Chosen answer:It certainly wouldn't have hurt his chances. The makers were looking for somebody who could emulate Reeve's performance, while still making it their own role. Routh fit the bill. As for the physical resemblance, there's only so far that you can go away from a certain look when casting for the role of Superman; obviously Routh and Reeve both fit that look. The distinct facial resemblance was simply a happy bonus.
Chosen answer: It certainly wouldn't have hurt his chances. The makers were looking for somebody who could emulate Reeve's performance, while still making it their own role. Routh fit the bill. As for the physical resemblance, there's only so far that you can go away from a certain look when casting for the role of Superman; obviously Routh and Reeve both fit that look. The distinct facial resemblance was simply a happy bonus.
Tailkinker ★