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)
Every DC movie and TV show cancelled in 2022 by Michael Patterson
God of War: Prepare to see Kratos in live-action in new Prime Video series by Michael Johnson
DC Universe
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
Key Release Dates
-
Shazam! The Fury of the Gods
-
The Flash Movie
-
Blue Beetle
-
Aquaman 2
-
Joker: Folie a Deux
Subscribe to our newsletter
Related Topics
- SR Originals
- Movie News
- DCEU
- henry cavill
- Superman
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:
Greg Evigan Net Worth
I still have a lot to tell as Superman and I would love that opportunity. Killing Zod gave the character a reason to never kill again. Superman falls to the ground and then screams — I don’t think it was originally in the script, but I wanted to show the pain he was in. I did much more emotional takes that they didn’t choose; there were tears. He had just killed the last remaining member of his species. This is the choice he made in that moment and he will never do it again. After that, there’s room for growth to explore Superman’s psyche as a deep, seemingly invulnerable god-like being, but with real feeling inside. Like I always say, «The raincoat is still in the closet.»
Henry Cavill wants to return to the role of Superman in the DCEU
Cavill is definitely right, and his approach is noteworthy. For Superman, killing isn’t even a last resort. This is completely off the list, but his last call to Man of Steel defined him as a hero. If Cavill were to return to the DCEU, then they could easily stop there and research Superman for the kind of hero he is and how he has evolved over the years. Most DCEU fans think that Cavill should return as Superman, what do you think about that?
News DCEU — Shazoo
TrueMat
68
Two Batmans, Supergirl and General Zod in the first trailer for The Flash
During the Super Bowl, Warner Bros. released the trailer for The Flash, starring Ezra Miller. The video showed how the Flash goes to a parallel universe in which his mother is still alive and there is an alternative …
Anatolylm
3
James Mangold in talks to direct ‘Swamp Thing’ for DC Universe
A few days ago, James Gunn revealed what the future holds for the DCEU. One of the projects that Gunn wants to see is the horror film Swamp Thing. The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Logan director James Mangold is already…0005
Miltroen
3
James Gunn Calls Green Lantern Cancellation Rumors ‘Fake’
Journalist Daniel Richtman, who has repeatedly provided correct inside information about the future of the Marvel and DC cinematic universes, tweeted that James Gunn decided to cancel the series about the black Green Lantern The Green Lantern series about John Stewart…
CryptoNick
17
Dwayne Johnson: Black Adam Sequel Canceled
Actor Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson posted a long Twitter post with an update on the production status of the Black Adam sequel and the fate of the hero in the DCEU. In short, you can forget about the continuation. At least for now. We…
CryptoNick
21
James Gunn knew the internet would react negatively to the Superman recast and changes to the DCEU
James Gunn posted a big thread on Twitter last night where he shared his thoughts on what’s going on with the DCEU and joked about the Suicide Squad recast. Highlight from the thread: He and Peter Safran knew that…
Mesmero
27
‘Black Adam’ fails at box office, planned sequel in doubt
The superhero blockbuster «Black Adam» has been in theaters around the world for almost a month now and so far is showing results far below expectations. Despite the face of Dwayne Johnson on the poster and the actor’s attempts to actively promote the film, so far the worldwide box office …
Miltroen
10
Head of Warner Bros. on the development of the DC Universe: there will be no four Batmans
New head of Warner Bros. David Zaslav continues to talk about the future of the DCEU and confuses everyone even more. At yesterday’s Capital Markets conference, he revealed that the film company plans to focus on building a unified universe: A strategy that…
Miltroen
16
Warner Bros CEO: We’ll focus on big franchises and films like Superman, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings
New head of Warner Bros. David Zaslav held a telephone conversation with investors, during which he spoke about plans for the future. According to him, the company intends to invest in the development of well-known and popular franchises: We are going to focus on…
Miltroen
eleven
Henry Cavill on returning to Superman: I never lost hope
Recently, Henry Cavill officially confirmed his return to the role of Superman in the DC Universe. Immediately after that, the actor spoke a little more about how everything happened and once again confessed his love for the character: …
CryptoNick
12
James Gunn becomes head of DC Studios, will be responsible for films, shows and animated series
Warner Bros. Congratulations to Discovery for finding the following DC Studios executives. The films, shows and animated series will be produced by James Gunn and producer Peter Safran (Peacemaker). They will be chairmen and CEOs of the division. James…
Miltroen
6
Dwayne Johnson thanked fans for the high ratings of «Black Adam»
Last week Warner Bros. released the superhero blockbuster Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson. Critics did not like the film, but ordinary viewers met it with approval. On the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the rating of the tape from journalists …
ILYA
6
Henry Cavill confirms full-fledged return as Superman
The fact that Henry Cavill returned to the role of Superman was said by insiders, critics, and then the first viewers of «Black Adam». The actor again put on the Man of Steel blue tights, albeit a slightly different color, and now in …
ILYA
7
Henry Cavill’s Superman has a cameo in Black Adam
First, Daniel Richtman, and then other insiders wrote that «Black Adam» will see the return of Superman to the screens of the DCEU. It will be an old acquaintance of Henry Cavill in a suit with a red cloak. Now the film has been shown to the press, but…
Magnus
5
Harley Quinn will return to the DC Universe
Suicide Squad director James Gunn has tweeted that Harley Quinn will definitely return to the DC Universe.