Brendan Fraser Reflects on His "Superman: Flyby" Audition in New Interview
Posted on November 24, 2025 by Neil Cole
Brendan Fraser is offering a more expansive look back at his experience auditioning for the lead role in "Superman: Flyby", the ambitious but ultimately unproduced Superman film developed by J.J. Abrams in the early 2000s. The actor recalled being granted rare, tightly controlled access to the screenplay - a moment that left a lasting impression due to both the secrecy surrounding the project and the exceptional quality of the material.
"Oh, I loved that screenplay. They let me read it. They locked me in an empty office in, I don't know, some studio lot. [I] signed an NDA. It was printed black, on crimson paper, so you couldn't photocopy it or sneak it out the door inconspicuously," Fraser said. "I mean, it was Shakespeare in space. It was a really good screenplay. It really was. But, yes, I was considered. I did do a screen test. I did wear the big guy's suit."
Fraser noted that despite the excitement of being in contention for one of Hollywood's most enduring roles, he ultimately sensed the timing was not right. The weight of becoming the next onscreen Superman - an image forever linked in the public imagination to the actors who have worn the cape before - was something he felt he needed to be fully prepared to shoulder.
“I don't know if I was ready to take that on then," he explained. "I mean, I felt I was, because, you know, big opportunity and excitement, et cetera, et cetera. But, I don't know. Like [Terry George] once said, 'If it's not for you, then it'll pass you by' [...] and it wasn't for me."
His reflections offer a rare glimpse into a major superhero project that stalled before reaching production - a film long discussed for its bold reinterpretation of Superman lore. Fraser's measured assessment also adds an intimate human perspective on the demands of stepping into such an iconic role at a pivotal moment in a performer's career.
As Fraser revisits earlier chapters of his filmography, audiences can also look forward to seeing him reunite with Rachel Weisz as they reprise their original roles of Rick and Evelyn O'Connell in the fourth chapter of "The Mummy" film franchise, marking a return to the adventurous roles that helped solidify both actors as household names.
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English (US) · 