Dceu henry cavill: James Gunn says Henry Cavill is out as Superman in the DCEU

James Gunn says Henry Cavill is out as Superman in the DCEU

LONDON, ENGLAND — FEBRUARY 22: A Superman costume from the 2013 Man of Steel film worn by Henry Cavill and designed by Michael Wilkinson and James Acheson is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

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by Mark Lynch Follow @oldmanwadecom

James Gunn announced that Henry Cavill won’t be Superman going forward. Thankfully, it isn’t all bad news for fans of DC Comics. 

Say what you will about DC Comics, their casting in the DCEU has been superb. Among the amazing selections was Henry Cavill. Man Of Steel started the franchise and it seemed like Cavill was going to be the driving force behind the DCEU.  Then, things were up in the air.

Would he come back and play Superman? Fans thought they had the answer after Cavill appeared in Black Adam. People watching rejoiced, because not only was Cavill back, he’d also be fighting Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. Well, that excitement was squashed.

James Gunn tweeted that Henry Cavill will not return as Superman as the new DCU will make a new Superman movie focusing on the Man of Steel’s younger days.

But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022

As disappointing as this news is, people are focusing on the negative. Considering the news, it’s not shocking. Although within this sad news, there’s something positive that came from the string of tweets. Chief among them is the focus on a future Superman project, which James Gunn is writing, that would look at his younger years.

We all know the story. The last son of Krypton landed on Earth after his planet exploded. He was raised in Smallville where he learned the morals that made him the universe’s greatest hero. Almost every story featuring Clark Kent showed this. It doesn’t need to be seen again. Instead, skipping most of that will save time.

It’s also a formula that’s shown to work. Marvel Studios did it with Spider-Man. There’s no reason it can’t succeed here. Plus, a younger Superman/Clark Kent means the actor playing him can be the Man of Steel for longer. It worked in Smallville. A good idea could be worth repeating.

Henry Cavill (Superman / Clark Kent) in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max

It would be a lie to say that the news that Henry Cavill isn’t returning as Superman isn’t discouraging. DC and Warner Bros. would have to cast a new Man of Steel at some point. Nevertheless, the tease in Black Adam not happening will crush fans. Not only that, but it also puts future DC Comics projects in Jeopardy. Among them is the aforementioned Black Adam. If the creative team behind the sequel planned on Cavill vs Dwayne Johnson, then rewrites are coming. Depending on what they are, Warner Bros Media may not think it’s good enough to be made.

Cavill appears to be heartbroken by the news. In an Instagram post, he said:

“It’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life.”

He isn’t the only one taking this news hard. Fans all over social media are voicing their frustration. However, like Cavill left fans with something inspirational, there is hope: “Superman is still around. Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there.”

What do you think, readers? Are you disappointed that Henry Cavill won’t be coming back as Superman? Let us know in the comments below.

Henry Cavill Has Become A Symbol Of The DCU’s Chaos

By
Nathaniel Roark

The DCEU has been known for its lack of direction and constant course corrections, with Henry Cavill’s Superman being a prime example of this chaos.

Henry Cavill’s tenure as Superman perfectly represents how chaotic the DCU has become. Although it was previously announced that Cavill would reprise his role as the Man of Steel in future DC movies, it has been confirmed that the next Superman outing will feature a new actor instead. The news came as a shock and was incredibly disappointing for those who had long awaited Cavill to return to the role of Superman. Cavill even left the Netflix series The Witcher freeing up his schedule to depict the Man of Steel.

However, this is not the first time the DCU has faced criticism over controversial course corrections. The theatrical cut of Justice League was significantly changed in response to the critical reception of Batman v. Superman, leading to a fan campaign for the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. More recently, it was reported that the previously announced Wonder Woman 3 is not moving forward, leaving Gal Gadot’s future as Wonder Woman in limbo. While many projects and actors have been affected by the DCU’s chaos, Henry Cavill in particular represents the problem as a whole.

