STATUS Back when director Wolfgang Petersen was scouting potential superheroes for ''Batman vs. Superman,'' he cited Damon, 31, as the type of performer ''who can really act and give complexity and emotions'' to the character.

SUPERHERO CRED The Academy Award winner only recently got to play an action hero, in ''The Bourne Identity''...to mixed reviews.

PRO His prep-school charm and well-coiffed (albeit dirty blond) hair work in his favor as Kent. Think Tom Ripley (''The Talented Mr. Ripley'') -- minus that whole sociopathic killer thing.

CON He'd have to play Superman, too. Hard to imagine.

VERDICT This is the sort of predictable career move that Damon buddy director Kevin Smith satirized in ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.'' It didn't go over so well in that film, and in this case, life would most likely imitate art.

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