Wendell Pierce Is ‘Glad’ He Didn’t Talk to Laurence Fishburne About Playing Perry White (Exclusive)

Wendell Pierce thinks he made the right call by not reaching out to Laurence Fishburne ahead of playing Perry White in the new Superman movie.

“I didn’t want to be influenced by anyone else,” Pierce, 61, exclusively told Us Weekly while attending Shakespeare in the Park last month. “I watched it. I had seen it. But I wanted to just be influenced by whatever I’m going to bring to it. I’m actually glad we did because we’re so much more playful.”

Fishburne, 64, and Pierce have both portrayed Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White in the last decade. Fishburne played the DC comics character in 2013’s Man of Steel, which also starred Henry Cavill as the titular hero and Amy Adams as Lois Lane. Fishburne reprised his role for 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Pierce took on the role in James Gunn’s interpretation of Superman. The cast included David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as the villainous Lex Luthor and more.

Pierce added that he felt like his Superman movie “captured the sense of the comics more.”

He explained, “[Fishburne] was a lot more serious. Right from the beginning [of our movie], when you see Krypto, you know what you’re in for.”

Pierce admitted that before joining the DC universe, he was “not aware of how big the franchise was.”

“Until you’re in something like that, you realize how huge it is,” he confessed. “I feel really honored to be a part of that world now.”

The Elsbeth star shared that he’s been approached by comic book fans on the street who have shared their delight over the new movie.

“It’s really great. The impact that comics have, there’s a world that I wasn’t aware of,” he said. “I really didn’t give it its full respect and weight. Of course, they have fans, but no, they really have a fandom that I did not expect.”

Pierce added that he truly appreciates it when the fans “educate” him on the comic book realm.

“I’m happy to let them know the little things that I found out,” he told Us. “Most people don’t know that Perry White hates Lex Luthor because Lex Luthor had an affair with my wife. One of my kids may be his.”

Pierce teased that he told Gunn about that particular plot line “just in case” he needed another story. Following the success of Gunn’s Superman, a sequel has been greenlit. If asked, Pierce wouldn’t rule out returning.

“It’s up to him. I’m in the world,” he said. “Let’s see what happens.”