'True Blood' hunk Joe Manganiello reveals passing up on 'Superman'

HONG KONG Hollywood hunk Joe Manganiello chose to stay with HBOs True Blood as werewolf Alcide Herveaux over the chance to star in the Superman reboot Man of Steel, which Henry Cavill eventually clinched.

Alcide the lone werewolf in the love quadrangle involving human/fairy Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and vampires Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) has had Joe anchored to the show for several solid seasons, including the ongoing one (season 4, shown Thursdays in Manila, 10 p.m.).

True Blood has become a TV phenomenon for fans of the vampire genre. Based on the The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, the Alan Ball-created True Blood grounds its plot in a world where humans co-exist with vampires. The show is HBOs bet in the Hollywood vampire trend.

The 35-year-old Joe told Bulletin Entertainment in a recent interview at the Mandarin Oriental that when he was asked to screen test for Superman, he had already inked a six-year contract with True Blood.

He said that a brewing relationship with Sookie had to come first. What is so wonderful about his relationship with Sookie is that she gets right in there. She gets right into her heart. She just drags him out of the house and gets him in trouble which he needs to do. I think he needs to get in trouble. Because I think what is so exciting about that is the hero comes out. He is put in these positions where he has to be that hero. And whats so scary is that it is connected to that side, that power, that monster, that animal, said Joe.

He pointed out that the progression of Alcides character was too exciting to drop even for a break as big as Superman. I love Alcide. Growing-up wanting to be a werewolf, playing Alcide is perfect, Joe talked of his role.

And historically speaking, out of all the werewolves that have ever been on TV and the movies, Ive always wanted to be Alcide. Im so excited and Im so happy that every time I look at the full moon tha! ts my mo od forever.

On working with wolves in the show, he said, Its intimidating because they are as big as me. Yet it is amazing because it is one of a lifetime opportunity. Wolves are my favorite animals while growing up. They are wild and beautiful.

Standing at 65 and an athlete in high school, Joe has had his share of school brawls, one of which happened when he lost his temper and got into a fight. He later found himself alone inside the principals office crying over the said fight, which also involved a bad-drug-dealer-kid who always had a problem with him. He hurt his opponent badly. Looking back, Joe feels bad over the incident and at the same time, scared in finding out how strong he was.

I identify with Alcide in a lot of ways... his sensitivity and vulnerability of being somewhat trap inside this monster is something I can identify with. I grew up with a sensitive soul as a kid, a sensitive artistic side. Theres that empathetic, sensitive and artistic side struggling to get out of me which I believe theres a lot of that in Alcide. He is this werewolf but he doesnt identify because he has a big heart, related Joe.

As regards passing up on big Hollywood movie opportunities, Joe said, I always love comic books growing up. But I just want to make sure that when I do settle on a comic book movie, its the right one and the right project. I love big epic action movies and I love the sword-fighting movies. But I love the ones like Ben Hur, The Gladiator and Braveheart the ones that won Oscars. The genre can be historical or it can be educational, it can be fun. I love the one-man-against-the-world stories!