Russell Crowe cast as Superman's father

(AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck)

The role that Marlon Brando portrayed in the late Christopher Reeves version of Superman in 1978 will be filled by Russell Crowe in the new adaptation of the DC Comics superhero, reports Variety.

Crowe has been cast by director Zack Snyder ( Sucker Punch, Watchmen, 300) as Jor-El, Superman's biological father from Krypton in Man of Steel, and produced by Christopher Nolan ( Inception).

The film stars Henry Cavill ( Stardust) as Clark Kent/Superman aka Kal-El, Amy Adams ( The Fighter) as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner (Waterworld) as Kent's human father and Diane Lane ( Secretariat) as his mother on planet Earth. Michael Shannon ( Revolutionary Road) plays Superman's nemesis Zod.

Crowe starred as Robin Hood in Ridley Scott's 2010 film and in the thriller The Next Three Days from Paul Haggis. Next he appears in The Man with the Iron Fists directed by Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA aka Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, who has contributed to the soundtracks of films such as Knocked Up and Repo Men. He also appears in the film.

Starring Jamie Chung ( Sucker Punch, The Hangover Part II) and Lucy Liu ( Kung Fu Panda 2), the story, set in feudal China, follows a blacksmith who makes weapons for a village in which he must defend himself and his fellow villagers.

Production for Man of Steel begins in July in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and the film is out in theaters in December 2012.

RC