"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes," it's claimed Andy Warhol once said. Some stars shine much brighter than others, though, and in the case of Hollywood we often see actors hit big early before disappearing without trace.

Brandon Routh, who delivered a sensitive and assured turn as the Man of Steel in 2006's Superman Returns, is one such example. Routh never quite got the breaks he deserved after landing that life-changing role, so it's nice to see him back in the superhero game with an upcoming role as Atom in Arrow.

Digital Spy takes a look back at a handful of stars who couldn't escape their one big role.

Brandon Routh

Plucked from relative obscurity to lead Bryan Singer's lavish Superman sequel, Routh impressively channelled Christopher Reeve on his big screen debut but found leading man roles difficult to come by in the aftermath.

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