Zack Snyder’sMan of Steel, the film that kicked off the divisive DCEU, has several moments that had fans raising an eyebrow, and one of those was the decision to kill off Jonathan “Pa” Kent in the movie. The third act of the movie, which sees Superman fight General Zod right in the center of Metropolis, risking and ultimately ending countless civilian lives, is probably the biggest issue many fans have with the film, butthe underrated final scene of Kevin Costner’scharacter was another scene that didn’t quite get the expected reaction.
Now that he’s promoting the first chapter of hisHorizon: An American Saga, Costner is reflecting on his comparatively small role in the first DC film universe. While speaking withCinemaBlend, theField of Dreamsactor brought up how his character in Snyder’s big-budget epic was a little, well, standard. In his words:
It’s just my luck to be in a superhero movie and be the only person that’s normal. I was like ‘Really? I can’t fly? And I can’t put my fist through the wall? Maybe I should have read this thing closer. I’m a farmer?’
Man of Steel
It sounds like Costner wasn’t too familiar with theever-popular Superman mythologyprior to signing on. Or, perhaps, he thought Snyder would have something of more interest for Pa Kent to do than be a guiding beacon for his adopted son. Despite this, the actor’s attitude was a positive one. In regard to playing the farmer father figure, Costner said:
I looked at that [aspect of the character] and I said, ‘Ok, I can be that.’ I thought it was rooted in doubt. But there was no doubt that he puts his hand up and says, ‘Stay there’ to his son.
How Does Costner’s Pa Kent Die in Man of Steel?
Costner’s Jonathan Kent spends the majority of his runtime inMan of Steelspouting fatherly advice to young Kryptonian child Kal-El. And, unlike some Jonathan Kent’s of the past, his advice primarily revolves around Kal-El, AKA Clark, keeping his powers to himself, instead of openly being a hero. But, midway through the film, he himself does the opposite, and leads by example in doing so.
When a tornado starts tearing apart a highway in Smallville, Jonathan rushes from car to car, helping various residents get to a safe place under an overpass. But, with time, it becomes clear that he’s too close to the gusts, and will soon be killed if his super-powered son doesn’t intervene. But, instead of beckoning his son to save his own skin, Jonathan urges Clark to stay back with the extension of his right hand.
Kevin Costner Speaks to Possibility of Horizon Succeeding: ‘My Ego Would Like That’
Kevin Costner would love to see Horizon: An American Saga succeed, but he’s “happy” with how the film looks, regardless.
On one hand, it certainly wouldn’t have been hard for Clark to zip out there, grab his dad, and zip back to the underpass. But, Jonathan doesn’t want that, he wants to stick to his lesson about remaining secretive, keeping Kal-El’s true identity shrouded from the citizens of Earth who would undoubtedly want him cast out. It’s a logic that not all viewers could get behind, but it shows a character staying true to their established goal.
