The latest edition of Variety‘s “Actors on Actors” series finds Patrick Stewart talking with Henry Cavill about the Man of Steel. Having played Superman in three films to date, “Man of Steel,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and “Justice League,” Cavill hopes he can continue in the role for years to come.
“I’ve always been a fan of Superman,” said Cavill, who is 37. “With a character like that, you carry the mantle with you off set. And it becomes part of your public representation. When you meet children, children don’t necessarily see me as Henry Cavill, but they might see Superman, and there’s a responsibility which comes with that. Because it’s such a wonderful character, it’s actually a responsibility I’m happy to have, and I hope that I get to play more of Superman in years to come.”
When Henry mentions that he’s incredibly grateful to have been able to play Superman, he’s asked to elaborate…
“He’s so good, he’s so kind, and when you start to compare yourself to him, because you’re playing him, you start to really look inwards,” Cavill said. “You say, ‘Am I a good person? Can I be a good enough person to play Superman?’ And if you ever hear a whisper in there which is like, ‘Hmm, hold on a second. Maybe not,” then you adjust it, and you make sure you are a better person. I think that’s all we can do in life.”
With recent speculation that Henry could return to the Superman role… but only as a cameo in other superhero movies, it would appear that Cavill deserves more. Simply on his attitude alone…
Head to Variety.com for more of the conversation between Cavill and Stewart.
No thank you. He comes off as a really nice guy in his interviews, but his Superman hasn’t just left me cold, but totally turned off.
Would we be as enamored with Christopher Reeve if all Tom Mank’ and Richard Donner had him do was alternate between brooding and angry and gave him very little to say? I think Henry has such a good mindset and attitude for it and there needs to be a script and a director that lets that FINALLY lets that shine through on screen. Now again I don’t know if his Superman can escape the baggage of what Snyder has done already, perhaps not but I can’t help but feel like I haven’t really seen Henry actually get to play Superman… Read more »
It’s very easy to turn Snyder’s Superman into a more conventional Superman. It would be ideal, actually, from a publicity standpoint. Both Cavill and even his Superman have amassed a not-insignificant following in the recent years. This way you keep almost everyone happy.
I’m more worried about his age, to be honest. He still looks great, but he has aged noticeably since Man of Steel and any movies involving him will have to account for that, especially since these take a while to make.
The counter to that is that, even in bad films Christopher Reeve generally rose above the bad writing and direction. Nobody over the age of 8 will call Superman III an objectively good film (they might defend it on nostalgic or guilty pleasure levels though), but Reeve was undeniably good in it. Cavill has now had three efforts and two directors to try and rise above, and at best I’ve seen a few glimpses of his trying (shaky cam aside, the “first flight” in MOS really does work, and I did get a giggle out of a bet over brunch),… Read more »
While I see where you are coming from even the bad Superman films Reeve was in still had what Donner did as the baseline. I think that gives Reeve a slight advantage in being able to rise above the material. Also, it’s also hard to rise above material when you are barely given anything to SAY other than such choice bits like “No one stays good in this world.” Hard to convey a lot of charisma and warmth with that.
Absolutely agree. Both SR and goyer/Snyder version of Superman have been very stoic. I’d like to see a more charismatic Superman In The next installment. I’d also love to see a different quality writer and director to bring a new perspective on it. I never blamed Henry or Brandon for the issues with either films. That falls squarely on writer/director for not being able to write. A character that connects with audiences.
hear hear !
Has it been confirmed that he’s coming back or is it still a rumor?
Wow, Captain Picard talking to Superman. This makes me want a Superman/Star Trek TNG team-up comic so bad.
I had heard rumors that Cavill could possibly be coming back to the role of Superman but in another superhero’s movie instead of his own. For instance, he could be in a sequel to Shazam, Aquaman, Black Adam but currently wouldn’t star in his own sequel. Now my question is does he want to be a supporting character in someone else’s superhero movie?
With his success in his series The Witcher and the Mission impossible movie he was in two years ago, I would assume he would want more than just to be a supporting character in someone else’s superhero movie, even if he’s playing Superman. But who knows I could be wrong.
I don’t know, maybe I answered my own question in my last post now that I think about it.
Like him or not the issue right now with the theaters out if service, is how are they going to make any of these kinds of movies with out a profit being generated. Wonder Woman already being made had a reported $200mil cost. They won’t release it without a potential financial profit. And that includes streaming as well. So until we’ve got a solid handle on this ruinous virus if could be some time before any more come around. We all know what happens when they cut financial corners with these movies. It is a major shame that this has… Read more »
I’ve heard that some theaters are opening but are limiting the number of people per theater. I think that they also assign the seating so that there would be a certain amount of distance between customers. I don’t know if that is true though since I have not been to a theater in months and I most likely won’t be going for the foreseeable future.
There have been some movies released straight to streaming with high production values (‘Annihilation’, for instance) – not to mention shows like ‘Star Trek Discovery’, which has amazing special effects of the kind you never would have expected from a TV show just a few years ago. If the Snyder cut of ‘Justice League’ is a massive hit on Hulu (I wouldn’t stake my life on this, but it is theoretically possible), then maybe Snyder’s vision for the DCEU will be allowed to play out on streaming services … And maybe Henry will get another solo outing.
I love Henry’s Superman – I have ever since ‘Man of Steel’. Just give the guy another solo movie with a great script.
I love Henry Cavill as Superman. I’ll continue to support him as the character. All we need if for Warner Brothers to get their act together and give him another lead film. I’m accepting of him having cameos in other superhero films, but he needs at least 1 more lead-Superman movie.