15 Superstars Who've Played Superheroes (PHOTOS)

It’s a bird... it’s a plane... it’s Brandon Routh! Although Superman Returns was a generally disappointing follow-up to the late-’70s/early-'80s Christopher Reeve films, Brandon Routh brought the perfect mix of sexiness, earnestness, and pensiveness to the blue tights and red cape.

The relatively unknown actor worked out hard to play the Man of Steel, getting up at 4:30 in the morning to hit the gym with his trainer. Brandon supplemented weight training and core work with a diet heavy on veggies and protein, ultimately packing on 10 pounds of pure steel muscle.

Next up to wear the iconic "S"? Hunky British actor Henry Cavill, who will play Superman in 2013’s The Man of Steel.