It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it the new Superman!

After much searching (should have just gone to Smallville, Kansas) and much debate Warner Bros. and Zack Snyder have found their new Superman.

Many believed it would be Jon Hamm from Mad Men but Jor’el has decided otherwise.  WD sent out a press release this morning to announced that Henry Cavill would be Kal’el.  The British actor, who auditioned for Christopher Nolan’s Batman, has been seen in Stardust, Tarsem’s forthcoming Immortals and the upcoming The Cold Light of Day but is best known for his role of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, on the Canadian Showtime series The Tudors.

Film director Zack Snyder stated “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

Warner Bros and Christopher Nolan lined up a large number of powerful 28-32 year old actors in Los Angeles, New York, and London in November and December of 2010. Heatvision is reporting that Cavill was one of the top three contenders since day one, and was invited for a callback in January, where he met Zack Snyder for the first time.

The following is a list of actors that Cavill beat out for the iconic role.

– Matthew Goode (Ozymandias in Snyder’s Watchmen) is said to be Cavill’s closest contender, and even declined the title role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in hopes of winning Superman.

– Matthew Bomer (White Collar, Chuck, Tru Calling)

– Armie Hammer (The Social Network, Reaper, Gossip Girl)

– Joe Manganiello (True Blood, One Tree Hill, Spider-Man 3)

– Colin O’Donaghue (The Rite)