In October, Henry Cavill created a wave among his fans when he announced his return as Superman after a cameo in Dwayne Johnson-starring Black Adam, raising the hopes that he would appear in a long-awaited sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel.
Even we presumed that the Black Adam cameo confirmed Cavill’s return in DCEU. However, at the end of October, Gunn and Safran took over as co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios, which replaces DC Films, a reorganized division of Warner Bros.
The pair reportedly met to determine the future of Man of Steel 2, and sadly, the latest updates are going to disappoint all who were looking forward to Henry Cavill returning as Superman.
Let’s try to clear all the questions the fans might have in their mind.
Is Henry Cavill returning as Superman?
As per the latest shakeup from Warner Bros., Henry Cavill will not reprise his role as Superman after all. So, if you were still under the wrong impression and not aware of the recent developments, here is your answer.
DC bosses have revealed that they have cut ties with Cavill, less than two months after the actor announced his departure as the titular character in the fan-favorite The Witcher.
It was genuinely surprising news. After all, Cavill himself had told fans he would be returning as the Man of Steel in October. Cavill, rightfully, has made no secret of his shock. “After being told by the studio to announce my return, before their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” he said in a statement.
But the actor has an option of seeing it as a freedom that brings with it a new array of opportunities.
Why is Henry Cavill not returning as Superman?
The main reason for Cavill’s departure is believed to be that the new DC movies might focus on the younger version of the character, thus paving the way for a new actor to take over the responsibility.
For years now, DC has been scrambling to carve out its extension film universe, akin to Marvel’s, with diminishing returns. Even when his Superman future seemed largely uncertain, Henry Cavill had often remained enthusiastic about his involvement, despite others like the former 007 star Daniel Craig wearing their weariness on their sleeves.
He was visibly relishing the opportunity to play the role in DC’s new era, currently being mapped out by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Even though it’s unconfirmed, it is largely speculated by the fans that Cavill quit The Witcher for his sheer loyalty to the role of Superman.
But alas! The company he pledged his loyalty to has turned its back on him, leaving the fans devasted and disappointed.
Where Black Adam looked to be moving back to the DC universe established by Zack Snyder, Cavill’s exit may be an indication that we’ll see a definitive split from that iteration of the Worlds of DC.
Gunn has previously spoken about their take on the DC being connected across movies, TV shows, and animation, much like the MCU is. It would make total sense that the new shared universe, going forward, would establish its own version of characters rather than use previously established ones.
“The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.” Cavill said in his post addressing his departure.
Henry Cavill also thanked his fans for their support, love, and well wishes.
It appears that Gunn, the new co-chairman of DC Studios and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, plans to move Clark Kent in a new direction. It seems that the next films will focus more on the superhero at a younger age, marking a significant shift in the studio’s output.
Whether this move proves to be a game-changer for DC, time will tell, but the present scenario has surely left all of us fans heartbroken.
What does this say about Henry Cavill’s future?
Henry Cavill’s departure as Superman could be seen positively as a new pathway for an array of opportunities. Even though Cavill may think he’s been hung out to dry, he’d be wrong.
It would have been fun to see what Gunn and Safran did with his Superman, and sure, it must have been nice knowing work (and money) was on the horizon.
But Cavill has essentially been handed a key, freeing him from the shackles of a decade filled with credits he could probably do without. It’s time for Cavill to finally say yes to all those projects that will make the most of his acting chops.
An independent, potentially Oscar-bothering drama, perhaps, or a supporting role in a Christopher Nolan movie (the director would surely tap the debonair Brit up for that). It would also be terrific to see Cavill take on a modern-day character—maybe he could be one of the next rounds of hotel guests in Season 3 of The White Lotus? Surely, the fans would love that.
The Future of DC Movies
For people having doubts regarding the prospects of their beloved DC movies, here is your answer.
Wonder Woman 3 already looks unlikely to happen, while reports indicate that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might be the final Aquaman outing for Jason Momoa—who may even end up playing a different DC character.
The Flash is still apparently coming out, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if we don’t see Ezra Miller’s Flash after that. The future indicates a reset for DC after the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and there’s a clear slate going forward.
Black Adam set up a potential future clash with Superman, and fans are already looking forward to it. Without Cavill, it’d leave an awkward narrative gap for any follow-up that no amount of splashy CGI violence could cover.
Henry Cavill’s take on Superman will remain one of the best portrayals of the DC comics superhero that bought joy and happiness to millions of fans worldwide. Let’s see how the big bosses handle the character going ahead.
About Man of Steel
Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film based on the DC Comics character Superman. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment, among others, it is a British-American production, the first installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and a reboot of the Superman film series that portrays the character’s origin story.
The film is directed by Zack Snyder, written by David S. Goyer from a story by him and Christopher Nolan, who also produces. It stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Christopher Meloni, Russell Crowe, among others.
An alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened, when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.
No Comments on Is Henry Cavill back as Superman in the Man of Steel sequel?