American actor Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire, The Runaways, Revolutionary Road) has been cast as General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Superman: Man of Steel, according to Warner Bros.
"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 director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch). “Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”
In 1978, actor Terence Stamp played the character of Zod, commander of Krypton’s armed forces, and reprised the role for the sequel two years later.
Shannon will face-off against Henry Cavill, who plays Clark Kent aka Superman. Amy Adams is cast as Lois Lane, while Superman’s adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, are played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane.
Shannon is best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as the confrontational and troubled realtor’s son, John, in Revolutionary Road. He’s also achieved recognition for his role as a CIA agent in the Martin Scorsese-produced HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire set in the Prohibition era.
Superman: Man of Steel is expected in theaters December 2012. In the meantime, Michael Shannon has a few movies awaiting release, including the biopic of American poet Hart Crane The Broken Tower directed by James Franco, and action biopic Machine Gun Preacher starring Michelle Monaghan and Gerard Butler.