The internet went nuts this week when The Hollywood Reporter posted an exclusive report that Henry Cavill would no longer be playing Superman in Warner Brothers’ DC Extended Universe.
Things only got weirder from there as rumors that Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan was in the running to take over the role and Cavill himself posted a video to Instagram that was less than enlightening.
Since this news has dropped we’ve heard conflicting reports that Cavill is not in fact leaving the DCEU.
In short, the DCEU, as always, is a bit of a hot mess.
So we’ve taken it upon ourselves to think about who would replace Cavill if in fact Justice League ends up being Cavill’s last turn as the Man of Steel. We’re also working through our feelings on the news, from relief to sadness to ambivalence, check out our thoughts below.
Daryn Kirscht:
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…Henry Cavill leaving the role of Superman? That is something I thought I wouldn’t hear for at least another 10 years. The approach to the character that both he and Zack Snyder have taken is something that has resonated with me personally. This modern incarnation of Superman was not your typical “blue boy scout.” He was written and portrayed in a grounded, relatable way with nearly impossible challenges and circumstances. There is real character development throughout his arc in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and it’s a shame we [might not] get to see his initially-intended five movie arc by Snyder.
I cannot partake in any discussion about recasting the role right now because, to me, now is not the time for that. We just learned of Cavill’s potential exit from the role and the focus should be on Cavill and his time as Clark Kent/Superman. Without Cavill in the role moving forward, I think some time needs to pass before a new generation’s Kal-El should be born.
To me, Henry Cavill IS the modern Superman on and off screen. Not only did he have the best suit of any incarnation of the character (as well as overall soundtrack, in my humble opinion), he brought an edgy gravitas to a role that has been dominated by one person’s take on the character from 40 years ago. Christopher Reeve’s Superman is iconic and should never be forgotten (as well as Tom Welling’s take on a younger Clark Kent), but Cavill’s more well-rounded take on the character should live on and will hopefully age like a fine wine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHUkdsVVEk4
Josh Sarnecky:
If Henry Cavill is indeed out as Superman in the DC Extended Universe, there is one clear choice to replace him. Nicolas Cage. Twenty years after Cage missed his chance to play the iconic superhero, he finally has another chance! All joking aside, WB has the daunting task of recasting one of the world’s most famous superheroes. While I think that this choice might be a stretch, I’m giving my vote for Oscar Isaac.
Isaac is one of the busiest actors in Hollywood today for good reason. Capable of taking the lead in award-garnering films like Inside Llewyn Davis and standing out in the assemble casts of blockbusters like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Isaac could easily shine in a standalone Superman film and spearhead a team in a Justice League movie. Following the common criticism that Cavill’s Superman lacked charisma, Isaac would be a huge step in the right direction. The man absolutely radiates charm. His sheer talent would immediately elevate every scene and bring out the best in the actors around him.
That all being said, there is one clear factor going against Isaac. At 39 years old, the actor may be getting too old to play Superman. While he is only four years older than Cavill, Isaac’s age could be a problem if they’re looking for an actor to take on the role long term. This concern is especially relevant if (1) WB doesn’t want to reboot the role and simply wants the new actor to pick up where Cavill left off and (2) this new Superman is meant to carry the mantle for as long as Gal Gadot (age 33) will be playing Wonder Woman.
Outside of the longevity issue, there may also be a cloud hanging over Isaac after his last appearance in a superhero film (the titular character in X-Men: Apocalypse) failed to impress. However, I am positive that he can bounce back from that Ivan Ooze knock-off (Google that reference if you didn’t grow up in the ’90s). No amount of face paint or kryptonite could stop Isaac from being a spectacular Superman. It may be a longs hot, but he has all of the intangible qualities needed for the next great Superman.
Rob Crowther IV:
As long as I can remember, Superman has been my favorite superhero. As a kid, I would constantly watch all of the Christopher Reeve movies over and over again. I’ve said this before but some actors really just completely embody the role they play and become irreplaceable. Reeves is a perfect example of this along with actors like Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
Although Reeves can never be replaced, Cavill was a solid choice. I had huge issues with the plot and some character choices in movies like Man of Steel and Batman Vs. Superman. But Cavill’s look, voice, and boy scout-esque ways really were very on point. That being said, I hated just about every time they tried to make Superman a badass, which happened constantly. In Man of Steel they missed the mark when he essentially destroyed Metropolis battling Zod and then killed the Kryptonian with his bare hands.
In the following movies they would have Superman fight the other heroes just about as much as he fought the villains. Again, Cavill is a great choice for Superman, but they really messed with the character in the DCEU much to my constant frustration. There were glimpses of what the character should have been when he did things like rescue kids and race the Flash, but it may have been too little, too late.
While DC and DC TV are killing it with their characters, the DCEU is an absolute disaster. (I’m not counting Wonder Woman, because that movie is fantastic) Now they may have lost their Superman, and I’m not even surprised or devastated. I’ve really invested in the Superman character over the years, embracing most incarnations of the hero including names like: Tom Welling, Dean Cain, and even Tyler Hoechlin (Supergirl). Cavill was good as Superman, but the scripts never really did him Justice. Pun very much intended.
Bill Bodkin:
Henry Cavill took a lot of heat for being Superman. Mostly because he wasn’t Christopher Reeve. Probably also because everyone wants to forget Brandon Routh’s performance (which I still blame on the script and not his performance). And mostly because comic book fans literally hate everything. Prove me wrong. I’ll wait. Good.
To me, Cavill was more than adequate as Superman. In fact, I’d say he was a very good Superman.
But who would replace him if he in fact leaves?
If you look at the history of casting for Superman, the men who’ve donned the cape have been mostly relative unknowns…except Cavill. Christopher Reeve had a handful of small roles under his belt, Dean Cain and Tom Welling had small guest roles on TV shows, and Brandon Routh had a year run on a soap opera. Cavill, at least, had a number of supporting roles in high profile, albeit commercially disastrous films (Stardust, Red Riding Hood), a three-year run on the cable drama The Tudors, and starred in the surprising hit, Immortals.
Logic would dictate the next Superman would also be a relative unknown. However, the idea of Michael B. Jordan as Superman is fascinating. He’s one of the best young(ish) actors in Hollywood today. His box office clout is only getting stronger. He’s a veteran of comic book films (Fantastic Four, Black Panther), and let’s not forget…the guy can act. It would be an absolute coup for the DCEU to snag him.
However, this is the DCEU, and the choice will likely go to an unheard of actor, and we’ll probably get another reboot on Superman’s origin story. The ideal situation would be Cavill sticks around for another film or two, or we get Jordan in the lead.
