Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) was cast as General Zod in the Superman reboot Man of Steel on Sunday, and I wrote at length about how perfect that casting is. To hear Shannon tell it, though, the idea “came out of nowhere.” Shannon was interviewed as the Emerging Master Honoree at the 2011 RiverRun International Film Festival. There he discussed his first meeting with director Zack Snyder (he compares it to an acid trip), how surreal it is to be billed in a Superman movie, and testing for chemistry with Clark Kent/Superman actor Henry Cavill. Watch the relevant interview clip after the break.

Via /Film:

The supporting cast includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent. Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan, and Deborah Snyder, Thomas Tull, and Lloyd Phillips are producing ; David S. Goyer is writing the screenplay based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Man of Steel is scheduled for release in December 2012.

Here is the official announcement of Shannon’s casting: