Michael Shannon, who received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role as a mentally troubled man in ‘Revolutionary Road’ two years ago, has been cast as the villain in the upcoming Superman film. He will play General Zod opposite Henry Cavill’s Superman in ‘Superman: Man of Steel.’ Zod, like Superman, is from Krypton, where he commanded its armed forces.
The character appeared in both 1978’s Superman and its 1980 sequel Superman II, where he was played by Terence Stamp. “Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t,” said Zach Snyder, the director of the new film. “Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”
Shannon, seen more recently as a stern federal agent in HBO’s ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ joins a lineup that also includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent, the adoptive parents of Superman’s alter ego Clark Kent.
