London, Jan 31 (ANI): Henry Cavill has been cast as the new 'Superman: Man of Steel'.

Cavill, a former public schoolboy, will star in the sixth instalment of the Hollywood franchise, reports the Telegraph.

In 2004, he screen-tested for the lead in 'Superman Returns' but the producers chose Brandon Routh.

He was also considered for Bale's role in Batman Begins and for James Bond before Daniel Craig landed the part.

This led the Empire Magazine to dub him as 'the most unlucky man in Hollywood'.

The new film will be directed by Zack Snyder and released in December 2012 - 34 years after the first Superman film made a star of Christopher Reeve.

Snyder described Cavill as "the perfect choice to don the cape and shield."ANI)