armie is only 24 years old. Routh is older but seems to be a bit too young for that age range at 31.

Another actor fans have been buzzing about is Mad Men star Jon Hamm, who Snyder worked with on Suckerpunch. Some fans have argued that Hamm is too old for the role. Christopher Reeve was only 25 when he played Superman in Richard Donner's 1978 film. But at 39-years old, Hamm fits the age range mentioned by Hammer.

As for Hamm, when he was asked about playing Superman last month, the actor said, "[I]f the powers that be are thinking that, I'd like them to get in touch with me. Maybe we can discuss it."