Did BRANDON ROUTH and TOM WELLING Feel a Type of Way About Both Playing SUPERMAN?!  

“This is good, this is good, do it through Lex” 😂

Rosenbaum has nothing to envy from others who have played Luthor, he's the best one of them all! He made Luthor actually interesting and seeing him slowly turn into him suring Smallville was one of the highlight of the show. You can even see that when he left, the show was not the same anymore.

Tom and Brandon are both so humble. They didn't think "I don't like him", they both just thought "I don't think he likes me." I love both Tom's and Brandon's versions of Clark/Superman. I was SO excited to see Brandon in the Arrowverse, I was like, hey that's Superman! Lol. And Smallville is one of my favourite shows ever!

Can you get Dean Cain, Tom Welling, Tyler Hoechlin, George Newbern, Brandon Routh, and Henry Cavill all in one sitting? You can do your own Superman multiverse interview.

As a huge superman fan growing up I have two things to say. 1- Brandon was a great superman but in a weak film (not at all his fault) but keep in mind that he is part of a very elite club of actors who have played superman and that alone is it's own honor. 2- Michael is hands down the best Lex I've ever seen. The depth he brought to the character is only matched (sometimes surpassed) by the source material. I would 100% love to see him return to the role in a Lex Luthor film.

"This is good, do it thru Lex!" 01:20 lol!

In the years after Superman Returns I remember thinking that as Routh got older, he looked more and more like Superman and when he finally got the chance to put the suit on again for Crisis it was like DAMN! That's Superman! In fact the very last shot of Routh's Superman in Crisis, doing the classic "fly out into space and smile to the camera move" where he's got the the suit he wore but with the traditional S restored, I think that's my absolute favourite live action version of the Superman suit.

I really like how Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling are still friends and still talk to each other

"Do it through Lex!" - GOLD

I watched every episode of every season of Smallville twice. I think that Tom Welling was an amazing Superman but quite honestly and I'm not just saying this, I feel like your portrayal of Lex Luther was the best. Every time you see anyone playing Lex Luthor on screen they always seem like they're just crazy and want to destroy Superman but you humanized him and showed other sides of him. I loved that. I think you should have played him in all the Superman movies. You are the perfect Lex Luthor in my opinion.

Seeing how decent & down to earth Welling & Routh are the fact that they both worried that the other hated them is adorable AF.

Being a lifelong Superman fan it's always nice to see what great guys all of the actors are. Makes sense though, there's an inherent decency to Superman that can't completely be faked or acted out, you kinda need a cool, good person in that role.

It's hard to believe Routh would have bad blood with anyone.

“Do it through Lex…” 😂

Brandon Routh is wonderful in everything he's in, even when's he's playing a villain like in Scott Pilgrim! He deserves the best!

Michael Rosenbaum will always be my favorite Lex

Man, if they ever do a Smallville animated series, they need to have a multiverse episode where Tom and Brandon meet, but with Lex doing some sort of mediation for it. That would just be so meta and fitting to the story/characters.

As a Routh Supes fan and a Cavill Supes fan, they never really gave them both a chance to really fill out their potential as the character. Both Routh and Cavill LOVE Superman/Clark to the core, and yet, WB just don’t want these guys.

I wish Brandon had been given a stronger film to be Superman in because he really was the perfect Superman after Reeve. He should have been given another chance

The men they pick to BE Superman are just kind seeming men to me I love them all

"do it through Lex" LooooooL loved that

If somehow they could bring back Kingdom Come Supes that Brandon played for the DC HBO Max series I'd be all over it. Here's someone that actually enjoyed playing the part. Yes him as Ray was fun and showed off his comedic chops. That said to see what happened after the kick start of the new multiverse would be great.

Beef Wellington.

When Brandon was working in Vancouver on DC legends, he was one of the few actors, who throughout the entire Vancouver Film Industry was universally loved. Everyone, and I do mean that literally, EVERYONE who worked in that industry who worked with Brandon had nothing but great things to say about him. I never recalled anything at all, negative about him being said. There was quite a bit of hype about him coming to town again and lots of people just wanted to be around Brandon because he was such a nice guy.

If nothing else, Brandon's Superman has the best action sequence ever, in any Superman movie.

I'd love to see Brandon and Tom in a movie or show together.

Do it through Lex lol 😂 pure gold. Rosenbaum is legit one of the coolest and most humble actors. And without a doubt the best Lex Luthor ever.

I have always loved Brandon. I love his personality and his heart. He would be the type of guy all of us would be lucky to have as a good friend.

Would love to see/hear Tim Daly on one of these. He was a great Superman.

Holy shit Michael is 50 years old. He looks amazing

I grew up with Chris Reeves as Superman and Gene Hackman as Lex but to me Michael Rossenbaum is Lex Luthor

I wonder whether subconsciously there was something to either of them like it's "TV" vs "film" or basically "Superboy" vs "Superman", which could make people uncomfortable, especially when Brandon's two years younger than Tom and he's playing the older version. Honestly I think they were both great.

You've gotta appreciate how this is being handled now. At least a little. The studios seem to be finally pulling their heads out of their collective butts and giving the fans what we've been asking for. Continuity. With both story and character. Their separation between film and television only served to diminish the value of their franchises.

Brandon Routh VS Tom Welling was the original fanboy *FUED* before MCU VS DC Films ⚡

I’m glad I found this podcast, it’s so hard to find people you instantly relate to. Michael feels like family because he’s not just a star he’s also a fan.

They're both incredible Supermans

I always wonder if they cross paths during the height of Smallville and when Superman Returns came out. Brandon never got a fair break. At the time people had really embraced Tom as the new Clark Kent/Superman. I mean...when Christopher Reeve literally passes the torch to you as he did in a couple episodes of Smallville with Tom... at that point Welling became the new Superman and the first Superman embraced by fans since Reeve. No offense to Dean Cain or anyone else who played the character between Reeve and Welling. When they announced Superman Returns was being made EVERYBODY wanted Welling to play the part. I remember people talking about it on MySpace, early Facebook, and on chat forums. Then when it was announced that Routh was cast in the role... I remember people online being outraged, protesting to boycott the film because Welling wasn't playing the part , and if I remember correctly there might have even been a petition going around to try and force the studio to recast Welling in the part. All this was happening even before they started to film the movie. To be honest, at the time I was such a huge fan of Smallville! I never missed a single episode that aired... from the first episode to the very last episode...Every week I was there for 10 straight years. I have VHS tapes to this day of Smallville that I recorded if I happened to be stuck at work the night it aired. I have never been committed to a t.v. show like that before and since. Anyways, I went into Superman Returns with loyalty to Welling. I didn't dislike the movie but I remember leaving the theater with friends and we all were talking about how it should have been Welling on screen. That's what we (me and my friends) wanted as fans. It wasn't until years later that I started to really appreciate what Routh did with the character and started to look at Superman Returns from a different perspective especially now that Smallville has been finished for 10 years. There are still issues with the story in Superman Returns and Rosenbaum would have been a MUCH MUCH MUCH better Lex. However, Brandon's portrayal of the character is really good. If Smallville wasn't around at the time it's possible things might have been different...hard to say.

I grew up on Smallville during College. When I became an English teacher I took some of Tom Welling’s kind mannerisms. And when I need to be strict, I take inspiration from Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex. I once told kids in detention, “I am the villain of the story!” I met Michael at a Con and he was so cool. I told him “if Smallville was on Netflix now, Superman would have the suit from episode 1”. He said, “I like how you think” and honestly it made me smile. Keep doing these podcasts they are amazing.

One of the better YT algorithm choices to keep me tuned in. Enjoy the interviews and the actor to actor angle perspective.

Had to subscribe, didn't know I needed more of Michael Rosenbaum, but I do. And i've always had a soft spot for Brandon Routh, I liked his potrayal of Superman. Great clip, subscribed to this and main channel.

I could imagine fans making the two feel tension between each other. I know Smallville fans definitely weren't happy about the fact someone other than Tom was playing Superman ,I was one of them lol.

I always thought Tom Welling should have done Superman Returns. That and a few tweaks and that movie would have some potential!

I reread that as Beef Wellington 😂😂

To be fair michael was far and away the best depiction of lex luthor I have ever seen. Jesse might be a better actor but michael was amazing in that role. I would want him to be the next lex luthor in the next superman movie. Obviously an older version of lex now.

Rosenbaum also played Flash in the animated series and is personally my favorite version of the Flash.

