Paul Walker was on the verge of playing Superman in a DC blockbuster from Star Wars director J.J. Abrams. But the Fast & Furious star wasn’t up for it at all
What would Superman have looked like if Fast & Furious star Paul Walker had played the legendary role? It almost happened, because the actor was reportedly the favorite to play the superhero in a project by Lost creator and Star Wars director J.J. Abrams. Walker turned down a deal worth millions, however, because he didn’t care about all the money.
Paul Walker is said to have turned down Superman role in no uncertain terms – and 10 million dollars
In the documentary I Am Paul Walker (via Comic Book Movie ), Walker’s former manager Matt Luber and his stunt double Oakley Lehman talk about how the Fast & Furious star was reportedly the favorite for the Superman role in the never-realized J.J. Abrams project Superman: Flyby.
Luber knew that Walker didn’t want to do three or four Superman films or be reduced to the role for the rest of his life. He remembers the star’s clear rejection of the alleged 10 million deal:
‘I’ve got an ‘S’ on, I’m wearing a cape, boots, tights … this is not me. I’ve got to get the fuck out of here. I have to go. F–k you.’ And he was gone.
(Paul Walker’s last Fast & Furious appearance in Part 7)
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Walker spoke in an interview back in 2003 about how all the money from the potential Superman deal would mean nothing to him:
Yeah, I could have made a gazillion dollars from that franchise. I probably could have bought my own fleet of jets or my own island. You know what? I don’t need it.
My favorite brand of running shoes is $23. I rarely pay more than 40 dollars for my jeans. Add to that a t-shirt and it costs me $20 or $10 if I buy it at the beach. I don’t need tons of dollars to live this lifestyle.
For Superman: Flyby, J.J. Abrams wanted to deviate from some of the hallmarks of DC mythology. After a first draft of the script landed online, a large fan movement campaigned for the project. However, aside from test shoots in which Paul Walker apparently emerged as the favorite, Superman: Flyby never got off the ground. In 2002, the film was finally scrapped
What’s next for Superman after Henry Cavill?
Following the DC departure of Henry Cavill as Superman, David Corenswet (The Politician, Hollywood) will play the Man of Steel in James Gunn’s upcoming blockbuster Superman: Legacy. The film is scheduled for release on July 10, 2025
