AceShowbiz -

Seemingly wanting to make people recognize him not merely as the new Superman, Brandon Routh appears to have taken a contrasting acting stint in his big screen credits.

A site on the actor, brandonrouth.com, revealed that the striking hunk has nabbed a role as a drug addict in urban drama "Life Is Hot in Cracktown" for Ithaka Entertainment. Routh himself has confirmed his inclusion in the project as posted in the site's askbrandon section.

"I'm currently filming a small role in Life is Hot in Cracktown based on Buddy Giovinazzo's novel by the same name," so he said in a statement upon answering a fan's question on what he would do next after "Superman Returns." "This role allowed me the opportunity to stretch and play against type, while not carrying an entire film on my shoulders as such an extreme character."

Directed by Giovinazzo himself, the picture intertwines several unsettling tales of people in a neighborhood ravaged by crack cocaine. Accompanied Routh in the cast are Shannyn Sossamon, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Kerry Washington, and Michael Rapaport, among others.