Movies

Henry Cavill Might Have a Future in James Gunn’s DCU After All: New Role Possible?

BBG News

James Gunn, one of the co-CEOs at DC Studios, recently hinted at the possibility of Henry Cavill reappearing in a different role within the DC Universe. Cavill initially played Superman in 2013’s “Man of Steel,” which marked the beginning of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), a cinematic universe designed to compete with Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, the DCEU faced issues with critical reviews and inconsistent box office performance, leading to a complete overhaul of the DC Universe, now being rebuilt under Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran.

Unluckily for Henry Cavill, this news arrived when he was set to reappear as Superman in 2022’s “Black Adam” post-credits scene, which has also sparked speculation about his future appearances as the DC hero. However, recent interviews with James Gunn offer some insight into whether or not Cavill might return to the DC universe.

In an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, James Gunn, who serves as co-CEO at DC Studios and is known for directing Superman, talked about Henry Cavill’s potential role in the DC Universe and whether he might take on a new character.

Gunn confessed it was a regrettable duty for him to inform Cavill that his tenure as Superman was ending, as they discussed the sequence of occurrences culminating in this decision.

As I found myself strangely positioned, I had a conversation with Henry Cavill right smack in the middle of things. This happened when the release of Black Adam was imminent.

Gunn: “Oh, good god. Yeah.”

Horowitz: “And we love Henry, of course. [The] sweetest guy.” 

Gunn: “Sweet guy. Love him.” 

Horowitz stated: “He also appears in a brief cameo at the end. There was a significant moment on stage where it seemed he might return. Everyone felt the same way, but perhaps without his knowledge, you were already working on a Superman film, which is evidently intended for a different, younger actor. Shortly after that, you secured the position as head of DCU. Am I close to being correct?”

Horowitz mentioned that there was a short appearance by him at the end. On stage, there was a moment where it appeared he would return, but without his knowledge or perhaps not, you were already planning a Superman movie, which is clearly meant for a younger actor. Not long after, you became head of DCU. Was I roughly accurate?

Gunn: “Yeah, that’s right. Yes, correct.”

At some stage, it becomes necessary for both you and Peter [Safran] to make the regrettable phone call to him.

Gunn: “No, we sat down with him. We sat down with Henry.”

As a die-hard movie fan, imagine being the one tasked with saying to Superman, “Thanks for your time, but we’re taking a different route now.” It’s a moment that carries a unique blend of awe and professional responsibility.

Gunn: “It’s disappointing. We were discussing the job offer from DC Studios, talking with David Zaslav and the legal team about our contracts. On the day our deal was finalized, they suddenly announced that Henry was returning. I was confused because we had a clear plan – to play Superman. It wasn’t fair to him and definitely a letdown.

Gunn further commented that it was “extremely inconvenient” when Cavill’s Superman comeback occurred, but he found Cavill to be a “perfectly polite” individual during their discussion about the disappointing information with co-CEO Peter Safran.

As a fan, I found myself in a situation where there was a gap at the time, and many were eagerly trying to shape their vision for DC. However, this approach didn’t align with David Zaslav’s plans, who was the head of WBD. Unfortunately, we ended up stepping into this situation, which was quite unfortunate. I felt for him, thinking, ‘What a tough break.’ So, Peter and I decided it was best to have a conversation with him. He was gracious, a true gentleman about it. All he asked was that he could be the one to announce it, rather than us breaking the news.

When queried about the potential for Cavill portraying a fresh character within the DC Universe, Gunn responded affirmatively, expressing that he had previously discussed this possibility with him and was eager to include Henry in future projects of the DC Universe.

Horowitz: “Would it be too confusing to cast him in your DC Universe going forward?”

Gunn said, “Definitely not as another character. On that very day, we discussed it, and indeed, I’d be thrilled to include Henry in a project.

Woman of Tomorrow”. This suggests that there’s a chance Henry Cavill could rejoin the DCU, potentially as a new hero or antagonist. The opportunity is ripe for him!

In addition to Momoa, several other actors will continue playing their respective characters in the DC Universe, including Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, John Cena as Peacemaker, Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, and Steve Agee as John Economos.

Following Cavill’s departure from DC, David Corenswet stepped into the iconic role of Superman. The highly anticipated 2025 reboot, helmed by James Gunn, has been a hit both critically and commercially. Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Skylar Gisondo, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced are among the other stars joining Corenswet in this cast. The movie made its debut in theaters on July 11, 2025.

Predicting Henry Cavill’s Potential DCU Role (Theory)

Although it was disappointing that Henry Cavill didn’t reprise his role as Superman, and given the circumstances surrounding a potential return and the ongoing developments at DC Studios, James Gunn’s recent optimistic remarks about Cavill’s future in the new DC Universe may imply that there could be plans for him in the works.

With such a vast array of DC characters at his disposal, an immensely skilled and exceptional actor like Cavill faces numerous possibilities, including Brainiac, a malevolent version of himself hailing from the Multiverse on Earth-3, referred to as Ultraman, or Vandal Savage.

It’s quite plausible that Henry Cavill might reprise his role as Brainiac, setting up a possible confrontation with David Corenswet’s Superman in the future. Cavill has demonstrated his ability to play complex characters with an understated intensity and hints of danger, so watching him embody this DC villain would be quite intriguing.

It’s possible that Cavill could play the role of a more authentic Ultraman, as portrayed in comics, in future projects. This version of Ultraman is a darker, twisted take on Superman from Earth-3, and it would be exciting to see Cavill reprise his DCEU character in a fresh, new light.

A possible role for Cavill could be that of Vandal Savage, the immortal warlord. Given Cavill’s authoritative screen presence, this character would suit him perfectly. Moreover, if Cavill were to join the DCU long-term, it would provide him with opportunities to appear in numerous future projects.

If Gunn decides to make a “Crisis on Infinite Earths” movie someday, it would be an ideal chance to reintroduce Cavill’s Superman from the DCEU, offering him a fitting conclusion that he deserves in the cinematic universe. Essentially, there are numerous options for storytelling in this scenario.

Read More

2025-07-18 23:36

Previous post Why The Summer I Turned Pretty’s lead star was cut from new ’90s horror sequel
Next post Solana Soars: $220 or $170? CNBC Can’t Decide!