Iowa native Brandon Routh was the star attraction Sunday in West Des Moines for the Iowa premiere of the “Superman” movie in which he stars. “It’s fantastic to be able to share this with my home state,” Routh told on-lookers gathered outside the theater. About three-hundred of Routh’s guests filed into the theater on a red carpet. Others eager to see the star or get his autograph stood along the ropes.

Routh is a native of Norwalk and Scott Lorenzen, the city’s mayor, says there’s been a lot of talk in the town of eight-thousand about the kid who grew up to play a comic book hero. “Just a lot of excitement for a Norwalk native to get the opportunity to succeed in a very high-profile role,” Lorenzen says. “His career has taken off wonderfully.”

Some towns post signs in tribute to townsfolk who make the big leagues or city leaders pass resolutions and hold ceremonies to honor native sons and daughters who’ve become famous. “There has been some discussion of recognition for this neat event but there’s been nothing formalized,” Lorenzen says. Brandon’s older brother, Rhett, is a Des Moines policeman who was featured on the FOX show COPS a few years ago in the “bloody, naked guy” episode.

Officer Routh was helping in the arrest of a Des Moines man who was naked, bloody because he tried to rip through a wooden fence among other things — and strung out on drugs. Brandon Routh’s sister, Sara, is a singer and songwriter who wrote this song — called “Extra Buttered Popcorn” — about going to a movie. “Let’s go to a new flick,” the song begins. It was written before her brother landed the role of Superman.