James Gunn Announces New Superman Movie Minus Henry Cavill

Superman

James Gunn, Co-CEO of DC Studios, took to Twitter tonight to announce that a new Superman movie is in the works, which he himself will be writing… but Henry Cavill will not be involved.

“Peter [Safran] & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.”

“Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill. But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.”

While James Gunn says he’s been writing the script for the new Superman movie for a while now, they still don’t have a director attached to the film.

Gunn did also state that the new film won’t be an origin story, just that the film will focus on the early stages of Superman.

Henry Cavill posted the following message on his Instagram account:

“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”

“For those who have been by my side through the years… we can mourn for a bit, but then we must remember… Superman is still around. Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there! My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will. It’s been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards.”

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Kris-EL
Kris-EL
December 14, 2022 10:09 pm

Heartbreaking

seelsa73
seelsa73
December 14, 2022 10:22 pm

Super disappointed Henry Cavill won’t be playing Superman any more, but also very excited to see what they do next.

Just PLEASE don’t turn this into a parady like [the admittedly very entertaining] The Suicide Squad

Marnoman
Marnoman
December 15, 2022 6:10 am
Reply to  seelsa73

Yup. I agree. It’s very bittersweet to see him go, but simultaneously extremely glad at the prospect of a new beginning. I also personally really like the idea that there will be a focus on him being a young Clark Kent working in the Daily Planet. I think the worry about it potentially being a parody is safe. I get the impression that Gunn knows where Superman needs to be in terms of being back on the big screen. Hence his sad but probably necessary decision to put aside Superman’s incredibly murky cinematic past of the last decade and start… Read more »

cpm72586
cpm72586
December 14, 2022 11:17 pm

Cavill seems like a good dude so on a personal level I feel for him because I think he genuinely wanted to do the character justice. Unfortunately, the DCEU was broken from the very beginning starting with Man of Steel. I don’t think it was the hit it needed to be to launch a cinematic universe. I think general audiences by and large thought it was okay, but ultimately forgettable. Follow that up with Batman v Superman which a lot of people didn’t care for and there was just no recovering. Add insult to injury with Justice League and it… Read more »

sundevil82
sundevil82
December 14, 2022 11:36 pm

I’m both upset and excited. I really think the previous regimes did not do superman or Henry justice. In fact they did him dirty. He should have had a completed trilogy by now and then it really could have been a true fresh start. Im bummed for Henry because he never was given a chance to sink his teeth into the role. He truly seems like a true fanboy and I love that he had so Much respect for the character and deeply cared about Superman’s integrity. Im not angry with gunn, he had to do this to have a… Read more »

Superman2878
December 15, 2022 1:34 am
Reply to  sundevil82

sundevil82, I’m sorry that you and fellow Superman fans who liked Cavill’s take won’t be able to see any further adventures of Cavill’s Superman. I know that his version meant a lot to you, so I’m sorry that you won’t be able to see further adventures of a version of Superman that you are a fan of.

Marnoman
Marnoman
December 15, 2022 5:37 am
Reply to  Superman2878

I feel the same. It will be hard for those who wanted to see him return finally get the confirmation a matter of weeks ago only for that promise to be taken away again. Even I was KINDA happy that Henry was being given the opportunity to bring a more hopeful, optimistic and joyful Superman to the screen again. But with all the convoluted and messy past that comes with his version of the character along with all the poor creative choices made, it really does make sense to wipe the slate clean and start from the beginning again with… Read more »

Superman2878
December 19, 2022 9:41 am
Reply to  Marnoman

Yeah, I can sympathize with how Henry’s fans are feeling. It’s the exact same way I felt when Brandon Routh’s Superman was basically forgotten about by WB when they rebooted Superman the first time. As for casting the next young Superman, I have a idea on who should wear the cape next, but it’s just a fan casting. And James Gunn probably has someone else in mind I would think. But still, I can speculate.

