Michael Shannon is Zod in Superman!
Sun, April 10, 2011 
Just last month it was rumoured that Michael Shannon was in talks to join Zack Snyder's Superman reboot. Speculation had him pegged as either Lex Luthor or general Zod. well now it's official, Shannon will be General Zod! Although he doesn't obviously bring a lot of physicality to the role in terms of his size or physique, he definitely makes up for it in talent. It'll be pretty damn awesome watching him go toe to toe against Cavill as Supes next Christmas. This also marks the fourth Academy Award winning or nominated actor to join the cast so far.
In addition to the awesome casting news the official title has also been revealed as "Man of Steel". It's long been rumoured this would be the title, but there's been no confirmation until now. Aside from the finished cast and the suit reveal the next thing we can likely expect is an actual release date.
Official Press Release:
Warner BrosPictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Michael Shannon will star in the role of General Zod in director Zack Snyder’s new Superman film, titled “Man of Steel.”
Snyder stated:
“Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”
As General Zod, Shannon will go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman in the film. The main cast also includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent.
Michael Shannon was honored with an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Shannon was most recently seen in the award-winning HBO drama series “Boardwalk Empire,” from executive producer Martin Scorsese. He will next be seen in Sony Pictures Classics’, “Take Shelter,” from director/writer Jeff Nichols.
Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.
“Man of Steel” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Reader Comments (8)
Don't know shannon work myself. But have heard good things about him. So congrats for him landing the role. As for zod personally wish they were going with different villain for this restart for film series. But I am sure snyder/goyer/nolans can create original tale with him and not do what donner did with zod. If comics can do different take on zod and same with smallville. A new film can do it too. So can't wait to see what happens.
I'm in the same boat as 'MOVIEFAN'......Of course I'll give the film a chance, but I really would've preferred Brainiac.
I think someone like brainiac or Dark Seid could have been really cool too. But on the other hand we also have no idea what they plan to do with Zod. I've noticed Shannon is really good at picking his roles. I don't think at this point in his career, after an academy nom that he took it only for the pay chq. I'm guessing they have something very special planned and we'll all be pleasantly surprised, much like Ledger's turn as the Joker.
I would prefer some fresh villains but you take what you can get. I think Zod will be much different in this one under the care of Nolan and Snyder, so I am not worried for a rehash. Would be nice if they could bring in a serious take on Brainiac in this one and hopefully don't try to ground it too much into reality as Nolan's Batman.
I love the casting, I don't care for the use of Zod this early in the series. I see Zod as the climax to a trilogy. Not the introductory villain.
I think Darkseid should be the villain to cap of a \S/ trilogy.
I think this is a wicked move and a good villain to start it off.
1. Zod. Superman vs another Kryptonian. Fight dealing with emotion and brawn.
2. Brainiac. Superman vs an Alien. Fight dealing with vengeance (destroying Krypton) and brains.
3. Lex Luthor in his Power Suit. Superman vs a Human and his arch enemy. Fight dealing with emotion and vengeance, brains and brawn.
Very happy about this news. Shannon was great in the likes of Revolutionary Road and William Freidkin's Bug. He has a quiet intensity to his performances that remind me of a younger Willem Defoe ; He even looks like him a little bit.
This casting is a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.