Sarah O'Donell
Get ready to be blown away! A never-before-seen photo has just emerged online, revealing the incredible transformation of none other than Josh Hartnett into DC’s iconic Man of Steel for a canceled Superman movie.
According to ComicBook, filmmaker Ryan Unicomb recently took to Instagram to share this jaw-dropping image of Hartnett as Clark Kent/Superman. Unicomb’s caption for the photo, which you can check out below, reads, “Brett Ratner’s SUPERMAN from JJ’s FLYBY script. Josh Hartnett woulda CRUSHED. He passed on it eventually & Matt Bomer took the top spot before the studio tossed it.”
Curious about what happened with DC’s Superman: Flyby?
Let’s take a trip back to the early 2000s when the talented J.J. Abrams penned a script for a Superman movie tentatively titled Superman: Flyby. The film was set to be directed by Brett Ratner, with the legendary Christopher Reeve serving as a project consultant.
But here’s the exciting part: Hartnett wasn’t the only actor in the running to don the red cape and become the Last Son of Krypton. As Brendan Fraser revealed to Howard Stern in February 2023, “Everyone in town was reading for Superman. Like, again, we’re testing I think six or seven guys in 2002/2003. Paul Walker, I remember Paul Walker was before me. They were like the usual suspects.”
Unfortunately, Ratner’s departure from the project in 2003 due to casting delays, budget concerns, and other issues caused a major setback. McG was brought in as his replacement but faced similar challenges and eventually left as well.
After more delays, Bryan Singer, known for his work on X-Men, took the reins of Superman: Flyby, which eventually transformed into the 2006 blockbuster Superman Returns. Meanwhile, Ratner went on to direct X-Men: The Last Stand in the same year.
As for Hartnett, who made his acting debut in 1998’s Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, he has left an indelible mark on the industry with his roles in The Faculty, Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, Sin City, Lucky Number Slevin, 30 Days of Night, and Oppenheimer. Many fans also remember him as Ethan Chandler from Showtime’s Penny Dreadful.
