The allure of the unknown

When casting those iconic roles, sometimes it's best to go with a fresh face, a relative unknown.

Think Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire, The Associated Press says. Think Harrison Ford in Star Wars, or Hugh Jackman in X-Men.

And, yes, think Brandon Routh in Superman Returns.

"A known actor comes with baggage, and Superman as a character is much larger than any actor," director Bryan Singer says. "He looked like he stepped out of a comic book. Brandon’s an extremely fine actor, but he also needed to have the physical presence of someone who steps out of the collective perception of who Superman is."

Like Christopher Reeve before him, Routh comes to the role with little Hollywood history, which may be for the best.

"I think there’s definitely something to that. Superman is such an icon that it’s weird to even imagine myself as him,” Routh told The AP. "I think it helps that when people look at me in the film, they maybe see a little Brandon Routh, but they mostly just see Superman for right now. It’s very important for the character."

Pictured: Routh as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent.