Movies

Why Henry Cavill is no longer Superman?

December 16, 2022

Almost two months to the day after Henry Cavill said on Instagram that he was back as Superman – “I wanted it to be official,” he said in the clip from October 24 – l actor was forced to admit that no, he won’t be back after all, as new DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran chart a new course for the Man of Steel in a film that will written by Gunn, which will feature a young actor in the lead role.

“After all, I won’t be returning as Superman,” Cavill said in a new Instagram post on Dec. 14, “After being told by the studio to announce my return in October, before they were hired, this new n It’s not the easiest thing, but that’s life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build.

The end of Cavill’s time as Superman was the clearest indication yet that Gunn and Safran are planning a substantial overhaul of DC, a reboot that will cut important, if not most, ties with the previous regimes that ran the DC movies for Warner Bros. Cavill as well. made an appearance in the flashone of four DC films slated for release in 2023, but sources say the cameo, along with that of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, is now cut given the studio chose not to go forward with director Patty Jenkins’ version of Wonder Woman 3.

Cavill found himself in a confluence of different headwinds at the studio. Dwayne Johnson pushed for his comeback via the highly publicized cameo of black adam and a potential kingpin for Johnson’s own DC Universe franchise. But black adam grossed $389 million worldwide, its sweet performance throwing into question Johnson’s much-vaunted plans for a sequel and possible Adam vs. Superman movie even before Gunn’s decision. The studio had its own plan as new film co-heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy wanted to make a Steel man following, having Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight to write the treatment. (The classic character Brainiac was to be the villain of this play, according to a source.)

“Ultimately, he was a pawn in Dwayne’s failed attempt to control a piece of DC,” an insider observed.

Cavill, sources say, didn’t have a deal in place to return as Superman, only a verbal agreement that the studio would develop future projects. He was paid $250,000 each for his cameos. The actor has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years thanks to his participation in the popular Netflix fantasy series the witcher, which earned him $1 million per episode. Cavill left the show that fall, though it’s unclear if the promise of more Superman appearances was the reason for his exit.

Gunn and Safran are well aware of the sensitivities behind Zack Snyder’s removal of the popular Justice League cast as well as the sensitivities of parting ways with high profile and popular talent. Forgoing calling agents or producers, executives sat down with Cavill to discuss their plans and seemed to hint at a potential new role down the road. The pair have also made overtures to Ben Affleck, aka Batman, asking him to direct a DC movie for them while Jason Momoa – who could be done as Aquaman – has also met with the duo, possibly to take on a new role.

Cavill has already lined up another franchise, War Hammer 40,000 at Amazon.

As for Gunn, he responded to a fan who accused Warner Bros. and DC for chaining Cavill to the goose black adamopening weekend. Said Gunn in a comment on Instagram this week: “Everything with Black Adam happened before I was there.”

A version of this story first appeared in the December 16 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.