Related: Henry Cavill’s Superman Exit Explained: 9 Biggest Questions Answered

Henry Cavill’s Superman Symbolized The DCEU’s Lack Of Direction

The treatment of Henry Cavill’s Superman in the DCEU is the perfect symbol for the franchise’s lack of direction. There was a good sense of focus at the beginning, with Henry Cavill’s Superman taking center stage in Man of Steel, and fans were excited to see the character return for a sequel. However, rather than giving Cavill’s Superman more time to develop on his own, Man of Steel 2 was morphed into Batman v. Superman. In addition to balancing two icons, the movie had to set up the rest of the Justice League, leaving Superman competing for attention in his own story.

Superman’s arc was eventually wrapped up in Joss Whedon’s Justice League, but this came with its own set of problems. Cavill’s Superman had previously received criticism for being too stoic and gritty, failing to embody the hope and optimism that the character is known for. As a result, the Superman in Justice League is a drastically different version of the character, with more smiles and witty dialogue. This change makes Henry Cavill’s Superman feel inconsistent with his original portrayal, a problem that applies to the rest of Justice League‘s theatrical cut as well.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League portrayed Henry Cavill’s Superman more consistently with the previous films, but the character was still arguably underutilized. The Snyder Cut further highlighted the problems with Justice League‘s theatrical cut and created disappointment among many fans over the end of the Snyderverse. Cavill was eventually persuaded to return in Black Adam, only for him to be dropped from the DCU a short time later. More than anyone else, Henry Cavill’s Superman has consistently been at the center of the DCEU’s chaos.

Henry Cavill Was Wasted As Superman

The saddest aspect of Henry Cavill’s departure is that he was never given a chance to fully shine as Superman. His first movie spent a good deal of time setting up Superman, and the character had less and less screen time with each subsequent movie. The time that Henry Cavill’s Superman did have was often weighed down by the material he was given, and the hastily executed course corrections didn’t do him any favors. Cavill deserved a chance to show what he could do with the right material, but unfortunately, most of his appearances didn’t give him that chance.

Related: What’s Next For Henry Cavill Without Witcher Or Superman?

The canceled Superman projects that would have involved Henry Cavill could also have done the character justice. The Justice League sequels would have given Superman more time in the spotlight after his return from the dead, as well as a chance to interact with the other Justice League members. Zack Snyder’s Justice League teased a dark future for Henry Cavill’s Superman, which could have been an incredibly compelling storyline, but will sadly never see the light of day. The DCEU had a talented and well-cast Superman with Henry Cavill, but good casting means nothing without a consistent vision.

Henry Cavill’s Superman must serve as a lesson for the DCU going forward. With James Gunn taking over at DC Studios, the DCU has a chance to start fresh and learn from its past mistakes, especially in regard to Superman. The next actor to play the Man of Steel should have the chance to fully develop their version of Superman, without constant course corrections and questionable creative decisions. The DCU has been chaotic up until now, but future movies can learn from Henry Cavill’s Superman.

More: Recasting Superman For The DCU

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About The Author

Nathaniel Roark is a Star Wars Movie & TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. He graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2020 with a B.A. in Theatre and minors in Arts and Business Administration. He is based in Louisville, KY, and enjoys hanging out with friends, teaching Karate, making YouTube videos, and watching WAY too many movies. His areas of interest include Batman, The Owl House, Cobra Kai, and of course, a life-long obsession with all things Star Wars!

Superman actor Henry Cavill thinks the DCEU has a chance to explore the character.

Superman actor Henry Cavill thinks the DCEU still has a chance to explore the character. When it comes to fictional/comic characters, Clark Kent, also known as Superman, is one of the few characters known to everyone. Over the years, many actors have been given the opportunity to play the character, and last on the list is Henry Cavill, who plays Superman quite gracefully. But of course you can’t please everyone. Lately, his future as Clark Kent has been a little bleak, but the actor has commented on the possibility. He still thinks Superman’s psyche can be explored in the DCEU, especially after the events of Man made of steel . Check it!

Henry Cavill wants DCEU to investigate Superman

Henry Cavill wants DCEU to investigate Superman’s psyche

For Henry Cavill, his time as a hero of Krypton was rather short and bumpy. His debut was in Zack Snyder with Man of Steel and he went on to reprise roles in films such as BvS and Justice League . Now we don’t know where he stands as Superman in the DCEU. But the actor firmly believes that the character can still be handled, and that’s more on a psychological level too. During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter , he said: