There's a New Superman In Town...

...not really. Sorry, but I knew it would grab your attention!

Well technically speaking, the title is correct in that a new actor has surfaced as Superman/Clark Kent. But not in the manner you'd think.

Matthew Bomer (who currently appears on the television series "Chuck," that you should be watching if you haven't already) was widely reported to be Brett Ratner's top choice to don the red-and-blue suit back when the "Rush Hour" director was working on the project.

But the hands of fate (and wild-man producer Jon Peters) stepped in and the young actor lost his chance of gaining the attention of millions as the next Man of Steel - an honor that ultimately went to Brandon Routh in Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" whose still lined up to reprise the role in the forthcoming next installment.

Cut to today as a video has surfaced for a Japanese television ad for the new 2009 Toyota Prius...and features Bomer as a certain mild-mannered reporter with music from a certain iconic John Williams theme playing in the background. That, and a particular S symbol shows up at the end.

Granted, there isn't much to read into this in regards to this affecting the next "Superman" film. I seem to remember Pierce Brosnan did some James Bond-type commercials years before he finally wore the tuxedo himself in 1995's "Goldeneye."

But it's still cool to see just how Bomer would have come across had he been cast. And special bonus points go out to those viewers noticing that it's the suit from "Superman Returns" that's used in the ad.