Michael Shannon, known for his role as General Zod in Zack Snyder Man of Steel, has expressed pride in his portrayal despite divided opinions about the film. Speaking recently on Vanity Fair’s Scene Selection web series, Shannon revisited his performance and defended the movie’s creative choices, emphasizing his respect for the project and its significance in the superhero genre.
Memories of Filming Iconic Scenes in Chicago’s Union Station
During the discussion, Shannon recalled filming the intense showdown between Superman and Zod at Union Station in Chicago, where he once lived. He remarked on the surreal experience of shooting there, saying,
The first thing I think when I see this scene is, ‘Oh, there’s Union Station’, because I lived in Chicago for a long time.
He continued,
I’d been in there, I’d taken trains out of there, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be shooting this in Union Station.
Addressing the Controversy Over Superman’s Lethal Actions
One of the film’s most debated moments is the “Superman neck snap,” where Superman kills General Zod to save innocent lives. Shannon addressed this scene with a tone of restrained disapproval toward the act of killing, stating,
“Oh gosh, I just wish people didn’t kill people, period. I mean, whether or not they’re aliens from outer space or just regular joes.”
He elaborated on the creative reasoning behind that decision, saying,
I guess one of the controversies with this film, and Zach engineered this really, is that Superman is not supposed to kill anybody, so I put him in a situation where if he wants to save these people, he has to kill me, and he does, and that obviously led to a lot of ‘sturm und drang‘, or whatever you say.
Shannon rejected the explanation that the film was just a commercial venture, insisting,
I think a lot of people say, ‘Oh, you know, this isn’t what he usually does. He just went for the big payday or something.’ But I’m proud of this movie. I think it’s actually about something.
Shannon’s Positive View on Collaborating with Zack Snyder
He expressed genuine appreciation for working under Zack Snyder’s direction, emphasizing the meaningful nature of the experience:
I really loved working with Zach, and I really loved making this movie.
Shannon’s respect for the director and the project remains strong despite the movie’s polarizing reception among fans and critics.
Reflecting on General Zod’s Appearance in The Flash
However, Shannon’s enthusiasm was noticeably tempered when discussing his brief return as General Zod in the 2023 film The Flash. In an interview with Looper’s Tim Lammers, he shared his initial confusion at being asked to reprise the role, recalling,
was a little confused. I said, ‘As memory serves me, I think I died in Man of Steel. Are they sure they got the right guy?’
He admitted to being somewhat out of touch with the multiverse concept that explained the character’s return, saying,
“I can’t say that I’m a huge consumer of this genre of films — not that I have anything against them. If I’m going to watch a movie, the odds are it’s not going to be one of those, but I sure love making them.”
Shannon’s Experience Revisiting the Character and Working with Andy Muschietti
Speaking about the production of The Flash, Shannon described it as a brief but enjoyable experience filmed in England:
I loved making Man of Steel, and I love working with Zack [Snyder], and I felt like it was actually, in a way, a fairly important film. It was nice to revisit the character. I wasn’t there for a terribly long time. I was in and out in a couple of weeks, so it was a nice way to spend a bit of my summer in England. Andy’s a lovely guy and a great artist, visually, and I had a blast.
He noted that his portrayal of Zod in The Flash differed slightly from the original, saying,
I tried to get back into his skin. He’s a little different in this film. He’s a little more … I don’t know how to put it. You don’t spend as much time with him, so you don’t really get to know as much about what he’s thinking. It’s not necessarily his movie. That’s the thing with these multiverse movies — you get a little bit of this and a little bit of that. But it’s really Ezra [Miller’s] movie.
Significance of Shannon’s Views on Zack Snyder Man of Steel
Michael Shannon’s reflections highlight the complexities involved in Zack Snyder’s approach to Man of Steel, a movie that challenged traditional superhero morality and narrative expectations. His pride in the role and defense of the film underscore its ambition and thematic depth, even amid ongoing debates. Meanwhile, his more cautious stance on The Flash points to the evolving nature of comic book storytelling and the challenges actors face adapting to sprawling cinematic multiverses. Fans of the DCEU can anticipate further exploration of these characters and themes as the franchise continues to expand and reinterpret its stories.
