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James Gunn’s Superman is making waves not only for its central performances but also for the unexpected and emotional appearance of Bradley Cooper as Jor-El. While David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan’s chemistry has captivated audiences, Cooper’s brief role as Superman’s Kryptonian father added a surprising emotional depth to the film’s opening moments. His portrayal carries the gravitas and wisdom the character demands, serving as a poignant anchor in Kal-El’s journey from Krypton to Earth.
The surprise casting harkens back to Marlon Brando’s legendary portrayal of Jor-El in Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman, and Gunn has made it clear that this was intentional. In a recent conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn explained that he needed someone with “the stature of what we imagine that character to be.” With Brando in mind, he turned to Cooper—an actor he deeply trusts and has collaborated with multiple times. Their creative relationship, built through the Guardians of the Galaxy films where Cooper voiced Rocket Raccoon, laid the groundwork for this powerful cameo.
Gunn shared that asking Cooper to play Jor-El wasn’t a typical casting conversation. In his words: “Hey, will you do me a favor? Come down, go to England, we’re going to shoot you in a 3D environment, make a hologram of you, and you can play Jor-El.” The result is a performance that honors the character’s legacy while adding a quiet humanity to the beginning of Superman’s story.
Appearing only briefly in the early scenes, Cooper’s Jor-El imparts the moral foundation and emotional weight Kal-El will carry throughout the film. His holographic message—delivered with calm authority and restrained emotion—becomes a guiding force for Superman amid mounting chaos.
As for the story itself, Superman explores Clark Kent’s dual identity struggles, with mounting scrutiny from the public and media. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, portrayed as a tech-savvy billionaire, sees a chance to bring the Man of Steel down once and for all. With political tension, personal doubt, and powerful enemies converging, the film manages to balance large-scale action with intimate character arcs—something that’s becoming a signature of Gunn’s storytelling.
Now running in theaters, Superman has successfully launched a new era for the iconic hero. And for many fans, Bradley Cooper’s quietly powerful cameo will stand out as one of the film’s most unexpected and moving moments.