Unknown To Be New Superman

(AP)  A little-known actor has been cast as Superman in a big-budget film slated for 2006, Warner Bros. Pictures announced Friday.

Brandon Routh, 25, has been cast as the Man of Steel. An Iowa native, he has appeared in the soap opera "One Life to Live" and just finished his first feature film, "Deadly."

"Contrary to speculation, it was always my absolute intention to hire an unknown for this role," said director Bryan Singer. "Brandon is an extremely fine actor who possesses the physical qualifications of Clark Kent/Superman. But he also embodies the legacy and history of this character."

Singer previously directed another comic book adaptation: "X-Men." The new Superman film is scheduled to begin shooting in Australia early next year and be released in summer 2006.

Routh has had guest appearances on the television shows "Cold Case," "Gilmore Girls" and "Will and Grace." He also appeared on the third season of MTV's "Undressed."

Christopher Reeve, who made the role of Superman famous, died Oct. 10 after complications from an infection caused by a bedsore. He was 52. Reeve was left a quadriplegic after a May 1995 horse riding accident.