The new DC Universe’s Superman, David Corenswet, looks up to Christopher Reeve, who is responsible for the most iconic portrayal of the hero to date. James Gunn’s Superman movie is deeply important for the future of the franchise, and based on the positive buzz surrounding the film, it should be a hit. A lot of that is due to Corenswet’s performance as Clark Kent and Superman, with the actor doing a great job at portraying both sides of the hero in the upcoming DC movie, which has led to comparisons between him and Reeve.

Speaking to People, David Corenswet went into how he grew up with Superman actor Christopher Reeve as an inspiration. Both Clark Kent actors attended Juilliard, and according to the DCU’s Man of Steel, Reeve used to be talked about a lot during his time there, with the actor being “admired and looked up to.” Corenswet also said that he watched Reeve’s early interviews about playing Superman long before he auditioned for the role in the DCU and felt connected to the actor about his perspective “on the business and his way of talking about it.” Check out the full quote below:

“I think while I was at school, [Christopher Reeve] was somebody who we talked about quite a lot as an alumni who was sort to be admired and looked up to, and his relationship with Robin Williams, while they were at school, was very much a piece of Julliard lore that we learned about and talked about.

Long before I was auditioning for the role [of Superman], I just happened to stumble on some of the early interviews that Chris Reeve gave about playing Superman, and I probably at that time remarked on the similarity that I felt with him in sort of his perspective on the business and his way of talking about it. He was sort of wonderfully candid while still being earnest and open-hearted…”

What DCU Superman Star David Corenswet’s Christopher Reeve Comments Mean

The New Clark Kent Actor Feels Connected To Christopher Reeve

Given how both Superman actors come from Julliard, it makes sense that Corenswet would feel connected to the star. After all, they went through a few similar experiences that most actors never get to live. As one of Julliard’s most notable alumni, Christopher Reeve becoming a talking point was par for the course, and with the actor being responsible for the most popular and accurate portrayal of Superman in live-action to date, it stands to reason that Corenswet would feel connected to Reeve in some form, even if he had not attended the school.

During the same interview with People, Corenswet displays the same kind of earnest persona and charisma that Reeve was known for. The actor comments on how he is not even sure that people will be able to recognize him on the street as the new Superman after the movie releases, joking that even if he does become known worldwide, Superman can go unnoticed as Clark Kent, so maybe he can too. That playful personality is perfect for the Man of Steel.

Our Take On DCU Superman Star David Corenswet’s Christopher Reeve Comments

The Man Of Steel’s Legacy Is In Good Hands

Christopher Reeve was Superman in every sense of the word, both onscreen and offscreen. As such, I could not be happier that David Corenswet looks up to the actor. The fondness and admiration with which he speaks about Reeve is exciting. Beyond the Julliard training and the actors’ heights matching, it is easy to tell that Corenswet has picked some elements from Reeve’s portrayal of the DC hero to implement in his Superman, such as the transition from Clark to Superman. Based on David Corenswet’s new Christopher Reeve comments, Superman‘s legacy is really in the right hands.

Source: People