Marnoman
Marnoman
December 15, 2022 6:05 am

Okay…so… I am a bit sad. As a life long Superman fan, it felt like I had won the lottery when Henry Cavill was cast as my favourite comic book character of all time. He was PERFECT for the role. A decade on, I see him return to the cinema screens after a whole 5 year absence in a 10 second post credit scene in a very mediocre CGI-bombarded action film that is essentially The Rock in a Black Adam costume. I smiled a little. I shrugged a little.  I was intrigued when I found out Henry was coming back… Read more »

Carstonio
Carstonio
December 15, 2022 8:49 am

While Cavill and Adams would have been great in another film, the plot would have had to take their ages into account. Maybe a Rebirth-era story with a 10-year-old Jon Kent. Going back to the Reeve movies, Warner’s treatment of Superman in movies and TV has been uneven at best, with many people involved either not understanding the character or meddling with the creative process. Donner’s cut of Superman II gives a hint of what the movie could have been if the Salkinds had let him do his job the first time. Superman Returns could have been so much better… Read more »

lcmcbain
lcmcbain
December 15, 2022 9:36 am

Feel really bad for Henry and I believe he got snowed from the outset and I would have liked to see him with competent writers who truly understand the character. Curious as to how WB/DC will handle everything now. Seems like this announcement means the end of Black Adam and Shazam and WW and Flash and Batfleck as part of the same universe that will be. I assume the Flash will reset everything? Or perhaps they just acknowledge the new Superman is an entirely new and different universe ? This may work out in the long run, although that’s not… Read more »

GodzillaofSteel
GodzillaofSteel
December 15, 2022 10:37 am

Terrible news. In order to remain civil and to not bring any negativity, I will refrain from commenting in a further detail manner.

lcmcbain
lcmcbain
December 15, 2022 4:44 pm

Sadly, the delay’s, restarts, and general dysfunction of Superman in Live action may continue for years to come if the rumors of NBC Universal looking to buy WB/Discovery are true. Or if not them then some other buyer. Change in leadership will simply lead to changes across the boards and yet another reboot/restart. Smh; you can’t make this stuff up. Time will tell of course as it always does.

lcmcbain
lcmcbain
December 15, 2022 5:03 pm

Curiously, I think this announcement has potentially gutted the earnings potential of all of their DCEU movies year. How many existing fans will now go to see those movies that are no longer part of a bigger picture? Maybe they’re great standalone’s and they do well, but I’d be willing to be that it’s going to be a case of diminishing returns and they suffer financially. Should be interesting nonetheless to see how this all plays out.

supermilt
supermilt
December 15, 2022 5:41 pm

I struggle with the whole rebooting the character again. So tired of watching DC turn to former marvel cinematic employees to fix their product . My gosh how many more reboots and redos are we going to watch before we get a steamed lined set of movies. What was the pint of the Superman cameo in Black Adam if cavil was just going to once again be cast aside. Instead of fixing what you already you have Dc and Warner decide to start it all over . Now as a Superman fan I will give a new film and actors… Read more »

SupermanArmy
SupermanArmy
December 15, 2022 8:32 pm

As his Instagram message illustrates, Henry Cavill is a class act. Greatly appreciated his depiction of Superman and was looking forward to a Man of Steel sequel. Now that a follow up movie is a moot point, speculation can begin on who will be cast to play a younger Superman. For example, there has been some chatter about Austin Butler as the next Superman. Whatever Gunn decides, do not cast Timothy Chalamet! He is a fine actor but even if he bulked up, I do not see him as Superman! Of course, we must also decide who will be the… Read more »

WHSuperman
WHSuperman
December 16, 2022 12:20 am

This is the first time I’ve cried over a movie decision.

Mighty Rao
Mighty Rao
December 16, 2022 9:17 pm
Reply to  WHSuperman

If you’re a DC and/or Superman fan, it won’t be the last.

Last edited 1 year ago by Mighty Rao