Josh Hartnett is stunning as Superman! After 20 years, a photo of the actor in a superhero costume has appeared again

Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, Nicolas Cage for The Flash, which Tim Burton didn’t like, and soon David Korenswet in the Superman legacy that James Gunn is preparing for 2025. On the small screen, Kirk Ellin, George Reeves, Dean Cain, Tom Welling, and Tyler Hoechlin donned the cape and legendary “S” suit. But another actor almost played the Man of Steel from DC Comics: Josh Hartnett. This was in a discontinued project in 2002 Superman: Flyby.

Josh Hartnett in London on July 13, 2023

At the time, director Brett Ratner (of Rush Hour and Family Man credits) was hired to direct the film. origin story Ambitious written by JJ Abrams and with a hefty budget (sources say $200 million). Among the actors approached for the role was Josh Hartnett. The rising star, crowned with success in The Faculty, Virgin Suicides, Black Hawk Down, 40 Days and 40 Nights and Pearl Harbor, even offered the American actress a three-feature film deal. He prefers to decline the offer.

2014 in the magazine detailsJosh Hartnett explained his choice: “We talked about Spider-Man and also Batman. But I knew those roles would stay with me and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to stay identified with Superman. My career. I may have only been 22, but I saw the danger.”. Therefore, we never saw him as Kal-El / Clark Kent until today and this photo from the costume tests that a fan discovered and shared on social networks. A photo that proves the actor would have been a more believable Superman, despite the very vintage side of the suit.

after his refusal, Brett Ratner He will meet other actors for the role: Tom Welling (the future hero of Smallville), Paul Walker, Brendan Fraser, Ashton Kutcher, David Boreanaz and even James Marsden. among others. So that we will never be able to implement the project. The director would leave the film in 2003 to make way for McG (Charlie and the Merry Ladies), who would audition for Jared Padalecki or Henry Cavill. After he was dropped, the film was eventually taken over by Bryan Singer to become Superman Returns alongside Brandon Routh. as for Henry CavillHe’ll wait a few years to take up the mantle and become Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

Josh Hartnett at Oppenheimer

As for Josh Hartnett, this decision will lead him to less pronounced roles (Meeting in Wicker Park, Sin City, Slevin, Black Dahlia, 30 Days of Night or the series Penny Dreadful). He recently appeared in a season 6 episode of Black Mirror, as well as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, where he plays physicist Ernest Lawrence.