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Superman (franchise)

Portrayals of Superman outside of comic books From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Superman (franchise)

The American comic book character Superman, created in 1938, has appeared in many types of media since the 1940s. Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.

Quick Facts Adaptations of Superman in other media, Created by ...
Adaptations of Superman in other media
Official logo
Created by
Original sourceComics published by DC Comics
First appearanceAction Comics #1 (April 1938)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television
show(s)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (1966)
Audio presentations
Radio show(s)
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Portrayals

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Among the actors who have played Superman / Superboy (and/or his alter ego, Clark Kent) are:

Portrayed by

Voice only

Radio and audio

  • Superman appears in The Adventures of Superman (1940), voiced by Bud Collyer.
  • Superman appears in The Adventures of Superman (1966), voiced by Bob Holiday.
  • Superman appears in several vinyl albums released by Peter Pan Records during the 1970s and 1980s.
  • Superman appears in the BBC radio adaptation of Superman Lives!, voiced by Stuart Milligan.
  • Superman appears in the audio drama DC Comics Super Heroes – Attack of the Elementals, voiced by David Waterman.
  • Superman appears in the audio drama The Never-Ending Battle, voiced by James Konicek.[citation needed]

Film

Main article: Superman in film

Animated film

Live-action film

Canceled Superman live-action films

Television

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Live-action

Untitled Superman series

In July 2021, it was reported that Michael B. Jordan is developing, producing and starring as Val-Zod in a limited series for HBO Max.[20][21]

Animated television

Canceled Superman animated series

  • In June 2006, during an interview about Superman: Brainiac Attacks, writer Duane Capizzi mentioned a Superman series set in the same universe of The Batman, a possibility supported by Superman's revealed existence during the show's fifth season.[29] Despite this, the expansion was never realized, and Capizzi never again mentioned the spin-off.
  • At one point, an untitled Superman animated project was in conceptual stage, with designs by James Tucker.[30]
  • There were plans to make an animated series featuring Superman and Batman. It would have been an origin story.[31]
  • Animator Genndy Tartakovsky was developing a Superman short for DC Nation back in 2013, but the block's cancellation in the following year resulted in this animated project getting cut. Early design work on the short was completed.[30]
  • In May 2018, Vinton Heuck and Sean Galloway pitched a Superman Family animated series to Warner Bros. Animation, who rejected it in favor of Harley Quinn. The characters would have included Kong Kenan, Jon Kent, Damian Wayne, Mister Mxyzptlk, and Natasha Irons/Steel, among others.[30][32]

Video games

Main article: List of Superman video games

Theatre and live performances

Literature and printed media

Newspaper

Main article: Superman (comic strip)

Superman was a daily newspaper comic strip which began on January 16, 1939, and a separate Sunday strip was added on November 5, 1939. These strips ran continuously until May 1966. In 1941, the McClure Syndicate had placed the strip in hundreds of newspapers. At its peak, the strip, featuring Superman, was in over 300 daily newspapers and 90 Sunday papers, with a readership of over 20 million.

Attractions and theme park rides

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Superman Escape at Warner Bros. Movie World

Art

Parodies

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Superman depicted as stricken by AIDS, in an awareness campaign
  • The cartoon Underdog in which Shoeshine Boy becomes "Underdog" with the help of an energy pill.
  • The cartoon series Groovy Goolies featured dimwitted Frankie as "Super Ghoul".
  • Walt Disney's Goofy did a parody of Superman with the help of "super goobers" {Peanuts} in which Goofy became "Super Goof" clothed in red underwear with "SG" and a blue cape and endowed with super ears, super sight, super strength, super voice and super flying. Goofy's crime fighting always interrupted his date with Clarabelle Cow.[38]
  • Warner Brothers' Daffy Duck did a parody of Superman as Stupor Duck.
  • The 2019 superhero horror film Brightburn is a dark deconstruction of the Superman character.
  • Superman's image was used in an AIDS awareness campaign by French organization AIDES. Superman was depicted as emaciated and breathing from an oxygen tank, demonstrating that no-one is beyond the reach of the disease, and it can destroy the lives of everyone.[39]

Merchandising

  • Sunnyland Refining Co., in 1981, marketed jars of creamy and crunchy peanut butter using the familiar image of Superman. In the 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great, it was noted that this was DC's first licensing deal for a brand of food. Soon he had his own hot cocoa mix in 1983.[40]
  • A Superman pinball machine was produced by Atari in 1979.[41]
  • Superman is part of the DC Deckbuilding Game by Cryptozoic Entertainment.

