Will Smith Reveals the Legendary Role He Refused: “There Is No Way”

Will Smith might have been able to wear the iconic cape of Superman, but the actor says he had no interest in taking on the role. Speaking to MTV back in 2008, the Oscar winner explained that he was offered the lead in Superman Returns, the 2006 film directed by Bryan Singer, but he quickly said no.

“The last ‘Superman’ I got offered, the script came, and I was like, ‘There is no way I’m playing Superman!’” Smith recalled. “I had already done Jim West, and you can’t be messing up white people’s heroes in Hollywood! You mess up white people’s heroes in Hollywood, you’ll never work in this town again!”

Superman Returns was meant to be a direct follow-up to Superman II, ignoring the later Christopher Reeve films. Smith was one of several actors considered for Clark Kent, including future Superman Henry Cavill. The role eventually went to Brandon Routh, largely because of his strong resemblance to Reeve in his prime.

Smith’s comments about Superman’s skin tone highlight the challenges of race in Hollywood casting. Even today, the character has mostly been portrayed as white in the films, with some variations in the comics through multiverse storylines. For a 2006 movie, the idea of a Black Superman was still a very big step for a major studio.

Despite passing on the Man of Steel, Smith didn’t avoid superhero roles entirely. He starred in Hancock, a darkly comic take on the genre, and later played Deadshot in 2016’s Suicide Squad. While Suicide Squad had mixed reviews, it gave Smith another chance to play a comic book hero.

It’s interesting to think about what a Black Superman could have looked like in a big Hollywood film back then. Smith’s choice shows the reality of the industry at the time, but it also opened the door for other unique superhero projects he could lead.

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