Odd, isn't, how the idea that Brandon and Tom each thought the other didn't much like the other and a conversation with a mutual friend clears it up. Odder on a podcast, though if there was one person podcasting to day who could do it, it is Michael--not because of who he is in terms of a fellow actor who knows them, but the KIND of human he is. I really like all three of them as actors, but I am not one to get really into their personal lives. Here I let one of his podcasts auto-start to the next, and this actually brightened my day. Both Tom Welling and Brandon Routh come across as nice guys, and both are criminally under valued for their time as Clark Kent/hero guy. My favorite part of the CW CIOE was seeing Tom's Smallville, Clark, and Lois again, and Brandon getting the chance he deserves, and the late Christopher Reeve whose Supes he played, get another chance to show what made us believe a man could fly. All due to Cavill, but Routh deserved a better script and better key casting choices in Superman Returns. Routh is what worked and he deserved a longer run. If I were the person developing the HBOMax shows, we'd get: 1. More Routh's Kingdom Come-ish Superman (and how clever to in this retcon the Donner movies on a movie version of Earth-22, as Kingdom Come Earth was eventually designated) series--a lot of dramatic circumstances to mine here even without the big intergenerational show down--the question, this post Joker's attack on the Planet, pre-unruly young and more anti- than actual hero heroes, or post events in Kingdom come. And 2. a The World's Finest starring elling as the mostly retired Superman (taking a page for his look from New 52's Superman: Lois & Clark where the version wiped out by New 52 ends up on Prime Earth post Convergence and works secretly to support the heroes, notably in a black S suit--just sub-out Tom's black trench days or Ollie-provided embossed leather jacket look, but all black) who rarely removes his wedding band with a blue K inner ring these days, but will when needed) and Jensen Ackles as Batman, who, when he busts Clark's chops about being "mostly" retired, prompts Clark to say when Bruce is being a Dick he looks even more like is cousin, the late Jason Teague from Smallville. Martha's sister was a real bitch who messed Jason up, Bruce would comment, maybe the name is a sign he can't save everyone with terrible parents (a nod to Jason Todd). The World's Finest with those two actors writes itself. Anyway . . . Thank you, Michael, for granting us this window.

Dude!!!! A joined interview with both Tom and Brandon....YOU HAVE TOO!!!!

Tom Welling Legacy ,Even Movie stars praise him

I agree with Michael, I would have liked him and Tom to somehow take their characters to the next level beyond tv. A more serious or better written version. Multiverse somehow?

There are two actors that captured Lex Luther. Gene Hackman and Michael Rosenbaum. Both iconic and excellent!

This is great, Michael. Good thing you covered this topic - surely "cleared the air" between Brandon and Tom. And all these times, they may have been second-guessing how they felt about each other.

Brandon is one of the few actors I can believe would feel hurt about someone thinking he didn't like them.

The time of their Nike meeting would have been late-2004 or early-2005, by his own admission Tom Welling was practically a zombie from exhaustion during that time. I (obviously) wasn't there, but it could just be a case of a very tired person not having the energy to engage. I strongly suspect that a lot of actors known for being aloof or standoffish have that going on.

The important reveal of this clip is that Tom watches all the episodes. That's a good friend.

Its good to know the supermen like each other.

hello from Aberdeen in Scotland , really enjoy your podcast . Glas ive come across it . Keep up the good work

"This is good, this is good. Do it through Lex." Made me chuckle so damn hard.

Brandon's superman movie is unfairly criticized. it was a slower paced movie. that's all. Brandon was great. he was great in Chuck too.

Brandon just seems like such a genuinely sweet and humble person.

Brandon has become even more good-looking it's crazy.

I remember at the time reading negative stuff about Brandon being cast and people wanting Tom cast in the movie as this roughly in the middle of Smallvilles height and he seemed like a logical choice but Tv is Tv and Movies are Movies that wasn't going to happen but it def would have possibly created some animosity between two actors without them ever actually meeting each other which is sad as the same happened with Grant Gustin and Ezra Miller playing the flash Grant had to make a statement there was nothing negative between the 2 as did Ezra who pointed out there is a multi-verse so its perfectly ok to have 2 guys play 2 versions they had to publicly squash a non-existent beef created by people just to stop the articles from getting popular so I wouldnt be surprised if back in 2005/06 these guys both had different people feeding them BS info about the other guy and then also wondering am I gonna be as popular as that guy

So each Superman becomes great friends with Lex Luthor in the end that's great

I would still pay in raw gold to see Welling as Superman. A multiverse variant of the Smallville Clark to explain the where for art thou. Bringing back Erica and Michael as well yet otherwise an all new cast. Big budget of course. I want to see his Superman kick Darkseids gluteus.

“Do it through Lex,” LOL.

With all due respect to Brandon Routh, I really wish Warner Bros was more foreword thinking about DC in the early 2000s... Smallville reinvigorated my interest in Superman. After Batman Begins, I wanted them to spin-off Smallville into a new Superman movie that would eventually crossed over with Bale's Batman. I sincerely believe DC would be ahead of Marvel (or at the very least) on equal footing had they done that.

