Meet the First Jewish Superman: A Mensch in a Cape Saves the Day | WATCH
David Corenswet, a Jewish actor from Philadelphia, will star as Superman in Superman: Legacy, marking the first time a Jewish actor plays the iconic hero created by Jewish writers. The casting resonates with the character’s immigrant roots, reflecting Jewish resilience amid rising global antisemitism.
In a historic casting choice, Warner Bros. has selected David Corenswet, a 31-year-old Jewish actor from Philadelphia, to don the iconic cape as Superman in Superman: Legacy, set for release on July 11, 2025. Directed by James Gunn, this film launches a new DC Universe, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. For Jewish fans, Corenswet’s role is a homecoming for a character created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland. Superman, with his Hebrew-inspired name “Kal-El” (meaning “voice of God”) and a Moses-like origin as an alien sent from a doomed planet to champion justice, embodies the Jewish immigrant experience. In early comics, he battled Hitler and Stalin, reflecting his creators’ hopes for a protector against tyranny amid rising antisemitism.
Corenswet, whose father, John, hails from a Jewish family in New Orleans and was a stage actor before becoming a lawyer, brings a personal connection to the role. His maternal grandfather, Edward Packard, created the Choose Your Own Adventure series, embedding storytelling in his lineage. A Juilliard-trained actor, Corenswet’s earnest gravitas suits a hero who saves the world while embodying compassion. Previous Supermen, Christopher Reeve, Henry Cavill, Brandon Routh, were non-Jewish, making Corenswet’s casting a milestone. As one X user put it, “Finally, a Superman who might know what a brisket is!” Though Corenswet hasn’t publicly discussed his religious practices, his heritage resonates deeply at a time when global antisemitism, including synagogue attacks like the 2019 Poway shooting, has surged.
Superman’s narrative, an outsider fighting for “truth, justice, and the American way”, mirrors Jewish resilience, especially post-October 7, 2023, when Hamas’s attack killed 1,200 Israelis. While Corenswet’s Superman may not light a menorah in the Fortress of Solitude, his casting restores the character’s cultural roots, blending strength with the mensch-like warmth Siegel and Shuster envisioned. Fans eagerly await a hero who might, just maybe, call his bubbie before flying off to save the day.