David Corenswet says Philly theater roots prepared him for his 'Superman' role

Local Theater Roots Give Philly Actor the Edge for 'Superman'

David Corenswet, 32, the newest face of Superman, credits his upbringing in Philadelphia's theater scene with preparing him for the role. As a graduate of Shipley School in Bryn Mawr and performer at the Upper Darby Summer Stage, Corenswet developed an acting style influenced by the immediacy of live theater.

Growing up watching rehearsals and performances sparked his passion for acting when he played the lead in a local production of 'All My Sons' over two decades ago. For Corenswet, the intense, in-person experience of live theater was intoxicating as a 9-year-old kid, setting him on the path to becoming an actor.

Corenswet's theatrical training taught him valuable lessons that carried over into his time filming 'Superman.' Rehearsing long dialogues with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane reminded him of theater scenes, and he felt at home in the role. In fact, the intense preparation helped him break free from traditional Hollywood superstitions, such as saying "Macbeth" on stage to avoid bad luck.

During an interview with 'Wicked: For Good' star Jonathan Bailey as part of Variety's Actors on Actors series, Corenswet discussed the commercial success of 'Superman,' which raked in over $350 million domestically and $500 million globally. The actor also opened up about his passion for scientific curiosity, which led to a viral video showcasing him intensely discussing the intricacies of scenes with director James Gunn.

The Philly native expressed a desire to be more involved in filmmaking by writing or directing, hinting at a future behind-the-scenes role alongside his acting career. When asked about 'Wicked: For Good,' Corenswet praised the production as "fantastic" and bonded with Bailey over filming kissing scenes while levitating.

In a lighthearted closing, the two actors jokingly agreed to check in on each other in 10 years before sharing a playful kiss goodbye.

omg u think its weird that david corenswet is like super into sciency stuff? i mean, he's not just talking about scientific jargon for the sake of it, he actually knows what he's saying! and can we talk about how cool it is that he broke free from those traditional hollywood superstitions? like, who says you gotta say "macbeth" on stage to avoid bad luck?

Ugh I'm literally so done with all these superhero movies but at the same time David Corenswet is kinda my spirit animal he's like the real deal you know? I mean his Philly roots and theater background just make him more relatable to me, plus that video of him geeking out over Superman scenes is EVERYTHING. And can we talk about how he broke free from those Hollywood superstitions? Like, "Macbeth" this and bad luck that, no thanks! I'm so down for him to try his hand at writing or directing too, maybe we'll finally get a movie that's not just all special effects and drama. But for now, let's just enjoy the fact that Superman is back and David Corenswet is rocking it

omg i'm literally shook by david corenswet's casting as superman!!! i mean have u seen his interview w/ jonathan bailey? he's so adorable! and can we talk about how passionate he is about scientific curiosity?! i love it when ppl are unapologetically themselves, and corenswet seems like that guy! btw, i'm still trying to get over the fact that he performed in shipley school 20 yrs ago... like, what's his age again? 32? wow, time flies!!!

I think its cool how Philly theater scene helped Corenswet land the Superman role . Like, his experience growing up watching live performances and being part of productions like 'All My Sons' must've really prepared him for this big-screen gig. Its awesome that he carried over those theater skills to filming scenes with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and I'm glad he broke free from old Hollywood superstitions . Idk about him wanting to get into filmmaking behind the scenes tho, thats a wild card . Can't wait to see what he does next!

You know what's wild? This Superman guy, David Corenswet, is crediting his Philly theater roots for landing this huge role ... and it makes total sense. Live theater is all about immediacy and connection with the audience – I think that's something we're really lacking in our online world right now . We need more of that raw, in-the-moment energy to feel truly alive. And it's cool that he's carrying that passion into his acting career. But what struck me was how his theatrical training helped him break free from traditional Hollywood norms ... like saying 'Macbeth' on stage to avoid bad luck! It just goes to show how much more we need a bit of that old-school, human connection in our industry.

And have you seen those viral videos of David geeking out over scientific details? it's adorable. I think it shows us that actors aren't always just 'on' when the cameras are rolling – they're still people with passions and interests outside of their craft. And isn't that something we should be celebrating, not hiding?

