Continuity issues, divisive films, and starting from scratch? The DC Extended Universe had a lot to consider when developing the future Superman-centric film; and Henry Cavill wasn't one of them.
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00:00Following in the footsteps of names like the late Christopher Reeve and Brandon
00:04Routh, Henry Cavill debuted as Superman in 2013. Starring in the DC Extended
00:09Universe launching Man of Steel, this take on Kal-El was quite different from
00:13his predecessors. His more thoughtful, somber Superman occupied a dark, moody
00:18world, but that didn't turn all DC fans away. Many came to love Cavill's
00:22approach to the character, which is why he continued to appear in the DCEU in
00:26future films. In the wake of Batman v Superman, Dawn of Justice, and both cuts
00:31of Justice League, Cavill's version of Superman wound up in limbo. Fans couldn't
00:35help but wonder if his run was over as the DCEU struggled to find its footing.
00:39Then came 2022's Black Adam, where Cavill got one more crack at the part in a
00:44post-credits sequence. One would have to imagine that this was a sign he was back
00:47for the long haul. However, as we learned on December 14th, 2022, this won't be the
00:52case, as a new Superman-centric film is developed. There's certainly an argument
00:57to be made that Henry Cavill never got his proper due as Superman, and should
01:01continue as the legendary DC hero on the silver screen. However, it's important to
01:06face the facts. Recasting Superman is the best way to go at this stage in the game.
01:11In October 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the leaders of
01:16a new division of Warner Brothers Discovery called DC Studios. The goal of
01:20this group is to ensure continuity and consistent quality across most DC
01:25comics-based films and television projects. If Gunn and Safran want to keep
01:30the DCEU in order, they must come to accept the fact that with continuity
01:34issues, retcons, and more, it's past the point of fixing. Therefore, scrapping
01:38everything and starting fresh is their best move. This means letting Henry Cavill
01:43go in favor of a new Superman actor. After all, Superman isn't just some minor
01:48player, he's Superman. If they really want to convince fans they're entering a new
01:52and improved era of DC media, it would be counterproductive to bring back the
01:56previous version of their tentpole character to lead the charge. Besides, it
02:00also puts an end to this strange and frustrating limbo Henry Cavill's Superman
02:05has been trapped in for years now. Even though it's best for him to leave the
02:09role behind, there's no denying how much Henry Cavill loves Superman. He went
02:13above and beyond to be the best version of the Man of Steel that he could, and if
02:18the DCEU wasn't in the process of a soft reboot, he could easily remain.
02:22Unfortunately, due to no faults of his own, Cavill's portrayal just is too much
02:27baggage for him to carry on under Gunn and Safran.
02:30Now the cameras are waiting at your ship for the world to see the holes in the
02:34holy. Yes, the Almighty comes clean about how dirty he is when it counts.
02:37Most of the films he's appeared in have proven critically divisive, namely Batman
02:42v Superman Dawn of Justice. Many also stem from the now-defunct Snyderverse, a
02:47string of DCEU entries tied to director Zack Snyder that, according to Collider,
02:52Warner Bros. Discovery has tried to distance itself from in recent years. The
02:57Justice League CGI upper lip debacle and dead-end Black Adam cameo didn't help
03:01either. So is Henry Cavill destined to never play Superman again? Maybe, but as
03:06comic book media has proven over the years, it's smart to never say never. From
03:11Michael Keaton as Batman to Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, legacy actors
03:15returning to their superhero roles is far from uncommon. Once enough time passes,
03:19the DCU finds its groove with a new Superman, and a narrative opportunity
03:24arises. Perhaps Cavill could return to play the same version of the beloved
03:27hero we've come to recognize, or one from another timeline. Then again, with Cavill
03:33no longer playing the main DCU Superman, that does free him up to take on another
03:37role in the canon. In fact, the same day his Superman departure was announced,
03:41James Gunn mentioned on Twitter,
03:53Could he be a member of the Green Lantern Corps? Bizarro? Batmite? Time will
03:57tell, but hopefully he'll get to sink his teeth into a new DC role down the line.