The actor who plays Charles Brandon in the Showtime series The Tudors has been cast as the new superman by Warners Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

This fall, the 27 year old British actor is also starring in the movie Immortals playing the role of Theseus. The reboot of the Superman franchise will be directed by Zack Snyder and slated for a December 2012 release.

Snyder said in a statement: "In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield."

The film will be produced by Christopher Nolan.