Michael Shannon unfulfilled as an actor by his return as General Zod

Last Updated on June 22, 2023

While much of the casting hype around this month’s DC multiverse entry The Flash surrounds Michael Keaton as Batman (sorry, Ben!), one can’t forget the return of Michael Shannon as General Zod, a role he first played in 2013’s Man of Steel. For many fans it will be a welcome return for many fans. For Michael Shannon? Not so much, as the actor has come off quite displeased that he’s not given much to do and that modern superhero movies come off like eruptions from the toy chest.

In a new interview with Collider, Michael Shannon said returning as General Zod for the first time in a decade was an underwhelming experience, “I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t quite satisfying for me, as an actor. These multiverse movies are like somebody playing with action figures. It’s like, ‘Here’s this person. Here’s that person. And they’re fighting!’” Then again, Shannon has admitted before that his understanding of how a multiverse even works is lacking.

Shannon also acknowledged his perceived place within the story, something else that irks him in the development of the DC multiverse. “It’s not quite the in-depth character study situation that I honestly felt Man of Steel was. Whether people think that’s crazy or not, I don’t even care. I really felt like Man of Steel was actually a pretty sophisticated story. I feel like The Flash is too, but it’s not Zod’s story. I’m basically there to present a challenge.”

Early reactions out of CinemaCon for The Flash stamped it as one of the best superhero movies ever. While the buzz has cooled a bit (it’s currently at a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes), our own Chris Bumbray gave it an 8/10, saying, “I had more fun watching this than any superhero movie in a long time.”

The DC multiverse will continue growing after The Flash, with the studio saying the movie will offer a “reset” for the DCEU.

What are your thoughts on Michael Shannon comparing the multiverse to playing with action figures? Does he have a point or does he come off too negative? Let us know!