In the long history of Hollywood comebacks, few have felt as emotional, powerful, and universally celebrated as Brendan Fraser’s return to the spotlight. After years of professional isolation following a sexual assault by a powerful Hollywood executive, Fraser resurfaced in the late 2010s — not just working again, but reclaiming his place as one of cinema’s most beloved actors.
That comeback reached its peak in 2022 when he delivered a career-defining performance in The Whale, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Playing a morbidly obese man grappling with grief and redemption, Fraser earned the strongest reviews of his life and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, one of the most feel-good Oscar victories in recent memory.
But long before awards-season glory, Fraser almost landed one of the most iconic roles in pop culture history — Superman.
Brendan Fraser and the Superman Role That Almost Happened
Before his dramatic return, Brendan Fraser was widely recognised for heroic, action-packed roles — most notably as Rick O’Connell in The Mummy franchise. These performances cemented him as a charismatic leading man, making him a surprisingly strong contender for the ultimate superhero.
In a revealing interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Fraser confirmed that he was once seriously considered to play Superman in the mid-2000s.
The project was being developed by J. J. Abrams, who was working on a bold reboot of DC’s flagship hero.
“It Was Shakespeare in Space”: Inside the Superman Flyby Script
Fraser didn’t just audition — he tested for the role and was allowed to read the full script. What he encountered left a lasting impression.
“I loved that screenplay,” Fraser recalled.
“They locked me in an empty office on some studio lot; I signed an NDA. It was printed black on crimson paper so you couldn’t photocopy it. I mean — it was Shakespeare in space.”
Abrams’ vision, commonly referred to as Superman: Flyby (also known as Superman: Man of Steel), first emerged in 2002. Unlike previous versions, this take aimed to reimagine Superman with operatic scale, emotional tragedy, and mythological weight.
What Was Superman: Flyby About?
Abrams’ Superman story would have been radically different from earlier films:
- Kal-El faces his evil uncle, Kata-Zor
- Superman dies in a climactic battle
- He reunites with his father Jor-El in the Kryptonian afterlife
- He is resurrected and returns to stop an invading Kryptonian force
- The film ends with Superman flying back to Krypton in a spacecraft
It was ambitious, emotional, and far darker than what audiences were used to at the time.
Other Actors Considered for Superman Flyby
Brendan Fraser wasn’t alone in the running. Other major stars reportedly considered for the role included:
- Paul Walker
- Jude Law
- Josh Hartnett
Despite strong interest, the project quickly fell into development hell — a fate that has plagued many Superman reboots over the decades.
Why Brendan Fraser Never Became Superman
Over the following years, directors, writers, and executives cycled in and out. Eventually, Abrams’ version was shelved entirely. Some elements were later repurposed into Superman Returns, starring Brandon Routh.
Fraser later suggested he lost the role due to “studio politics”, a vague but familiar explanation in Hollywood history.
Interestingly, Routh’s career struggled to recover after Superman Returns, making Fraser’s near-miss look like a blessing in disguise.
Could Brendan Fraser Join the DC Universe Now?
With the DC Universe undergoing a fresh reboot under James Gunn, the future looks brighter than ever for the Man of Steel. And while Fraser may no longer fit Superman himself, his gravitas, emotional depth, and renewed popularity make him an excellent candidate for:
- A Kryptonian elder
- A tragic DC villain
- Or even a mentor-style role in the new DCU
Given his extraordinary comeback, seeing Brendan Fraser finally step into the DC universe would feel like poetic justice.
Final Thoughts
Brendan Fraser’s unrealised Superman role remains one of Hollywood’s great what-ifs. A script he describes as “Shakespeare in space,” a career derailed by forces beyond his control, and a triumphant return years later — his story mirrors the very mythic arc that Superman himself represents.
Sometimes, the roles we don’t get shape us just as much as the ones we do.
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