Russell Crowe will play Superman's biological father Jor-El in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, reports Variety.

He will be joining Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon and Antje Traue in the new film, coming to theaters in late 2012.

Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder are producing the anticipated film, which is expected to start shooting next month.