Brandon Routh Q&A

The young star talks about accepting the role of a lifetime in 'Superman Returns'.

Jul 14 2006

Bryan Singer plucked Brandon Routh from relative obscurity to play Superman in his big budget summer blockbuster 'Superman Returns' and Routh paid him back in spades by giving a note perfect performance as the Man of Steel. Time Out caught up with him earlier this week to discuss accepting the role of a lifetime.

With Superman being your first role in a major motion picture, are you worried about being typecast in the future?

I'm not worried about that. I know that people will see me that way and a lot of great things will come from that as well. But it's about making the right choices in the films I do next. The second film I do is almost as important as 'Superman Returns' because I have to show what else I can do and broaden my horizons. But I think that this film is more real than any superhero film we've seen, so I feel like I've ad a chance to show my acting chops as Superman and as Clark. And that is endearing to audiences because they see me not just as a caricature but as an actor. So I think that they will be open to seeing me play other roles.

When you signed up was there a commitment to be available for future instalments?

I think you come in with the understanding, especially with this kind of franchise, that there's the potential for many films. And I'm more than happy to continue, especially having seen the film. I want to see where else we can go and what other breakthroughs we can make with Bryan at the helm.

What was your reaction when you first saw your face on the poster?

The first poster – the one in the States – with me floating in space, is beautiful. And it's not me so much – it's Superman. I know it's the profile of my face, but it's the power of Superman, which is one thing that's been done with the campaign which is really nice.

Have your parents been collecting the posters and memorabilia?

Oh yeah, even before I was cast. Three months into the audition process, when I was still waiting to find out, my mum had already bought this old Superman glass from an antiques store. So they're really proud.

What was that audition process like?

As an actor you become accustomed to waiting a couple of days or a couple of weeks for a call-back or a screen-test, but my initial meeting was in March 2004 with a previous director. Then six weeks later I had an audition, then a call back two days after that, then a screen test a couple of weeks after that. Then they had a six week hold where they can tell you if you've got the role and you can't get any other jobs really. Then the director left the project and there was nothing. So I'd been involved for three months but there was nothing and I was quite sad because I was so close, but I was still bartending. Then Bryan came onboard, but he wanted to do his own thing so they were writing their own script. At the time I was thinking 'how long is that going to take? I want to stop bartending!' A month after that they started casting for that and eventually my agent called me and said, out of the blue, that Bryan Singer wanted to meet with me. We met at the Coffee Bean on Sunset and talked for an hour and a half before he had to get on a plane and location scout in Sydney, but it all happened from there.

You must have been a grumpy bartender!

It depended on the day, but I had a lot on my mind. When it was busy it was enjoyable, but when it wasn't, I thought about that constantly.

It must be a huge transition going from bartending to a Hollywood blockbuster.

It was a big change, but I'm really thankful for those seven months now, because it allowed me to prepare mentally for what was to come. It was helpful so that it didn't come as so much of a shock when I finally got the role.

What can you tell us about the 'Return to Krypton' sequence that Bryan filmed but cut from the final picture.

They built this magnificent huge crystal ship. They did a lot of GCI work on the crystals coming up to the hand like in the Fortress of Solitude. A lot of me being weak because of the kryptonite, so in a sick state I have to manoeuvre the ship home, and that's why I'm so weak at the farm. So that was a very intense time for me because it was the first time I'd ever worked opposite kryptonite so I had to do a lot of falls and stuff like that. I was also in a different suit because the return to Krypton is in a cape-less suit which is a different colour, so I felt different and more naked and vulnerable. And it was also a big acting challenge because it was another one of those moments where I had to imagine what I was seeing.

'Superman Returns' is released today, and for news on the future of the franchise, head here.

 

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