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James Gunn has opened up about the difficult moment he had to inform Henry Cavill that he would not be returning as Superman in the new DC Universe. The filmmaker, who now leads DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, revealed that the situation was especially hard on Cavill, calling it both unfair and a total disappointment.
Cavill originally portrayed Superman in 'Man of Steel', 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', and 'Justice League', and later appeared in a surprise cameo at the end of 'Black Adam' in 2022. Around that time, reports circulated that he would reprise the role in future projects. However, after James Gunn and Safran took over creative control of the DC Universe, the direction shifted, and Cavill’s return was no longer part of the plan.
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Image Courtesy: Getty
Speaking on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, Gunn explained that while negotiations for their leadership roles were still being finalised, news broke that Cavill was back as Superman. This was never aligned with their vision, which was already centred around launching a fresh take on the character in the upcoming 2025 film 'Superman', starring David Corenswet.
James Gunn Expresses Concern For Henry Cavill
Gunn expressed his concern for Cavill, saying the announcement about his return was misleading and not part of their official strategy. He and Safran felt it was most respectful to have a direct conversation with Cavill. The actor was described as gracious and understanding during the conversation, and he asked to be the one to break the news to the public himself, a request Gunn and Safran respected.
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Image Courtesy: Getty
The 'Guardians of the Galaxy' director noted that there were forces outside of their creative circle pushing for different outcomes at DC Studios, contributing to the confusion and ultimately leading to an outcome that didn’t align with the studio’s evolving vision.
Although Henry Cavill wasn’t chosen to play the new Superman, James Gunn made it clear that he’s still interested in collaborating with the actor on other projects down the line. He stated clearly that there would be no confusion in casting Cavill in a different DC character and that they discussed this possibility during their conversation.
Gunn has previously clarified that Cavill was not fired but simply not selected for the next phase of the DC Universe. He also recently revealed that he had turned down the opportunity to direct 'Man of Steel 2' back in 2018, during the previous iteration of the franchise.
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Image Courtesy: James Gunn/Instagram
The new 'Superman' film aims to stay true to the comic book roots of the character, introducing lesser-known heroes like Metamorpho to enrich the universe. While some critics feel the story follows a familiar good-versus-evil formula, Gunn’s approach is considered a bold step in rebooting the DCU with a fresh tone and cast.
