James Gunn shared with Extra’s Jake Hamilton how Bradley Cooper’s surprise role in the new Superman film came to be, highlighting their past collaboration on Guardians of the Galaxy. Cooper, who lent his voice to Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians series, was asked to take on a brief but memorable part as Superman’s father, Jor-El.
How Cooper Became Jor-El Through a Personal Favor
Gunn explained that Cooper agreed to the role simply as a favor between friends.
“Bradley’s just doing me a favor. He’s a friend. We’ve stayed in close contact since the ‘Guardians’ movies.”
—James Gunn
Gunn went on to describe the process:
“I admire him greatly as an actor and as a director. And so, I just said, ‘Hey, will you do me a favor and come down and go to England? We’re going to shoot you in a 3D environment, make a hologram of you, and you can play Jor-El.’ And he was like, ‘Okay.’”
—James Gunn
Cast Highlights and Movie Context
Cooper appears as a hologram of Jor-El, alongside Angela Sarafyan, who portrays Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother. The film’s release has sparked renewed interest in all aspects of the Man of Steel story, including the emotional documentary on original Superman actor Christopher Reeve and the cast’s intense press tour promoting the movie.
Looking Ahead to the Superman Celebration
As Superman arrives in theaters nationwide, Extra is dedicating a special feature to the film’s legacy tonight, July 11. The program will include insights into the making of the movie and its tribute to the iconic character’s history, inviting fans to join in the celebration of this legendary superhero’s latest chapter.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How much older is Bradley Cooper than Gigi Hadid?
A. Both of them are very successful in their fields, but their 20-year age gap has caused some debate and controversy.
