Henry Cavill is no longer Superman for the DC Universe, as James Gunn plans for a younger version of Clark Kent to be introduced. After years of uncertainty around his involvement in DC's shared universe, a surprise return in Black Adam's post-credits scene signaled to audiences that Henry Cavill was back. This was further confirmed when Henry Cavill made a public announcement on his Instagram sharing the news that he was coming back as the DCU's Superman with reports circulating that Man of Steel 2 was in development.
The status of Henry Cavill's future as Superman changed once James Gunn and Peter Safran were named co-CEOs of DC Studios, and it has now been confirmed by both the actor and co-CEO that Henry Cavill is no longer going to be the DCU's Superman. As Gunn announced on his social media, the DCU will reshift the focus to a younger Superman and will recast the role. Henry Cavill also shared the news on his Instagram. THR reports that Gunn is writing the new Superman movie, which is said to follow Clark Kent as a reporter for the Daily Planet. See both posts from Gunn and Cavill below:
Why Henry Cavill Is Not Returning As Superman For Gunn's DCU
The decision not to bring Henry Cavill back as the DCU's Superman comes nearly a decade after he made his debut. While there are plenty of supporters of Henry Cavill's Superman, there are equally as many who did not like this interpretation of the Man of Steel that Zack Snyder introduce. He proved to be a controversial character at the center of the DCEU as a result. This was part of the reason why Warner Bros. struggled for so long to figure out how to use Superman and get general audiences back on board with one of DC's biggest characters. For those reasons, it might not be too shocking that Gunn and Safran want a fresh start.
The timing of the announcement that Henry Cavill is out as Superman is certainly surprising, though. It was just a few months ago that Black Adam's post-credits scene ushered in what seemed to be a new era for Henry Cavill's DC future. However, that was under a previous regime for DC and Gunn clearly has new ideas for how to incorporate Superman into the DCU. It is also notable that reports of Jason Momoa potentially ending his tenure as Aquaman, Wonder Woman 3's cancelation, and more news has surfaced before this announcement. In each case, it appears Gunn's DCU is looking to separate itself from the Snyderverse.
What James Gunn's Superman Reboot Means For DC's Future
Rebooting Superman for the DCU is a clear sign of James Gunn's intentions for DC's future. By going back to a younger version of the hero, Gunn is ensuring that Superman can be in his prime and be a central figure for years to come. It does further signal that the ultimate goal of James Gunn could be to reboot the DCU. The co-CEO did tease plans for Cavill to do other stuff with DC, but the actor's Instagram post eliminates any chance of a return as he says, "My turn to wear the cape has passed." As a result, the DCU's future could mean Henry Cavill taking on a different role and watching a new actor step into Superman.
Sources: James Gunn & Henry Cavill
