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After announcing he was back as the Man of Steel following a cameo in Black Adam, Henry Cavill’s return as Superman has been cancelled.
New DC Studios co-head James Gunn announced Wednesday night on Twitter that he is writing a new film featuring the caped hero that will not feature Cavill.
The new entry will focus on a younger iteration of the character and will be played by a different actor. But Gunn confirmed that he and his producing partner Peter Safran had a meeting with Cavill about the possibility of him playing a different role in their unfolding DC cinematic universe.
“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 wrote.
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“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. 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.”
In October, after a brief end-credits cameo opposite Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam, Cavill took to Instagram to announce he was back as Superman.
“I wanted to wait until the weekend was over before posting this because I wanted to give you all a chance to watch Black Adam,” Cavill said in a video posted to his Instagram. “But now that plenty of you have, I wanted to make it official: I am back as Superman.”
The actor who helped launch the DCEU with 2013’s Man of Steel went on to thank fans for their unwavering support and the huge crowd response his return in Black Adam generated during the film’s mid-credits scene.
After Gunn’s tweet, Cavill confirmed he would not be returning to the role in a statement posted to his Instagram.
“It’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. 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,” Cavill wrote. “I respect that James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”
Cavill went on to thank fans for pushing for his return.
“For those who have been by my side through the years … we can mourn for a bit, 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! 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.”
According to Variety, Gunn’s new story will centre on Clark Kent as he starts his working life in Metropolis as a cub reporter. As he makes his way in the big city, he will meet key characters from the comics, including Lois Lane.
In an exchange with a fan, Gunn, the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise filmmaker who also directed The Suicide Squad for DC and created the HBO Max Peacemaker spinoff series, confirmed that he has met with Ben Affleck — who played Batman opposite Cavill in two movies and returns as the Dark Knight in next year’s Flash movie — to discuss the possibility of him directing a DC movie.
“Met with Ben yesterday precisely because he wants to direct & we want him to direct,” Gunn wrote. “We just have to find the right project.”
Affleck was slated to write and direct a solo Batman movie before Matt Reeves took over the project and recast Robert Pattinson in the part.
The Superman news follows an announcement that Patty Jenkins’ proposed Wonder Woman 3 idea would not move ahead.
On Tuesday, Jenkins tweeted a lengthy statement saying she “was open to considering anything asked of me” in regards to a potential third film and that she didn’t quit the film.
“I never walked away,” Jenkins shared in a post on Twitter. “I was open to considering anything asked of me. It was my understanding there was nothing I could do to move anything forward at this time. DC is obviously buried in changes they are having to make, so I understand these decisions are difficult right now.”
In an interview with Postmedia last month, Gunn said he was drawn to the challenge of taking over DC because of the possibility of telling an interconnected story across film and television.
“It’s simply telling the big story,” Gunn said. “Getting to tell the biggest story ever told is what excited me about it.”
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