I love how Rosenbaum goes further and, to paraphrase, he just basically goes "Hey man, you were both young, maybe there WERE some subconscious feelings, but then we did the thing, we all grew up, and years later you meet again at a con and it's water under the bridge, it's just naturally run it's course and you're just like Hey Man, what's up!" He always keeps stuff so grounded while his celebrity guests naturally try to be careful and political with what they say and how they say it, to prevent a PR disaster with cancel culture, but Rosenbaum just cuts through it all and gets to the realness of it while still keeping it super wholesome... like when Welling was talking about filming the scenes with Kristen while she was being extra seductive, and Welling was being very coy and polite describing his experience, but Rosenbaum just came out and said what all of us were thinking... "Kristen is one of the most beautiful women in the world, and MAN... when I did those type of scenes with her it was just wow..." lol You can tell it comes from a place of complete respect and as a friend, since he's still friends with Kristen, but if any straight man was friends with Kristen and had to do scenes alongside her while she acted extra saucy, we would all, any of us, get at least a little bit weak in the knees...

"Do it through Lex" lol

Crazy how much Routh looks and talks like Christopher Reeves, even more so as he gets older.

I have to say, as a 28yo, Tom welling is my Superman. More than anyone else in my lifetime...for now!

This is amazing the Flash, Lex Luthor, Superman, and the Atom all in the same place at the same time the ultimate crossover.

man it would be weird, But i would like to see him play lex in a brandon routh superman movie

"This is Good, do it through Lex" Lol

Well they absolutely should have cast you Michael. I like Jessie Eisenberg but that sure wasn't Lex Luthor he was playing. That might have been more Zack Snyder than Jessie though...

Good interview

The guest that come on the show is amazing Never been disappointed

Dude, you were the best Lex on camera. Do not ever let anybody tell you any different!

Haha 1:23 “Do it through Lex” 😂

I wouldn't doubt yourself about not being considered for Lex. It's more of keeping the universes seperate than your ability as an actor. I would hire you in a second for Lex again. Yours is my favorite portrayal, but because Smallville is a seperate universe by canon it would just be weird in a disconnected way to have you reprise the role in a new universe. It would be awesome in a multiverse storyline though. I would dig that.

have no idea who the host is but i like him..glad i found this

You are the best live action lex we have had

a soothing couch type voice: "This is good this is good... do it through Lex" 🤣🤣🤣

We need Tom vs Brandon in a multi verse now!

100k views more than the actual full convo, I recommend anyone who hasn't watched the full podcast episode, it's pretty nteresting.

love them both!

2:56 the delivery was on point 😂

I hope you will also interview other Superman Actors like Henry and Tyler.

Honestly that moment when they first met was a little raw for Tom. Freshly finding out he wasn't even going to be in the Superman movie after playing him for so many years. Then meeting the guy replacing you. But then the years go by and that feeling fades away and he sort of comes to his senses. Honestly, I try to think of myself as someone who doesn't get jealous or envy anyone...but if I were Tom it would be hard not to be. And I've learned feeling jealous or envious is a feeling you have that is natural. It's not like you can turn it off and on. You can't choose to be jealous until you realize you're being jealous. Nobody is walking around going "I'm gonna be jealous today! That's exactly what I want to walk around feeling!"

Love seeing Micheal have a sit down with others that have played superman, he is the best Lex Luther ever, now is there any chance he can sit down with Dean Cain or Henry Cavill. The only thing better than that would to see him Play Lex again with Cavil in a big movie, then Cavil will finally get a great movie.

I watched this interview like a month ago and I've been getting video recommendations for beef wellington recepies ever since.

You and Jesse did great playing Luthor!!!!!

One thing I would like to know next time you have Tom on the show, is did the scripting team have any problems with the small scar below his chin on the left side? He was after all Superman and never scared once sunlight hit him. You don't see it much, but once in a while it shows on camera just like Scotty's missing finger on the original trek or Skywalker's blown left eye vessels from the medical water tank scenes when filming Star Wars.

Brandon Routh always reminds me of Tom Cruise if he grew into a full sized adult.

"This is good, this is good... Do it through Lex" lol! That made me roll.

'Do it through Lex' :D :D :D

"This is good, do it through Lex" XD.. this is gold XD

I don't know if it's safe that 2 Supermen sends messages through Lex. Seems pretty sketchy

Holy crap, finally one of the replaced DCTV actors lets out the tiniest bit of frustration on mic. It's always frustrated me enough to affect my enjoyment of the DC films, but I can't imagine being on the other side of that 10 year experience and not even getting the token audition.

I was thinking of Beef Wellington 😋 when I read the thumbnail.. LOL

Lex Luthor acting as the Superman Couple's Councillor

1:24 "This is good, this is good, do it through Lex" xD