Who is David Corenswet and where have I seen the DCU’s Superman before?

If you weren’t already familiar with the name David Corenswet, there’s a good to fair chance that you are now. After having been the fan-favorite to don the Superman mantle in James Gunn’s incoming DC Universe reboot, placing one’s bets on Corenswet proved to be no big gamble as it was announced just yesterday that he would indeed be filling Clark Kent’s shoes in the Gunnverse.

But outside of being the latest iteration of the Man of Steel, what else does Corenswet have on his résumé? Here’s where you may have seen the actor before.

Affairs of State (2018)

Corenswet made his feature film debut in the political thriller film Affairs of State, in which he portrayed young congressional aide Michael Lawrence, who winds up having an affair with his boss’ wife before eventually falling for his boss’ daughter.

It may sound like the formula for a comedy film, but Affairs of State is no laughing matter; the film is played as a sardonic melodrama that takes more than a few potshots at the state of American politics, as anyone would be justified in doing so.

Released in select theaters and on-demand in June 2018, Corenswet’s first foray into the feature film battleground wasn’t exactly the most lucrative step in the world, but he’s made leaps and bounds since then.

The Politician (2019)

The actor had a major role in Ryan Murphy’s dramedy Netflix series The Politician, where he portrayed popular jock River Barkley, who goes up against protagonist Payton Hobart (who also happens to be his ex-lover) in the race for student body president at Saint Sebastian High School.

Despite being killed off in the first episode, River continues to appear in Payton’s dreams throughout the first season, offering advice whenever he can. He would continue to do the same, this time in a recurring capacity, in the second season. A third season, which will also be the show’s last, is currently in development.

Hollywood (2020)

Murphy must have been greatly impressed with Corenswet’s work in The Politician, because the actor got a leading role in another Ryan Murphy series shortly after in the form of Hollywood, a historical drama limited series released exclusively on Netflix.

Set in post-World War II Hollywood, the series sees Corenswet portray Jack Castello, a war veteran who arrives in the city of dreams in hopes of becoming an actor. Along the way, he befriends such figures as director Raymond Ainsley (Darren Criss), screenwriter Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope), and fellow actor Camille Washington (Laura Harrier). Together, they and other aspiring creatives work together to achieve their dreams while battling back against Hollywood’s rampant corruption, racism, and homophobia.

Look Both Ways (2022)

Corenswet’s Netflix run continued in Look Both Ways, the Lili Reinhardt-led romantic comedy film directed by Wanuri Kahiu. In the movie, Corenswet portrays Jake, an aspiring movie producer who Natalie (Reinhardt) meets in the reality where her pregnancy test is negative, and who she goes on to develop a romance with.

Pearl (2022)

The actor returned to the big screen in a big way just last year thanks to Pearl, the second in Ti West’s delectable X trilogy, which is set to conclude with MaXXXine on a yet-undisclosed date.

In the film, Corenswet starred alongside Mia Goth’s titular character as an unnamed projectionist, who entertains Pearl’s fantasies in more ways than one.

We Own This City (2022)

Corenswet’s most recent bow was in the Max miniseries We Own This City, where he appeared in four of the six episodes as David McDougall, a veteran investigator and a member of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force.

The series documents the rise and eventual fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s infamously corrupt Gun Trace Task Force, a series of events also explored in Kevin Abrams’ documentary I Got a Monster.