Henry Cavill has been fired from his role as Superman just days after the axe fell on Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman 3 amid a massive shake-up at Warner Bros.’ DC Films.
The British actor, 39, most recently has a cameo appearance as Superman at the end of Warner Bros. Black Adam, teasing a showdown between Superman and Dwayne Johnson‘s Black Adam.
That came just days before James Gunn and Peter Safran were brought on as the new heads of DC Films.
Cavill took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal the news to his 22.9 million followers that he will not be back as the Man of Steel on the big screen.
Superman no more: The massive shake-up at Warner Bros.’ DC Films has continued, with Henry Cavill revealing that he will not be returning as Superman
Cameo: Cavill, 39, most recently has a cameo appearance as Superman at the end of Warner Bros. Black Adam , teasing a showdown between Superman and Dwayne Johnson ‘s Black Adam… though that was just days before James Gunn and Peter Safran were brought on as the new heads of DC Films
‘I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,’ Cavill began.
‘After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,’ he added.
‘The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build,’ he added.
‘I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and happiest of fortunes,’ he added.
The actor went on to address, ‘those who have been by my side through the years,’ adding, ‘we can mourn for a bit,’ before addressing the future of the franchise.
‘But then we must remember…. Superman is still around. Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there!’ Cavill said.
‘Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there! My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will. It’s been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards!’ Cavill concluded.
Shortly after Cavill’s statement on Instagram, DC Films head James Gunn took to Twitter to elaborate on the future of the beloved Superman character.
‘Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year,’ Gunn began.
Meeting: ‘I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,’ Cavill began
Future: The actor went on to address, ‘those who have been by my side through the years,’ adding, ‘we can mourn for a bit,’ before addressing the future of the franchise
‘Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill,’ Gunn clarified.
He added, ‘But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.’
Gunn also answered a few questions from fans in the replies of his Twitter thread, revealing he’s writing the new Superman film… but won’t direct.
Ready: ‘Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year,’ Gunn began
Initial: ‘Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill,’ Gunn clarified
Great: He added, ‘But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future’
New bosses: James Gunn and Peter Safran are the new heads of DC Studios
‘I am writing (and have been for a while). We don’t know who is directing yet,’ he said in response to a fan who asked if he’s writing/directing the Superman project.
Another fan asked if it would be another ‘origin movie’ like 2013’s Man of Steel, which Gunn replied, ‘No way.’
Another curious fan asked if it would be possible for Ben Affleck to direct the Superman project, with Gunn indicating Affleck is interested in directing a DC superhero movie… though it’s unclear which one.
‘Met with Ben yesterday precisely because he wants to direct & we want him to direct; we just have to find the right project,’ Gunn said.
Cavill took to Instagram on October 24 – the Monday after Black Adam opened in theaters – sharing a video where he began by stating he wanted to give fans a chance to watch Black Adam, and see his cameo at the end.
‘I wanted to make it official that I am back as Superman. The image you saw on this post and what you saw in Black Adam are just a very small taste of things to come,’ Cavill told his fans, adding, ‘Thank you for your support, and thank you for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded.
Just one day after Cavill’s post, it was reported that Gunn and Safran were taking over as heads of DC Films, effective November 1.
Since then, it’s been reported that Wonder Woman 3 will not be moving forward, with other unconfirmed reports suggesting that the heroes assembled by director Zack Snyder for his Justice League movie – including Ben Affleck’s Batman, Ezra Miller’s The Flash, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ray Fisher’s Cyborg will be abandoned and new heroes cast in their place.
While those rumors have yet to be confirmed, the scrapping of Wonder Woman 3 and now confirmation that Cavill will not return as Superman seems to lend more credence to them.
Writing: ‘I am writing (and have been for a while). We don’t know who is directing yet,’ he said in response to a fan who asked if he’s writing/directing the Superman project
No way: Another fan asked if it would be another ‘origin movie’ like 2013’s Man of Steel, which Gunn replied, ‘No way’
Possible: Another curious fan asked if it would be possible for Ben Affleck to direct the Superman project, with Gunn indicating Affleck is interested in directing a DC superhero movie… though it’s unclear which one
Oddly enough, just last week, Gunn responded to rumors on Twitter that he ‘didn’t like’ Henry Cavill, and when a fan asked him to respond, Gunn said, ‘Sure: false.’
When the original fan who posted the rumor – dubbed The Den of Nerds – doubled-down and said, ‘Even more ppl have reached out to me since you said this to tell me you really don’t like him. Just saying what I heard,’ Gunn fired back.
‘So weird. You seemed so plugged in! Anyway, I just had forty people reach out to me to say you just got kicked out of your Mom’s basement. So sorry, man,’ Gunn joked.
Patience: Cavill took to Instagram on October 24 – the Monday after Black Adam opened in theaters – sharing a video where he began by stating he wanted to give fans a chance to watch Black Adam, and see his cameo at the end
Henry is back: ‘I wanted to make it official that I am back as Superman. The image you saw on this post and what you saw in Black Adam are just a very small taste of things to come,’ Cavill told his fans, adding, ‘Thank you for your support, and thank you for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded
He also responded to another fan who asked if they would see Superman on the big screen again, stating, ‘Yes of course. Superman is a huge priority, if not the biggest priority.’
Cavill’s first foray as Superman was in 2013’s Man of Steel, which lead into 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the much-maligned 2017 Justice League.
Cavill also returned to reshoot scenes for HBO Max’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which debuted on the streaming service in 2021.
False: Oddly enough, just last week, Gunn responded to rumors on Twitter that he ‘didn’t like’ Henry Cavill, and when a fan asked him to respond, Gunn said, ‘Sure: false’
Plugged in: ‘So weird. You seemed so plugged in! Anyway, I just had forty people reach out to me to say you just got kicked out of your Mom’s basement. So sorry, man,’ Gunn joked
Priority: He also responded to another fan who asked if they would see Superman on the big screen again, stating, ‘Yes of course. Superman is a huge priority, if not the biggest priority’
It’s still unclear what Warner Bros. plans to do with upcoming DC films such as Shazam: Fury of the Gods (March 17, 2023), The Flash (June 16, 2023), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 25, 2023), which represent the last films under the previous DC Films regime lead by Walter Hamada.
Cavill was born in the Channel Islands and, prophetically, met Russell Crowe in a chance encounter as a teenager… years before Crowe would play his father Jor-El in Man of Steel.
He started his acting career at just 18 with small roles in Vendetta (2001) and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) that lead to bigger roles in Red Riding Hood (2006), Stardust (2007) and the TV series The Tudors, along with Immortals (2011) and The Cold Night of Day (2012).
Supes: Cavill’s first foray as Superman was in 2013’s Man of Steel, which lead into 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the much-maligned 2017 Justice League
Justice: Cavill also returned to reshoot scenes for HBO Max’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which debuted on the streaming service in 2021
The news that he’s not returning as Superman marks the second major role he has lost this year, after it was announced in October he would not return for Season 4 of Netflix’s The Witcher, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role.
Despite losing these two huge roles, Cavill will still be keeping plenty busy on other projects.
He has director Guy Ritchie’s spy thriller Argylle in post-production and he’s also attached to star as the immortal Scottish swordsman Highlander.
The actor has also been dating TV executive Natalie Viscuso for nearly two years now.
Henry and Natalie: The actor has also been dating TV executive Natalie Viscuso for nearly two years now
