# What \*black\* actor would you cast as...Superman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514 "2014-04-19T23:02:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/21 "2014-04-20T01:35:32Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Dwayne Johnson Yes, with Morgan Freeman as his dad. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/22 "2014-04-20T02:57:40Z")
Ernie Hudson, _Ghostbusters_ era. “Everyman” enough to pull off Clark Kent, with the physique and “damn-right-this-goofy-bullshit-is-serious” attitude to fight off comic book villainy on a regular basis. Hell, I’d take him _now_, if you wanted to do some kind of _Dark Knight Strikes Again_-esque hard-nosed alternate universe arc. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/23 "2014-04-20T03:22:01Z")
I refuse to allow the thread to go any further without nominating Sidney Poitier. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/24 "2014-04-20T03:39:20Z")
Idris Elba was the first person that sprang to mind for me too. Excellent actor, can play ordinary humble-beginnings guy well (in Luther, he also had humble currentings) and muscular enough. Also handsome. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/25 "2014-04-20T03:43:15Z")
Jaleel White has got the Clark Kent part nailed. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/26 "2014-04-20T03:59:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Shemar Moore. Tyson Beckford. Pretty Motherfucka! -Wesley Snipes as Lex Luthor ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/27 "2014-04-20T04:03:50Z")
Avon Barksdale/[Wood Harris](http://content9.flixster.com/photo/11/33/99/11339915_ori.jpg), perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/28 "2014-04-20T04:18:23Z")
Djimon Hounsou, maybe? I’m not really a Superman expert, so my opinion is based solely on his awesomeness in _Gladiator_ and the fact that he looks like [this](http://www.underwearexpert.com/2013/04/hottest-djimon-hounsou-calvin-klein-pics/). I’m a straight dude, but, I mean, wow. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/29 "2014-04-20T04:23:15Z")
Easy. [Chadwick Boseman](https://www.google.com/search?q=Chadwick+Boseman&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=h0tTU6SjBqb70gW92IDoCw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1360&bih=681). Good looks, tall and strong, right age and classically trained talent in spades. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/30 "2014-04-20T04:25:22Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I refuse to allow the thread to go any further without nominating Sidney Poitier. “They call me **Mister** Kent”? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/31 "2014-04-20T05:00:19Z")
Don Cheadle was pretty good as [Captain Planet](http://http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5876f2aced/don-cheadle-is-captain-planet). ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/32 "2014-04-20T06:32:05Z")
[Michael B. Jordan](http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Michael-B-Jordan-Addresses-Controversy-Over-Fantastic-Four-Casting-41989.html) is already cast for a superhero role (the Human Torch). Dunno if [Donald Glover](http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/Donald_Glover)could play Supes, but he’d be a great Clark Kent. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/33 "2014-04-20T07:56:49Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Don Cheadle was pretty good as [Captain Planet](http://http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5876f2aced/don-cheadle-is-captain-planet). I never watched Captain Planet, but I came in to say that Don Cheadle can do pretty much anything. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/34 "2014-04-20T08:42:15Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > As I said in the other thread, I think Michael Ealy could do it. Watching him in Almost Human, I think he could do the ‘whimsey’ of Clark Kent, and still carry the gravitas of Superman. Nice pick. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/35 "2014-04-20T08:46:31Z")
You guys know Shaquille O’Neal already put out a superman movie? ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/36 "2014-04-20T08:58:48Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Easy. [Chadwick Boseman](https://www.google.com/search?q=Chadwick+Boseman&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=h0tTU6SjBqb70gW92IDoCw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1360&bih=681). Good looks, tall and strong, right age and classically trained talent in spades. The very first person I’d be calling today to be John Stewart/Cyborg/Aquaman/whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Roundabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dec6dc/32.png) [@Roundabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roundabout)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/37 "2014-04-20T11:38:45Z")
Perhaps in his younger years and muscled up a bit, but **Isaiah Washington** would’ve been a good Superman. He can play both reserved and confident characters very well (Clockers, Grey’s Anatomy), and comes off as an all around likable guy. Definitely my pick. [http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/04/gcelebrities/Isaiah\_Washington-2.jpg](http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/04/gcelebrities/Isaiah_Washington-2.jpg) [http://www.newsrevealer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/isaiah.jpg](http://www.newsrevealer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/isaiah.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/38 "2014-04-20T13:11:29Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I refuse to allow the thread to go any further without nominating Sidney Poitier. “They call me MISTER Kent!” ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/39 "2014-04-20T13:32:41Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > “They call me MISTER Kent!” No, he didn’t SHOUT it, he said it **forcefully.** ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514/40 "2014-04-20T13:38:51Z")
Cleavon Little. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-black-actor-would-you-cast-as-superman/686514.md?page=3)