Matt Bomer Shoots Down Mention of the Three-Picture 'Superman' Deal He Lost – And Why

It's a bird – it's a plane – it's the reemergence of a Hollywood story that "Mid-Century Modern" star Matt Bomer lost a three-picture deal to play Superman because he's part of the LGBTQ+ community.

But Bomer took some Kryptonite to that narrative, shooting it down despite his own comments, made as recently as last year, that he lost the deal thanks to being a gay actor. He excoriated an outlet for what he called "a lack of journalistic integrity" in bringing up the subject.

The "Fellow Travelers" lead "recently criticized an outlet that referred to his public outing as a 'painful turn of events' that 'lost him the title role' as the Kryptonian DC superhero," Deadline reported.

The "White Collar" star, who came out publicly in 2012, was not denying his earlier claims that being gay cost him the famed red cape. Rather, he seemed to take exception to the topic being raised in a gratuitous manner.

"This conversation had nothing to do with Superman, so please stop painting me into a victim narrative for your own clickbait," Deadline quoted Bomer writing in what the site said was "a since-deleted post on X."

Bomer has discussed the lost opportunity to portray the signature superhero before. Just last year, he recalled how the role slipped from his grasp like wily Superman nemesis Lex Luthor despite Bomer having signed on to play the character.

"This is a very early iteration of Superman written by J.J. Abrams, called 'Superman: Flyby,' I think is what it was called, and it never came to light," Bomer said.

He got the title right; Abrams wrote the film in 2002, several years before out director Bryan Singer relaunched the iconic superhero in the 2006 movie "Superman Returns." Brandon Routh succeeded Christopher Reeve in wearing the classic red "S" symbol in that film.

"It looked like I was the director's choice for the role," Bomer recalled to the Awards Chatter podcast, People Magazine relayed at the time. "I signed a three-picture deal at Warner Bros."

The prospect seemed so likely that, People noted, Bomer's "producers on the soap opera 'Guiding Light' even wrote off his character because they felt he had a chance to portray the major superhero character."

However, like a number of other proposed "Superman" projects of that era to which high-profile directors like Tim Burton, Wolfgang Petersen, Brett Ratner, and McG were attached, "Flyby" disappeared in to the Phantom Zone.

"[A]sked whether his sexual orientation ultimately affected his casting, [Bomer] said, 'Yeah, that's my understanding,'" People relayed.

Added Bomer: "That was a time in the industry when something like that could still really be weaponized against you."

The story was confirmed by "Jackie Collins," People noted, with the writer relating "a similar story... in a 2012 interview with Gaydar Radio..."

"Someone didn't like him and told [the producers] he was gay," People quoted Collins, per The Advocate. "They said, 'No, no, we can't cast you.' The reason he didn't get cast was because he was gay."

Now flying high as an out actor who has drawn acclaim for gay roles both dramatic and comedic, Bomer seemingly shrugged aside such past slights the way Superman would let lava roll off his invulnerable skin.

"This conversation had nothing to do with Superman," the actor reportedly posted in the since-deleted tweet, "so please stop painting me into a victim narrative for your own clickbait."

Added Bomer: "I love my career and wouldn't change a thing about it."

Superman's career continues to soar as well, with the Man of Steel set to return to the big screen this summer in James Gunn's "Superman," which marks a major reset of the DCU. David Corenswet – a veteran of Ryan Murphy projects "The Politician" and "Hollywood" – assumes the superhero's mantle. Watch a five-minute sneak peek of the film, set for release on July 11, below.