As the new "Superman" movie, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, readies for its July 11 theatrical release, Ohio is reveling in its role as the stand-in for the comic book legend's home of Metropolis. Last summer's filming took place all over Cleveland and Cincinnati, with several Ohio landmarks making it into the limelight.
Famed sites such as Cincinnati's Union Terminal and Cleveland's skyline got the Hollywood treatment, and now, locals can play spot-the-landmark when they see the movie on the big screen. According to The Enquirer, the filming included scenes at iconic spots like the Cleveland Skyline, PNC Center, and the Leader Building on Superior Avenue, which masqueraded as the Daily Planet.
Ohio's tax credit system also helped lure the filmmakers to the Buckeye State. The "Superman" movie, codenamed 'Genesis' during production, was bolstered by more than $11 million in tax credits, as reported by The Enquirer. This financial incentive sealed the deal for filming scenes in both Cincinnati, and Cleveland; states across the country offer similar benefits, all competing for a slice of the booming film industry budget.
For some Ohio residents, the experience of watching their home transform into a superhero's playground was a dream come true. Ryan Drost, who served as an extra during filming, expressed his excitement in a statement obtained by News 5 Cleveland, "This is everything I ever wanted to happen. I didn’t care if I made it on the screen or what happened. I was on the set and saw Corenswet in the Superman costume, I saw [director] James Gunn. This was the most amazing experience." His sentiment echoes the pride many Ohioans feel seeing their state depicted on the silver screen.
Building on Cleveland’s movie-making resume, which already includes "The Avengers" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," the city flexes its muscles, yet again for "Superman." In an effort to honor the legacy of Superman's Cleveland-native creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the latest adaptation pays homage to their work and impact, as detailed by The Independent. Fans of the iconic superhero will get to see some of Cleveland’s most iconic spots twinned with scenes shown in the trailers, bridging fiction with the notable realities of this Ohio city.
With Hollywood's continuous search for the next iconic location, it seems Superman has once again found a home among the industrious backdrop of Ohio, making it, not only a hub for superheroes on-screen, but also a hero in its own right for bolstering the state's economy and tourism with a little help from Tinseltown.
_(cropped_2).jpg){kind=link}