James Gunn, director of 'Superman': "I needed someone who could follow in Marlon Brando's footsteps."

The figure of Jor-El, Superman's father, has once again taken center stage in the new DC Universe film, directed by James Gunn and released on July 11. This time, the filmmaker opted for a very special cameo from the film's opening minutes, seeking to evoke the powerful performance that Marlon Brando brought to the character in 1978.

It was in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that Gunn revealed he chose an actor he'd worked with before and with whom he maintains a longstanding friendship . "I needed someone who could follow in the footsteps of Marlon Brando," explained the director, convinced that this role required a presence with symbolic weight.

The choice fell on Bradley Cooper , whom he proposed to film a sequence in a 3D environment in England, to bring the hologram of Jor-El to life. The connection between the two is not new. Cooper participated in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy as the voice of Rocket Raccoon , an experience that cemented his professional bond with Gunn.

"He's a friend, I admire him as an actor and as a director," the filmmaker acknowledged in another conversation with Jake's Takes . The film, which marks a new era in the DC cinematic universe, stars David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

The cast also includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Anthony Carrigan, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. With this cast and other unexpected cameos , James Gunn has made clear his intentions to inaugurate a strengthened and enriched superhero film industry for DC Studios.