Fans were surprised when they heard that Henry Cavill would not be playing Superman for DC Comics again. Many have been attached to Cavill’s portrayal of Superman, enjoying his darker take on the role. Though there were conflicting opinions about Man of Steel, there was a significant fan following for Cavill’s performance. Zack Snyder shared his thoughts on what his version of Superman’s journey might have been in light of Cavill’s departure from the DCEU.
Zack Snyder Reveals How He Intended to End Henry Cavill’s Superman
Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder in Man of Steel (2013). Image Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures
The departure of Henry Cavill from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) left many fans searching for answers. A considerable number of them focused their discontent on James Gunn. The backlash against him was largely fueled by speculation and lacked a solid basis.
In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Zack Snyder, the director who played a key role in shaping the DCEU, shared insights into his plans for Superman’s character arc. Snyder’s remarks revealed how he intended to bring Superman’s story to a dramatic conclusion.
Snyder explained his vision for Superman, which involved the superhero battling a formidable enemy and ultimately overcoming a significant challenge. “He was going to have to succumb to the Anti-life, be destroyed, turn the clock back, and then get his chance for this battle against Darkseid,” Snyder said, describing a climactic ending. This would have completed his trilogy, providing closure to Superman’s journey and, as Snyder put it, would “return him to his humanity.”
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While fans may not see this specific story play out, there’s a chance it could be adapted as part of the “Elseworlds” series, similar to Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman. This allows for the exploration of alternate storylines outside the main DC continuity.
James Gunn Clears the Air on Henry Cavill’s DCEU Exit
James Gunn. Image Credit: CC
James Gunn, director and co-head of DC Studios, is dispelling rumors about his involvement in Henry Cavill’s departure from the Superman role in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
This controversy gained momentum after Nathan Fillion, in an interview, made comments that hinted at Gunn’s early plans to take over DC Studios. With Gunn busy shooting the new Superman film and working on the second season of Peacemaker, the director took to social media to set the record straight.
The speculation began after Nathan Fillion, who has been cast as Green Lantern in the upcoming DC film set to be released in 2025, recalled an event that caused a stir among fans. He said that during the premiere party for The Suicide Squad, Gunn approached him and asked if he knew about his upcoming role in the new DC film. Fillion shared that Gunn leaned over and whispered, “You’re gonna be Guy Gardner,” indicating that the director was aware of his role even before he officially took over at DC Studios.
“We were actually at the premiere party after Suicide Squad and he [Gunn] was in a huge crowd of people,” Fillion said in an interview with Collider. “…He goes, ‘Hey, did Peter [Safran] tell you what we’ve got for you next?’ I said, ‘No, he hasn’t said.’ He looked around like someone was gonna be listening. We were in a throng of people, but he leaned over and said, ‘You’re gonna be Guy Gardner.‘”
Fillion’s quote led some fans to believe that Gunn had planned to replace Cavill as Superman while promoting The Suicide Squad in 2021. Gunn, however, quickly debunked the theory. He clarified that the conversation with Fillion about playing Green Lantern took place at the party for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which happened much later—after Gunn took on the role of co-chair at DC Studios.
A fan on Threads recently informed Gunn that “a popular conspiracy theory” suggests “you were always planning on rebooting DC and making your own Superman movie when you first got hired by Warner Bros.”
“I don’t quite understand how that fits,” Gunn responded on Threads. “Aside from the fact I had no interest in running DC until Peter decided to do it with me so he could do the exec stuff & I could focus on creative, when I was hired to write Superman it was always intended as & pitched as a new Superman story. So why would I lie about not planning that at the Squad premiere which would have amounted to the same thing at the end of the day? How does this particular conspiracy theory make sense?”
Post by @jamesgunnView on Threads
In the midst of leadership changes at DC Studios, Cavill briefly reprised his role as Superman in the 2022 Black Adam post-credits scene. However, with Gunn and Safran spearheading the new direction for DC, Cavill’s Superman was ultimately recast.
David Corenswet has since been cast as the new Superman, with production for the new film underway. The movie also features Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer. The supporting cast includes Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Sean Gunn, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Isabel Merced, and Nathan Fillion.
James Gunn’s upcoming Superman is currently slated for a 2025 release.
