From Zero to Hero? notes a trend in superheroe-movie casting:
While Mr. Bale seems like a long shot, he is not the only little-known actor to have superpowers and a cape bestowed upon him. Later this summer, News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox will release ‘Fantastic Four,’ whose cast, aside from up-and-coming actress Jessica Alba, is virtually unknown to moviegoers. Next year, Warner Bros. will try to revive the ‘Superman’ franchise for the first time in two decades. In the lead role will be Brandon Routh, a former cast member of the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ with no film experience on his résumé.At the heart of these selections is this notion: cast little-known actors to play superheroes in hopes that the characters’ transformation from zero to hero will seem more credible.