Comic books made Superman a star. But it was radio that made him a superstar. Back when radio was America’s dominant form of entertainment, The Adventures of Superman radio serial was loved by adults and children alike. It ran from 1940 through 1951, and cemented the Man of Steel as a pop culture icon.
Now, via Deadline, we’ve learned that DC FanDome will feature the return of the show on September 12th. Warner Bros. and The Creative Coalition will bring the classic The Adventures of Superman radio series to life with an assortment of modern actors, many coming from diverse backgrounds. Three different actors will portray Superman/Clark Kent: Wilson Cruz (Star Trek: Discovery), Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hawaii 5-0) and the voice of Kal-El from the classic ’90s Superman: The Animated Series, Tim Daly.
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But those three actors will have an esteemed group of castmates. Among the huge roster of talent recreating these vintage classics are Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars), Erich Bergen (Madam Secretary), Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Lea DeLaria (Orange Is the New Black), Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery), Richard Kind (American Dad), Eric McCormack (Will and Grace), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), CCH Pounder (NCIS: New Orleans), Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery), Yolonda Ross (Black Lightning), Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Henry Winkler (Barry), Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage), and several others.
The re-enactments of The Adventures of Superman radio series will use original scripts from the long-running radio serial. Warner Bros. recently unearthed them from the Studios vault. This rare production will allow fans to experience the superhero in a unique way. The original radio show was revolutionary in many ways. Most notably, its storyline from 1946 where Superman fought the Ku Klux Klan. This episode demonstrates what Superman really stands for.
The radio show contributed many huge elements to Superman mythology. The original voice actor for the Man of Steel, Bud Collyer, played the character in animation for decades. And key elements of Superman mythology happened in the radio long before the comics. Perry White and Jimmy Olsen were introduced first on the show, as was Kryptonite. And Batman met Superman on the radio years before they shared panels in any comic.
And you’ll be able to listen to some of the radio show during FanDome on September 12th. For more on DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse, be sure to head on over to the official site.
Featured Image: DC Comics
