Matt Bomer says he lost out on Superman role after being outed as gay

Matt Bomer, known for his roles in “White Collar” and “The Normal Heart,” recently revealed that he was once in the running to play Superman in a film that never came to fruition. However, he believes that being outed as gay played a role in losing the role.

Bomer discussed this on the Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast. He recalled the extensive audition process he went through for a film called “Superman: Flyby,” which was written by J.J. Abrams. Bomer described it as a “one-month audition experience” where he was repeatedly auditioning.

The actor, who publicly came out as gay in 2012, said, “It looked like I was the director’s choice for the role.” However, he believes his sexual orientation became a factor. When asked if his being outed as gay was the reason he didn’t get the role, Bomer replied, “Yeah, that’s my understanding.”

Bomer also mentioned that the soap opera “Guiding Light” had written off his character because they thought he was going to get the Superman role. He said, “That was a time in the industry when something like that could still really be weaponized against you.”

Author Jackie Collins had previously mentioned in a 2012 interview with Gaydar Radio that Bomer “had not come out of the closet, but people in the know knew he was gay.” She claimed that when his audition tape went in, “somebody didn’t like him and told [the producers] he was gay.”

Bomer’s experience highlights the challenges LGBTQ+ actors faced in the entertainment industry, particularly during that time. Despite the setback, Bomer has since had a successful career, with notable roles in projects like “The Normal Heart” and “The Boys in the Band.”