Can There Be More Than One Version of Superman?

By Michael Moreno

As reported earlier this month, a recent article by TheWrap.com talked about how Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav may decide to scrap current Superman projects in favor of moving forward with possible Henry Cavill Superman movies.

Currently, it is unknown whether the possible plans that Zaslav might have for Henry Cavill’s Superman could or would affect The CW’s Superman series “Superman & Lois”. The question has to be asked, can there be more than one version of Superman in movies and television at the same time?

In 2013, director Zack Snyder’s Superman film “Man of Steel” debuted. Success of the movie lead to a follow up film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, which was released three years later, pitting Gotham City’s Batman against Metropolis’ Superman. Then, in 2017, director Josh Whedon’s version of the film “Justice League” was released. While the 2017 version of that film was met with much disappointment by its viewers, director Zack Snyder released his version of the film in early 2021, on the streaming service HBO Max, and it was met with praise from its viewers. In between 2017 and 2021, Henry Cavill’s Superman did not resurface. And since Snyder’s “Justice League” film, there have been no known plans for Cavill’s return to the role. However, things may change if Discovery’s CEO David Zaslav decides differently.

While Henry Cavill has been absent in playing the role, Superman has been soaring high on The CW in the series, “Superman & Lois”. The show has been met with high praise from its viewers, but many are wondering whether, if Zaslav does return Cavill to the role of Superman, would it affect the “Superman & Lois” series? Can there be two versions of Superman going on at the same time? Or possibly three, if Superman actor Brandon Routh also gets a series or movie?

Brandon Routh played the Man of Steel in Bryan Singer’s 2006 “Superman Returns” film, and fans rejoiced in Brandon’s return to the Superman role in The CW’s winter 2019-2020 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. Since then, fans have been wondering if and when Brandon will return to the role. In November of 2021, Brandon participated in an interview with comicbook.com saying that he’s looked into a series, and in regards to having an interest in playing Superman again, he has said “absolutely… given the story is the right story and Superman portrayed in the way that I see Superman. I was absolutely always interested in that. I have made my own investigations about the possibility of something like that.” Brandon also talked about Tyler’s Superman, supporting him saying, “Tyler’s doing an awesome job on that”. Currently, there is no news regarding whether Brandon will return to play Superman, but even the actor has said, “It’s hard to say what the next few years will bring, but where I used to say, I didn’t think I’d ever play Superman again, having been able to play him again in ‘Crisis,’ now I say, the sky’s the limit. Who knows?” This gives hope to fans of Brandon’s Superman, that he is still interested in the role, and that anything is possible.

So where does this currently leave Superman? If Cavill returns to the role, could fans accept multiple different versions of the character, one on the big screen, one on The CW, and a third possible Superman series or movie on HBO Max? All three co-existing at the same time? Marvel’s Spider-Man movie “Spider-Man: No Way Home” had Spider-Man actors Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland – all three versions of Spider-Man – on screen together at the same time for a multiverse adventure. While Marvel is a different company than DC, the superhero The Flash (who is owned by DC) also has an upcoming film “The Flash”, where more than one version of the caped crusader Batman (played by Michael Keaton and possibly Ben Affleck) might join the super speedster for a multiverse adventure, as well as a version of Supergirl from an alternate dimension or altered timeline. Since The Flash and Spider-Man are both exploring the realms of the multiverse and meeting alternate versions of themselves, shouldn’t Superman do the same as well?

Batman has also had a recent film released titled “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson. If there can be more than on version of Batman on the big screen, why not Superman?

What would it look like if Cavill’s Superman met Routh’s and Hoechlin’s versions of Superman on the big screen? What would that movie even be about if they did crossover to each other’s worlds? Who would the main antagonist be? And who would, or could, direct such a crossover film or films?

Superman has always been a hero who has given hope to his fans. For some fans, actor Brandon Routh embodies the hope that Superman brings, while other fans prefer Henry Cavill to shine in the role. And some prefer Tyler Hoechlin’s iconic take on the character. So, if each Superman actor gives hope as their version of Superman, then why take away that hope that one Superman actor provides for his fan base for the sake of another Superman’s fan base? Especially when the world needs all the hope it can get right now. The more actors we have playing the role of Superman, the more the world gets from a hero who stands for hope.

Would Warner Bros. Discovery and its CEO David Zaslav allow “Superman & Lois” to continue after its third season next year? Would they allow any other versions of Superman to coexist with Cavill’s Superman for that matter? An article by Variety.com reveals that “Discovery believes that several top-shelf characters such as Superman have been left to languish and need to be revitalized.” Wouldn’t it make sense that the best way to revitalize the Superman character would be to spotlight all three live action versions of Superman that fans have most positively responded to in recent years?

While it doesn’t currently look like any possible Superman movie starring Henry Cavill would affect Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman series, fans of “Superman & Lois” can likely expect that the series will continue on for the foreseeable future on The CW. And while there has been no official announcement on Henry returning to play Superman, or any announcement on Brandon’s return to Superman, the media world currently waits for Warner Bros. Discovery’s and David Zaslav’s plans for Superman. Only time will tell what those plans are, and if those plans include multiple versions of Superman or not. What are the fans’ thoughts on this topic? Can there be more than one version of Superman going on at the same time? Will we see a Henry Cavill, Brandon Routh, and Tyler Hoechlin Superman multiverse crossover event? Could, or should, there be a crossover with all three versions of Superman? I believe that there would be a lot of Superman fans that would be happy if all three actors had Superman projects in the works and a crossover. Would you like to see Henry Cavill, Brandon Routh, and Tyler Hoechlin have their own Superman projects and would you like to see a crossover with all three versions of Superman?

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