Diane Lane to be mother of 'Superman'

By Adnan Tezer Mar 3, 2011, 20:37 GMT

Diane Lane will play Martha Kent in Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Superman reboot "Superman: Man of Steel," opposite Henry Cavill as Superman.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. is hoping to begin production this summer.

Martha Kent is the adoptive mother of Superman in the original story in which she and husband Jonathan come across the rocket carrying the infant Kal-El from the planet Krypton and re-name him Clark Kent.

Kevin Costner has been rumored to be the frontrunner for the part of Jonathan Kent, while Viggo Mortensen's name has been mentioned to play the villain General Zod.

Alice Eve, Diane Kruger and Rosamund Pike have been mentioned as possible candidates for the female lead that will not be the Lois Lane character.

Zack Snyder ("300," "Watchmen" and the upcoming "Sucker Punch") will direct.

The film is set for a December 2012 release before Warners could potentially lose the copyright on the character in 2013.

Christopher Nolan will produce with wife Emma Thomas, as well as Charles Roven ("The Dark Knight") and Deborah Snyder ("Watchmen," "Sucker Punch").

David Goyer ("Batman Begins") is writing the script, based on a story he conceived with Nolan.

Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Superman is one of Warners/DC Comics' biggest icons, a major revenue generator for both studios through TV shows like "Smallville," videogames and merchandise.

Lane was recently in "Secretariat" and will be seen in the HBO film "Cinema Verite," opposite Tim Robbins and James Gandolfini.