David Corenswet Mistook Superman Audition for Top Gun 3

David Corenswet’s journey to donning the iconic cape was anything but straightforward. When the call came through inviting him to audition for the role, he was in the middle of a rather mundane task—perched on a ladder, changing a lightbulb. The suggestion from his agent that he might know what the call was about left him guessing.

“Is it Top Gun 3? What am I waiting for?”

he recalled saying to Jonathan Bailey during their conversation for Variety’s actors on actors series. Corenswet admitted,

“I really was not expecting it, although I think other people thought that I should be expecting it. Just statistically speaking, it feels completely impossible.”

At the time, Corenswet was hardly a household name. His credits included supporting roles in projects like Ti West’s horror prequel Pearl and Ryan Murphy’s The Politician. Meanwhile, speculation among DC enthusiasts had already placed the likes of Nicholas Hoult and Jacob Elordi as frontrunners for the part. Many were still holding out hope for Henry Cavill’s return, reluctant to bid farewell to the previous Man of Steel.

From Outsider to Leading Man

Despite the initial scepticism, Corenswet managed to win over the majority of the DC fanbase. The film’s impressive box office performance, with takings surpassing $616 million globally, silenced many doubters. The sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is already in the works, and early glimpses suggest an intriguing alliance between Corenswet’s hero and Hoult’s Lex Luthor as they face off against Braniac.

Corenswet’s casting, which once seemed improbable even to himself, has now become central to the franchise’s future. His understated approach and willingness to embrace the unexpected have resonated with audiences, marking a new chapter for the character.

Behind the Scenes: Humour and Humility

The remainder of the interview saw Corenswet and Bailey reflecting on their shared backgrounds in theatre, their experiences with flying, and the elusive nature of being considered ‘cool’. Corenswet was candid about his own self-perception, sharing a moment with director James Gunn.

“If you wanted somebody cool, you should have hired somebody else,”

he recounted telling Gunn, to which the director replied,

“Oh, believe me. I know.”

With Man of Tomorrow set for release on 9 July 2027, anticipation is building for the next instalment in the DC universe. For those keen to keep track of the unfolding saga, guides are available to help viewers navigate the sequence of DC’s much-talked-about films and series.