Recurring live-action cast

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Many live-action actors have made appearances across multiple works in the franchise. V indicates a voice-only role.

More information Actor, Serial films (1948, 1950) ...
Actor Serial films
(1948, 1950)		 Superman and the Mole Men
(1951)		 The Adventures of Superman
(1952–1958)		 Salkind series
(1978–1987)		 Superboy
(1988–1992)		 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
(1993–1997)		 DC Animated Universe
(1996–2019)		 Smallville
(2001–2011)		 Superman Returns
(2006)		 DC Universe Animated Original Movies
(2007–)		 DC Extended Universe
(2013–2023)		 Arrowverse
(2012–2023)		 DC Super Hero Girls
(2016)		 Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
(2018)		 Krypton
(2019–2020)		 Superman & Lois
(2021–2024)
Kirk Alyn Superman Sam Lane
Noel Neill Lois Lane Lois Lane Ella Lane Alexis Gertrude Vanderworth
Pierre Watkin Perry White Various
Herbert Rawlinson Graham Rozan
George Reeves Superman Superman (likeness)
Phyllis Coates Lois Lane Ella Lane
Jack Larson Jimmy Olsen Lou Lamont Bo the bartender
Marlon Brando Jor-El Jor-El
Christopher Reeve Superman Dr. Virgil Swann Superman (likeness)
Margot Kidder Lois Lane Bridgette Crosby
Marc McClure Jimmy Olsen Dax-Ur Officer Ben Sadowsky
Officer Jerry
Terrence Stamp General Zod Jor-ElV
Sarah Douglas Ursa MalaV Jinda Kol Rozz
Annette O'Toole Lana Lang Martha Kent
Helen Slater Supergirl Talia al GhulV Lara-El Supergirl (likeness) Eliza Danvers Martha KentV
Jon Cryer Lenny Luthor Lex Luthor
Gilbert Gottfried Nick Knack Mister MxyzptlkV
Sherman Howard Lex Luthor
Warren Eckworth		 SteppenwolfV
PreserverV
Derek PowersV
Kevin Conroy BatmanV BatmanV Batman (Earth-99) BatmanV
Mark Hamill JokerV
TricksterV		 JokerV Trickster
Adam West Jerry Retchen Gray GhostV BatmanV Batman (likeness)
Dean Cain Superman Dr. Curtis Knox Jeremiah Danvers Jonathan KentV
Teri Hatcher Lois Lane Ella Lane Rhea
David Warner Jor-El Ra's al GhulV
Michael McKean Dr. Fabian Leek Perry White
Cress Williams Baron Sunday John Henry IronsV Black Lightning
Clancy Brown Lex LuthorV Lex LuthorV General Wade Eiling
Matt Ryan John ConstantineV John Constantine
Michael Ironside DarkseidV Sam Lane Lewis Snart
Michael Rosenbaum Wally WestV
Lex LuthorV
VariousV		 Lex Luthor Barry AllenV
SethV
Joe Morton Steven Hamilton Silas Stone
Carl Lumbly J'onn J'onzzV M'yrnn J'onzz
Phil Lamarr John StewartV John StewartV Malefic J'onzz
JK Simmons General Wade EilingV Commissioner Gordon
Tom Welling Clark Kent Clark Kent
Erica Durance Lois Lane Lois Lane
Alura Zor-El
Noel Neill
James Marsters Brainiac Lex LuthorV
Laura Vandervoort Supergirl Brainiac 8
Amy Adams Jodi Melville Lois Lane
Peyton List Lucy Lane Golden Glider
Lynda Carter Moira Sullivan Asteria Olivia Marsdin
Sam Witwer Doomsday Benjamin Lockwood
Brandon Routh Superman Ray Palmer
Superman
David Ramsey John Diggle John Diggle
Jenna Dewan Lucy Lane Lucy Lane
Tyler Hoechlin Superman Superman
Ezra Miller The Flash
Elizabeth Tulloch Lois Lane Lois Lane
Staz Nair William Dey Doomsday
Nicolas Cage Superman SupermanV
Tom Cavanagh Harrison Wells
Eobard Thawne		 Gordon Godfrey
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Notes

References

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