As pre-production on the first two Superman movies moved forward in 1975 and into the early months of 1976, Alexander and Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler began to consider who would star in their multimillion dollar epic. Once David and Leslie Newman and Robert Benton had completed their rewrite of the Mario Puzo drafts and the Norman Enfield rewrite, they started visualizing and naming certain actors and actresses whom they felt would best portray their characters on screen.

Of course, their biggest concern at the time was who was going to portray their lead character, Superman/Clark Kent. But at this early point in the game, everything was up in the air. Some of the suggestions were spot on, while others seemed a little bit awkward and off to a degree. So let’s see who was mentioned and whether it would have worked or not…

Marlon Brando as Jor-El

And to think Brando wanted to play Superman’s father as a bagel or a green suitcase. Once Richard Donner talked about the role with him, he totally nailed Jor-El for an entire generation.

Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor

I honestly can’t think of a better combination of humorous banter and psychological menace more than Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Superman’s longtime enemy. Both he and Brando were at the top of the list of actors sought by the Salkinds for the supporting roles, and once Brando signed on in late June to early July 1976, Hackman jumped on the bandwagon literally within a couple of days. And their above billing credits (and paydays) were well justified.

Susan Blakely as Lois Lane

She made it as far as shooting her screen test opposite Christopher Reeve in April 1977. While she was a good actress with a steady stream of film and TV credits to her name, she didn’t have that little something extra about her that would have made her a solid Lois Lane. Thank goodness for Margot Kidder.

Madeline Kahn as Miss Teschmacher

Now she certainly had the comic chops and could have pulled off the character well. Who doesn’t remember her scene stealing moment in Blazing Saddles? Haven’t seen it? Do yourself a favor and watch it! “I’m so tired…”

Art Carney as Albert

Best known as Ed Norton from the classic 1950’s comedy The Honeymooners, Carney was an early suggestion for the role of Albert, one of Lex Luthor’s henchmen. Ultimately the character was written out of the script.

Jack Weston as Otis

Weston was known as a serious actor with lots of dramatic roles in films and television during the 1960s and 1970s, and he certainly could have pulled off the physical look for Otis. But in the role of Luthor’s bumbling henchman I believe the producers wanted to go with someone who could be believably funny.

In May 1977 Variety had published a series of cast announcements, and one of them had listed Peter Boyle as Otis. He had pulled off a great comic turn in Young Frankenstein. But from what I recall reading somewhere, I forget exactly where, Boyle asked for too much money, which led to the casting of Ned Beatty in the part. Beatty not only pulled off the look, but he had that natural sense of humor that helped make his character.

Christopher Lee as General Zod

The ultimate badass who did everything in his life—and then some—as the ultimate Kryptonian badass? I’d have been all for it!

Ursula Andress as Ursa

The exotic actress who made a most memorable entrance from the waters of Jamaica in the first James Bond film Dr. No would have been an interesting choice for the role of Ursa, given that their names are quite similar, but I think she wouldn’t have been convincing enough as a villainess.

Paul Williams as Jak-El

The songwriter and actor who had written songs for Three Dog Night, Helen Reddy, the Carpenters, and The Muppet Movie had also appeared as Little Enos in the Smokey and the Bandit series was the producers’ choice for the maniacal Kryptonian villain Jak-El. We don’t know how this would have played out, as the character was later written out of the script. I just don’t think he would have been believable in such a part.

Raquel Welch as Lara

The glamorous 60s and 70s sex symbol had appeared in films such as One Million Years B.C. and Fantastic Voyage, so she had experience in science fiction films. But I just couldn’t see her as Superman’s birth mother. The character needed to be a bit more understated. Thank goodness for Susannah York.

Jason Robards as Perry White

Robards had been one of the candidates considered to portray Perry White, along with Walter Matthau, Martin Balsam, Eli Wallach, and Edward Asner, and given his work in stage, screen, and television he probably would have been a good choice. But as late as May 1977 the candidates came and went like hot potatoes, from Jack Klugman to Eddie Albert to Keenan Wynn before the part landed at the last minute, almost literally, to Jackie Cooper.

Ron Howard as Jimmy Olsen

He was and will always be Opie Howard and Richie Cunningham to generations of TV viewers. With his reddish brown hair and freckle-faced looks, he would have been an ideal candidate for the Daily Planet’s cub reporter and photographer in my opinion.

Mind you, these were the Salkinds’ initial choices for the roles. So what do you think? Would the Superman movies been as believable with these supporting actors and actresses, Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman excluded? Let’s hear your thoughts!

(Some photographs appearing in this blog are courtesy of CapedWonder.com.)