Director reveals how Henry Cavill reacted after being instructed he wasn’t returning as Superman

James Gunn has detailed Henry Cavill’s shocking response to the ‘horrible’ information that he’d need to shed his Superman title after beforehand saying his return to the DC Universe.

Earlier than David Corenswet’s Superman, the mantle was graciously carried on the shoulders of Argylle actor and Mission: Not possible alumnus, Henry Cavill.

The 42-year-old first stepped out because the Metropolis Marvel in 2013’s Man of Metal, the primary Superman film since 2006’s Superman Returns.

After Man of Metal, which has a median 57 % score on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, Cavill appeared because the comedian e-book character on 4 extra events: Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice, Justice League, Zack Snyder‘s Justice League, and a cameo in Black Adam.



His look beside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson appeared to sign Cavill’s return to DC, with the star even formally confirming the reprise himself.

Nevertheless, in December 2022, the actor introduced he wouldn’t be donning the superhero’s cape once more in spite of everything.

“I’ve simply had a gathering with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s unhappy information everybody. I’ll, in spite of everything, not be returning as Superman,” he wrote by way of Instagram.

“After being instructed by the studio to announce my return again in October, previous to their rent, this information isn’t the best, however that’s life.”

Cavill went on to say that he ‘revered’ the brand new heads of DC Studios had a ‘universe to construct’ earlier than thanking followers who had ‘been by [his] facet by way of the years.’

“My flip to put on the cape has handed, however what Superman stands for by no means will.”

Gunn, who directed and wrote the Corenswet-starring Superman, has opened up about recasting Cavill in a brand new podcast interview with Josh Horowitz.

Showing on a current episode of the Pleased Unhappy Confused podcast, the DC Studios co-head claimed he and Safran have been ‘coping with making an attempt to determine if we might take the job at DC Studios’ on the time Cavill was re-announced as Superman.

“And the day our deal closed, abruptly, they have been saying that Henry was again and I’m like ‘What’s going on?’” the 58-year-old defined.

“We all know what the plan is. The plan was to come back in and do Superman.”

Gunn, who claimed it was ‘actually unfair’ and ‘horrible’ what occurred to Cavill, mentioned: “There was a vacuum on the time and lots of people have been…They needed to tackle what they needed to do at DC and have been making an attempt to power their manner.

“It was by no means a part of the equation for David Zaslav [CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery], who was the top …”

The Guardians of the Galaxy director then revealed what Cavill mentioned when he was instructed he wouldn’t be showing within the DCU in spite of everything.

“We sat down, we talked to him, he was an absolute gentleman, an incredible man about it,” Gunn mentioned.

“He mentioned: ‘The one factor I ask is that I’m capable of reveal it myself versus coming from you guys.’”

“And I’m like, ‘That’s a category act.’”

When requested if Cavill would ever function in a future DC Studios undertaking, Gunn confessed he’d truly broached the subject with him on the day of his firing.

“I’d like to put Henry in one thing,” he added.

Earlier this month, Gunn gushed about Corenswet, revealing to LADbible how ‘simple’ it was casting him within the superhero film.

“David [Corenswet] was the second audition that I checked out out of lots of of people that auditioned for Superman.

“So from the very starting, I am like, ‘Effectively, if we do not discover someone higher, I feel we discovered this man.’”

In case you cherished Superman, you then’ll be happy to know that DC Studios has a completely packed roster over the following couple of years.

Subsequent 12 months, Supergirl and Clayface will hit cinemas on June 26 and September 11, respectively. Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Half II will comply with greater than a 12 months in a while October 1, 2027.

In the meantime, the second outing of John Cena’s Peacemaker is hitting HBO Max on August 21, with different choices like Lanterns, a Blue Beetle animated collection, and a Teen Titans film all in growth.