Did you know that Clint Eastwood was in the running to play Superman? No, not the last movie, silly - - the 70s classic that ultimately starred a then-unknown Christopher Reeve. The man known for playing Dirty Harry (a superhero of different stripe) reflected on the unrealized role while talking to the LA Times recently. The discussion was spurred by the fact that most, if not all, leading men these days are playing superheroes and villains - - and Eastwood’s never been interested in such parts, himself. He’s always preferred to play heroes who’re a bit more down-to-Earth, even if they’re doing larger-than-life things.
But don’t count the guy out as totally "anti-cape." Babs will be pleased to know that the favorite superhero of the “Man with No Name” was…
…Namor, the Sub-Mariner!
Definitely wouldn’t have called that. In the interview, he also mentions that he was considered as the initial replacement for James Bond. After Sean Connery vacated the role, the Brocoli family was coming after him pretty aggressively but, once again, he passed on it because he figured it wasn’t his thing. I also remember a rumor about how he was supposed to play Two-Face in the 60s BATMAN show, but never got to after the show was cancelled.
It’s fun to imagine an alternate reality - - a pocket universe, as it were - - where Eastwood actually got to play Supes. We’ll call it Earth Clint (it’s the same world Mark Millar’s magazine came from.) Actually, my old DeviantArt acquaintance Sean Hartter put together a whole series of posters visualizing what modern superhero flicks would’ve looked like if they were made in the 60s and 70s. I’m talking about titles like WOLVERINE, DAREDEVIL and IRON FIST starring the likes of Bruce Lee, William Shatner and Steve McQueen. The thing captured enough web surfers’ imagination a while back that it actually became a certifiable viral meme. Go on and check it out for a look at what might have been.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here.
