He preferred the cars from “Fast and Furious” to the Superman costume. In a documentary dedicated to Paul Walker, we learn the reasons which pushed the actor to refuse the role in the early 2000s.
Paul Walker as Superman? It came very close! In the documentary I Am Paul Walker dedicated to the star of the Fast and Furious saga, Matt Luber, the actor’s former manager, and Oakley Lehman, who was his stunt double, reveal why the superheroic affair ultimately did not materialize.
Favorite for the role
In the documentary initially broadcast on Paramount Network in 2018 but recently programmed by the CW, Matt Luber reveals that Paul Walker, who is one of these 40 broke talents in full glory, “tried for Superman.” And the manager clarified: “I think it was a $10 million deal, and he was the favorite for the role.”
Paul Walker “was up for it” to play the DC superhero on the big screen, according to stuntman Oakley Lehman, who was also a childhood friend of the comedian. “On the other hand, he didn’t want to make three or four films and play Superman the rest of his life.”
It was actually when he found himself in the costume of the character that Paul Walker realized that he was not made for this iconic role. Matt Luber remembers, in comments reported by Deadline :
“He told me: ‘I have the ‘S’ in Superman, I have a cape, boots, tights… But it’s not me. I’m going to get the hell out of here. I have to go. I’ll leave you.” And he left.”
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“I could have bought my own desert island”
In 2003, Paul Walker spoke of this missed meeting. “Yes, I could have made billions of dollars from this saga. I probably could have bought my own fleet of jets or my own desert island”he declared with humor on the microphone of the Chicago Sun-Times.
“You know what? I don’t need that. My favorite shoes cost $23. I rarely spend more than $40 on jeans. And a t-shirt costs me $20 or even $10 if I buy it on the beach. I don’t need billions to live my lifestyle.”
It was finally Brandon Routh, in 2006, who obtained the coveted superheroic role in Superman Returns. Then Henry Cavill slipped under the costume starting with Man of Steel, released in theaters in 2013.
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