MAN OF STEEL Star Michael Shannon Praises Henry Cavill's Portrayal of Superman

Next summer, Warner Bros Pictures releases their reboot of the Supermano film franchise Man of Steel from director Zack Snyder and producers Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder.

Director Zack Snyder's Man of Steel features Henry Cavill in the role of DC Comics' popular hero Superman. 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. Superman's father, Jor-El, will be portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator) alongside Ayelet Zurer as Lara Lor-Van, Superman's mother. Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

Boardwalk Empire star Michael Shannon recently offered his thoughts on how the film, now in post production, is coming together: "I've seen a little bit.. Zack [Snyder] puts a lot of time into post production on all his films because he's such a visual stylist... but the little snippet I saw was mind-blowing, and it wasn't even finished."

Shannon also praised his co-star Henry Cavill's performance as the title character, easily one the most apprehensive aspects of the upcoming film for longtime Superman fans:

"I really admire Henry's work ethic. I really haven't seen anybody in this business work quite that hard. Obviously it's a tremendous responsibility, and an intimidating one, to wear that suit. But he had the confidence and the work ethic to accomplish it.

"I always felt like I was in a scene with Superman. I never looked at him and thought that's just somebody trying to be Superman — he felt like the real deal."

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. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on June 14th, 2013.