Exclusive: WB’s Black Superman Won’t Be Clark Kent Or Calvin Ellis
DC's Black Superman will be a brand new character.
This article is more than 2 years old
A Black Superman movie is headed our way. When the reboot was announced and it was revealed that the iconic hero would be Black, many fans immediately assumed that the new on-screen Superman would be Calvin Ellis, the Earth-23 version of the character. Even Michael B. Jordan had expressed interest in playing this version of the Last Son of Krypton. Everyone has continued to assume that the new reboot would focus on Calvin Ellis, but Giant Freakin Robot has obtained some exclusive information that illuminates exactly what is going on with this new Black Superman.
According to our trusted inside source – the same one that has provided Giant Freakin Robot with multiple confirmed exclusive scoops that have included Bruce Campbell appearing for a cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Monica Rambeau being a main character in the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion, and Chloe Bennet returning as Quake for a new Marvel series – this new Black Superman will be exactly that: a brand new character that is not based on any specific character from the comics continuity. It sounds like writer Ta-Nehisi Coates will be crafting a totally new character to take on the mantle of the Man of Steel.
This might be disappointing for fans who were excited to see Calvin Ellis make his debut in the feature film arena, but it honestly sounds like a great idea to make the first Black Superman in a major motion picture a totally new creation. The usual origins that we have gotten about Superman have been done to death. Just how much of that will be carried over to this version remains to be seen, but the idea that Ta-Nehisi Coates will have a relatively blank slate to do whatever he wants with the character is legitimately thrilling. It’s the first time we could see a true reinvention of a prominent superhero in the realm of popular cinema.
And if Michael B. Jordan is still the main contender for the role of this new Black Superman, it could be possible for him or whatever actor takes the role to help shape this new version as something truly distinct. The opportunity to build a brand new version of the character is something very few artists are given, especially in such a massive forum like a rebooted blockbuster film. The chance to do something utterly unique with only the basic framework of the Superman character is the kind of creative exercise that could lead to something we have never really seen before.
In comics, fans usually respond to creators who get free rein with a familiar character. We don’t usually see that kind of freedom in major film productions, but after DC found success doing just that with Joker, it sounds like they want to try the same tactic with this new Black Superman. It is a riveting chance for us to get a take on Superman that will be truly new. We really can’t wait to see what the filmmakers have in store for us.
