“It would be a great challenge”: Superman Director Refused to Cast Mel Gibson’s Controversial $612M Lead Jim Caviezel as Man of Steel Before Actor Got Blacklisted from Hollywood

Jim Caviezel was one of Hollywood’s charming actors during the late 1990s who was involved in several projects before his days in Hollywood suddenly lost spark. However, this transition occurred after he starred as the lead in Mel Gibson’s 2004 biblical drama, The Passion of the Christ which became commercially successful yet highly controversial.

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After the project, his chances in Hollywood started to get bleak. Surprisingly enough, he was rejected by the Superman Returns director after the former expressed his interest in portraying the titular role.

Jim Caviezel Was in for Superman Returns But Director Turned Him Down 

Also Read: Despite Calling Batman V Superman a “Piece of Sh*t”, Mel Gibson Wanted to Be Part of DC Universe

Back in 2004, when the Superman Returns project was looking for a person to don the superhero outfit, Jim Caviezel, who became a renowned personality due to Mel Gibson‘s film, The Passion of the Christ showed his apparent interest in the role.

“I have had no direct, face-to-face talks with Bryan Singer. All talking has been done through mediators,” Caviezel told IESB.com. “It appeals to me a great deal, but I haven’t seen a script yet. I like to play iconic characters, and I see the role of Superman as a big responsibility. Playing Superman would be a great challenge.”

However, the film director, Bryan Singer in a different interview with Aint-It-Cool.com complimented his acting skills but refused to have him in the film.

“James Caviezel [is] a wonderful actor,” the director recently told. “But no, I’m committed to casting an unknown.”

It was clear at the time that he had no plans to bring a famous personality to the project, especially the former whose portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth hit the headlines at the time. Eventually, Brandon Routh was chosen for the titular role. As for the G.I. Jane actor, he once admitted that Gibson’s controversial project was the reason why he was made a Hollywood outcast.

Jim Caviezel’s The Passion of the Christ Led Hollywood to Shun Him

Also Read: “Violence without conscience”: Mel Gibson, Who Rejected Key Role in $2.7B MCU Franchise, Blasted Marvel Action Scenes

According to the actor, his 2004 project played a major role in ensuring that he gets shunned by Hollywood. In an audience of churchgoers in Orlando, Florida in May 2011, he claimed that choosing to work with an action hero led him to be “rejected by my own industry.”

He mentioned that just 20 minutes after the Mad Max actor offered him to play the lead role in the epic biblical drama, he called him back only to beg him to not take the role.

Caviezel shared,

“He said, ‘You’ll never work in this town again.’ I told him, ‘We all have to embrace our crosses.'”

He further mentioned why Gibson tried to talk him out regarding the role.

“He said, ‘Jesus is as controversial now as he has ever been. Not much has changed in 2,000 years.”‘

The 54-year-old actor was less bothered by that and eventually decided to stake his acting career “to speak the truth.”

Despite being surrounded by controversy, The Passion of the Christ became a commercial hit grossing over $612 million worldwide.

Source: Contact Music, Guardian