Clint Eastwood Shares Which Superhero He Always Wanted To Play

Clint Eastwood has long been celebrated for his ability to portray figures who exist in the moral gray areas of justice. When he first rose to prominence, his work in films like Dirty Harry redefined the American anti-hero, presenting characters who frequently stepped outside the legal system to achieve what they believed was right.

This edge remained a constant throughout his storied career, as he gravitated toward roles featuring men burdened by their pasts or driven by a relentless need for atonement. While Eastwood is inextricably linked to the Western and gritty thriller genres, he was once surprisingly close to entering the world of capes and cowls.

During the initial development of 1978’s Superman, he was actually tapped to play the iconic Man of Steel. He famously declined the offer, recalling that while the character was for somebody, it simply wasn’t for him. The role eventually went to Christopher Reeve, but Eastwood’s refusal wasn’t due to a lack of interest in comic books.

On the contrary, the legendary actor had his heart set on a much darker figure: Namor the Sub-Mariner. Eastwood has reminisced about his childhood love for the character, stating that Namor was the one he always liked and that he owned all the comics as a kid.

The Sub-Mariner’s cutthroat fighting style and unwavering, often violent dedication to protecting his underwater kingdom perfectly mirror the rigid ethos found in Eastwood’s most famous characters. Although Namor recently made his cinematic debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eastwood has long since aged out of the possibility of playing the king of Atlantis himself.

Still, the character’s brutal brand of justice—which ignores the laws of man in favor of a personal code—fits the actor’s cold-hearted delivery and screen presence seamlessly. Even if a starring role is no longer on the table, fans have often speculated that he would be the perfect visionary to direct a standalone project focused on the anti-hero’s unforgiving nature.

As of this year, the 95-year-old icon remains one of the most prolific figures in Hollywood, recently proving that he has no intention of slowing down. His 40th directorial effort, the legal thriller Juror #2, became a major streaming success on Max earlier this year after its initial release in late 2024.

The film, which stars Nicholas Hoult as a juror who realizes he might be the one responsible for the crime he is judging, was hailed as a return to the plain-spoken drama that Eastwood excels at. Despite rumors that the courtroom drama would be his swan song, Eastwood has publicly declared that he hasn’t lost touch yet and is already in pre-production on a new “passion project.”

While specific plot details and casting for this upcoming film remain strictly under wraps at his Malpaso Productions, he has emphasized his commitment to creating original stories rather than sequels. He recently noted that there is no reason why a man can’t get better with age, and he plans to stay behind the camera as long as he is physically able.

Beyond his directing, Eastwood has recently been focusing on his family and his long-standing relationship with the American Film Institute. He remains a vocal critic of the industry’s reliance on franchises, often telling reporters that his philosophy is to either do something new or stay at home.

With his sharp mind and famously quick filming style still intact, the world is eagerly waiting to see what the master of the “one-take” has in store for his next—and potentially most ambitious—chapter.

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