I'm lovin' how they structured this article, it's all about the actor's background and how it helped him land the Superman role . The use of short paragraphs and bullet points is super helpful for keeping the reader engaged. I wish more articles would do that! They should also work on making the headings more descriptive, like "The Power of Live Theater" instead of just "Corenswet's Background". It makes a big difference in understanding what to expect from the article.

I'm not entirely convinced this Philly theater background is giving David Corenswet an edge for Superman . I mean, sure, it's cool that he has experience with live performances and rehearsing dialogue, but $350 million and $500 million are some pretty big numbers . Has his training really prepared him to handle the nuances of a global blockbuster? Or is this just Hollywood PR looking to spin a feel-good story about an actor's humble beginnings ? I'd love to see more info on how his theater background directly influenced his performance in Superman, like specific scenes or quotes from interviews. Sources, please!

I'm telling ya, back in my day we didn't need all these fancy filmmaking techniques and whatnot to bring out the best in an actor... I mean, David Corenswet's got some serious stage cred under his belt and it shows in his performance as Superman ! You can just tell he's been doing this for a long time and has a deep understanding of how to connect with his audience. And let me tell you, that Philly theater scene did him a world of good - I'm not surprised he's got some great stories to share from back in the day !

I mean, can't say I didn't see this coming - Philly theater roots, check! Passionate about live theater since he was 9, tick. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to channel their inner thespian after watching rehearsals? It's like they always say... or not. Anyway, Corenswet seems like a down-to-earth guy, and it's cool that he's open about wanting to get involved in filmmaking. Maybe we'll see him behind the scenes soon . Not sure what's more impressive - his acting skills or how many times he can say "Macbeth" without getting a cringe

I think Philly's theater scene is giving Corenswet an unfair advantage . Like, how many people have they had him rehearse for hours with Rachel Brosnahan? It's all about the hype now . What if some other actor just spent 2 decades working on their craft and ended up playing Superman too? The internet would be losing its mind .

I'm so stoked for Philly's own David Corenswet ! Growing up in our city's theater scene really helped him develop an acting style that's all about connection and immediacy, you know? It's no surprise he nailed the role of Superman - the kid's got heart and a strong work ethic . And I love how he's not afraid to get weird or try new things on set... who needs superstitions when you're having this much fun . It's awesome to see our local talent killing it in Hollywood, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for Corenswet - maybe we'll even get a Philly-set movie next?

OMG u guys Superman has been cast by this talented Philly actor David Corenswet he's literally from Philly theater scene and it's like his roots are speaking straight to the superhero vibes ! The way he talks about live theater being his 'onstage passion' is giving me all the feels I need a new show in my life ASAP . And can we talk about this guy's scientific curiosity? I'm low-key obsessed with that viral vid of him dissecting scenes like it's quantum physics . Now if only he wrote or directed next

I think its awesome how Philly's theater scene helped shape David Corenswet into an actor who's not afraid to take risks . Being part of those live performances when he was just 9, must've been super inspiring for him. And I love that he broke free from those old Hollywood superstitions – its like he found his own way to make the magic happen on screen . Its great to see someone using their passion to fuel more than just acting, maybe even filmmaking or directing in the future? Who knows, maybe one day we'll see a Philly-made Superman film

I'm loving this, Superman's new lead actor is definitely bringing some serious cred to that cape . I mean think about it, Philly theater roots are basically acting boot camp - intense rehearsals and performances from a young age = instant stage presence . And Corenswet's got the 'it' factor with his scientific curiosity on full display in those viral vids . The guy's clearly passionate not just about Superman, but about filmmaking too... it'd be amazing to see him take on a writing or directing role someday ! He's definitely breaking away from traditional Hollywood superstitions and I'm here for that . Plus, his chemistry with co-stars like Rachel Brosnahan and Jonathan Bailey is undeniable - he's got some serious acting chops under his belt .

I'm so stoked for David Corenswet ! Being part of Philly's theater scene as a kid must've really prepared him for this Superman role. I mean, who wouldn't be drawn to live theater? The energy, the improvisation... it's like a whole different world. And that he was able to bring some of those theater vibes to his film work is just awesome . Plus, can we talk about how cool it is that he's breaking Hollywood superstitions? Like, no more saying "Macbeth" on stage! That's some serious growth right there.

And I love that he's not afraid to be himself and share his passions with the world. Scientific curiosity, anyone? He's got a great vibe going on and I'm excited to see what he does next in the film industry... maybe even writing or directing?! That would be amazing .