Kevin Costner wasn't looking to fly when he signed onto Zack Snyder’s 2013 Superman reboot. Actually, that’s a bit of a lie—he kind of was. The Yellowstone star later joked in interviews that he didn't exactly read the fine print. He figured if you’re in a superhero movie, you get to do superhero stuff. Punching through walls, maybe catching a plane. Instead, he got a flannel shirt and a tractor.
He played Jonathan Kent, the man who shaped a god. But honestly, his version of "Pa" Kent is probably the most polarizing father figure in cinematic history. Even now, over a decade later, fans still argue about whether his advice was wise or just straight-up cold.
The "Maybe" Heard 'Round the World
The moment that usually gets people fired up happens early on. A young Clark Kent has just saved a school bus full of kids from drowning. He’s freaked out. His dad, Jonathan, is trying to explain the weight of what just happened. Clark asks a devastating question: "I was supposed to just let them die?"
Costner’s response? "Maybe."
It wasn't the answer anyone expected. For decades, Jonathan Kent was the moral north star—a guy who taught Clark about "Truth, Justice, and the American Way." But Costner played a different kind of dad. He wasn't a comic book caricature; he was a terrified father trying to protect his son from a world that wasn't ready for him. Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer wanted to ground the story. They wanted to know: what would a real farmer in Kansas do if he realized his kid was an alien?
He’d hide him. He’d lie for him. He’d even suggest that letting a bus full of kids sink might be the lesser of two evils compared to the government dissecting his son. It’s dark. It’s gritty. It’s also very Kevin Costner. He brings this quiet, Midwestern stoicism that makes you believe he actually believes it.
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That Infamous Tornado Scene
You can’t talk about kevin costner man of steel without talking about the dog and the tornado. This is the big one. The scene that launched a thousand memes and reddit threads.
In the middle of a massive storm, Jonathan Kent goes back to save the family dog from a car. He gets his leg caught. The tornado is bearing down. Clark is right there. He’s fast enough to save him in a heartbeat. He starts to move, but Jonathan holds up a hand. A simple, "Stay back."
Jonathan chooses to die so that Clark doesn't have to reveal his powers to a highway full of witnesses.
Critics absolutely shredded this. They argued it was a "forced" death. Why not just save him? If Clark is Superman, he could have grabbed his dad and been back before anyone blinked. But that misses the point Costner was acting out. In his mind, Jonathan Kent wasn't dying for a dog. He was dying for a secret. He was proving to Clark that some things are worth more than a single life—even his own.
Costner later reflected on this, saying he felt the character had "no doubt" in that moment. There was no hesitation. Just a father making the ultimate sacrifice to buy his son more time to figure out who he was supposed to be.
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The DNA of a Hero
Interestingly, Costner didn't see himself as a supporting player. He saw himself as the blueprint. He once mentioned in a 2014 interview with Den of Geek that he liked to think he gave Clark his "DNA." Not the Kryptonian stuff, obviously, but the character. The way he walks. The way he holds himself.
Think about the scenes where they’re just sitting on the back of a truck.
- Jonathan isn't giving grand speeches.
- He’s talking about the day Clark showed up.
- He’s admitting he doesn't have all the answers.
That’s what makes this version of the character stick. He’s fallible. He’s scared. Most "superhero parents" are either saints or victims. Costner’s Jonathan Kent was just a guy trying to do his best with a situation that was literally out of this world.
Did it Actually Work?
People still debate if this "darker" take on the Kents ruined Superman. Some fans think it made Clark too cynical. Others think it gave him the emotional depth he needed to eventually face General Zod.
Zack Snyder has defended the choice for years. He recently mentioned that the Costner scenes are the ones that still make him teary-eyed. There's a specific line—"You are my son"—that hits hard. It’s the anchor of the whole movie. Without that grounded, slightly paranoid protection from Jonathan, the eventual reveal of Superman wouldn't have felt as earned.
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What We Can Learn From the "Costner Kent"
If you’re revisiting the film, look past the CGI. Look at the way Costner uses his silence. He doesn't need a cape to be commanding. He just needs a look.
The biggest takeaway from kevin costner man of steel is that heroism isn't always about saving everyone. Sometimes, it’s about the hard choices you make when nobody is looking. It’s about the burden of a secret.
For those looking to dive deeper into how this role influenced the rest of the DC Cinematic Universe:
- Watch the "Snyder Cut" of Justice League to hear how Jonathan’s voice continues to guide Clark.
- Compare Costner’s performance to Glenn Ford’s in the 1978 original; the difference in "fatherly advice" tells you everything about how movies changed over forty years.
- Pay attention to the "Maybe" scene again—notice the regret in Costner's eyes. He knows he’s giving a "wrong" answer, but he’s giving it out of love.
Whether you love or hate the tornado scene, there’s no denying that Costner brought a weight to the role that most actors wouldn't have bothered with. He made a farmer feel as significant as a god.