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When we were first introduced to Brandon Routh as Superman via the publicity still posted below, it showed him standing there stoically, hands on the hips, looking off into the distance.  What followed was SUPERMAN RETURNS, a movie that still sits good with me as a continuation of the Richard Donner films of the 70’s and 80’s, but lacked one important key element:  tons of action and someone for Superman to go toe-to-toe with.

Today, Warner Brothers, via the press release shown below, released the first image of Henry Cavill dressed as the titular character for 2013’s MAN OF STEEL.  In this image, we don’t get a calm, serene Superman, but an image of him in the midst of what looks like a battle of some sorts.  Zack Snyder gets the fans.  He really does.  He knows that what people want is a good Superman film with the big man engaged in some awe-inspiring, god-like battles so this first image is a perfect teaser image for what is to come, in my opinion.

The suit seems to have answered a lot of the gripes about the previous version by enlarging the chest emblem and giving the neckline the straight across treatment that has been used in the comics for so long as well as the Christopher Reeve suit from the previous films.  Try and try as I may, I still can’t tell if he will be supporting his underwear on the outside of the costume or not, as this image does not allow us a good view of that.  In addition, there is no way to tell if they have included the “S” logo on the cape in this version which was left out of the 2006 version.  Another interesting bit that is easily looked over upon first viewing is what exactly is that running down the side of his right leg?  Check out the image below and let us know what you think of the new costume in the comments below.

Click on image to make it really, really big

Here is the Warner Brothers Press Release:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have provided the first look at the new “Man of Steel,” revealing star Henry Cavill as Superman in the film from director Zack Snyder.

The film also stars three-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams (“The Fighter”) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White.  Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane (“Unfaithful”) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”).

Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”), and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue.  Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Julia Ormond, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”).

Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

“Man of Steel” is being produced by Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder.  The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer, from a story by Goyer and Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics.  Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

MAN OF STEEL is scheduled for release on June 14, 2013

Editor’s note: This press release from Warner Brothers is also the first official confirmation of both Antje Traue playing “Faora”, and the first mention of Christopher Meloni’s character, which we now know is “Colonel Hardy” – as of this writing, both are still listed as “rumored” in the cast list on IMDB. – Mark Walters

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