From Soap Opera to Superman

Brandon Routh, who has starred in ABC soap opera "One Life to Live", will don an "S" on his chest in the new Superman film that is in development by Warner Brothers.
The ambitious actor, who has not seen too much time on the big screen, may definitely breakthrough with his role as the man of steel. The role has big shoes to fill since it's 1978 original starred the late Christopher Reeve.
Bryan Singer, director of both "X-men" movies and "The Usual Suspects", is set to be in the director's chair for the project that once was the responsibility of McG (director of "Charlie's Angels"). Actors like Nicolas Cage, Brendan Fraser and James Caviezel were in contention for the starring role, but in the end Singer had the final say.
"It was always my absolute intention to hire an unknown for this role," said Singer. "Brandon is an extremely fine actor who possesses the physical qualifications of Clark Kent/ Superman. But he also embodies the legacy and history of this character in a way that makes me certain he's the right choice."
In addition to soap operas, 25-year-old Routh has made appearances on "Will & Grace", "Gilmore Girls" and MTV's "Undressed".
The "Superman" project is scheduled to start production next year and is slated for release in the summer of 2006.