Will Superman Show Up in “Shazam!” Without Henry Cavill?

February 7, 2019 Movie News 37

According to a new rumor posted at WeGotThisCovered.com, the long-rumored cameo appearance by Superman in the upcoming “Shazam!” film will still take place… but without Henry Cavill.

“The Man of Steel’s appearance comes at the end of Billy Batson’s new film as part of the payoff to a running joke. Throughout the movie, it’s said that Billy’s friend and foster brother Freddy Freeman has been asking Billy to show up at his school in the Shazam persona in order to prove to all of Freddy’s classmates that he knows the hero. In the final scene, Shazam finally makes an appearance, before saying that he brought another friend with him. At this point, Superman walks into the room, but since Cavill isn’t looking ready to return anytime soon, the film will allegedly use a body double that doesn’t show Clark Kent’s face.”

The part of this claim that stood out for me were the words “Cavill isn’t looking ready to return anytime soon”. Have they seen him lately? He looks ready to me. OK, maybe they mean “ready” in the contractual sense, but still… If Warner Bros. really wanted Henry Cavill’s Superman to appear in “Shazam!”, I’m sure Henry would be more than willing to do it… all things considered.

Henry Cavill has been in Budapest filming his new role for Netflix’s “The Witcher”, where a new photo of the actor signing a “Man of Steel” life-size statue was taken and posted online.

View this post on Instagram

Incredibly productive trip to Budapest to prep and train @HenryCavill for key scenes in the upcoming @Netflix series #TheWitcher. His choice to take things to the next level is no small task as he’s currently working a grueling shoot schedule working French hours(12+ hour days -no lunch breaks) plus an additional 2 hours for hair and make up prep. His 110% commitment is no joke. Thank you to Adam @FlexgymBudapest where this Superman statue now lives. #RienziStrength

A post shared by Dave Rienzi (@daverienzi) on Feb 7, 2019 at 9:30am PST

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DougEl

If the source is wegotthiscovered dot com, you should 100% take anything there with a Rao-sized grain of salt. Every time I see something linked to that website, it’s based on rumors or the author’s personal opinion. I rarely if ever see any form of verifiable sourcing on that site’s posts.

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sundevil82

Another day another rumor. Superman fans have become the kid who likes someone that is leading them on with no hope of anything happening.

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Iluvsuperman88

Agree

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sundevil82

I know it was debunked yesterday, but I was hoping it was true that Henry wanted script and director approval. Isn’t that what’s happening with Margot Robbie?? They basically scrapped Gavin o’conners Suicide Squad in favor of Birds of Prey because of her and nobody batted an eye. And she handpicked the director. Henry and the character have been shortchanged so I wouldn’t blame him If he was negotiating for that.

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cpm72586

Cavill has no leg to stand on when it comes to negotiations. He was in three films that either under-performed, or bombed at the box office, were panned by critics, and had a lukewarm at best reception from audiences. If WB brought him back he should consider himself extremely lucky. Other then possible untapped potential in Cavill himself there really is no reason to bring him back. He joins a long list of actors who probably deserved better from their directors, writers, or studios, but what’s done is done, and the best thing to do moving forward would be to… Read more »

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sundevil82

Well like I said, I think the rumor was debunked, but if there was ever a time for him to shoot his shot, it was after the success of MI:Fallout.

Member

redcape

Nothing “bombed” at the box office. And what does start fresh actually mean? Another re-boot? As for the critics…they’re idiots as well. Their movie appraisals are what “bombed.”

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cpm72586

Justice League absolutely bombed at the box office, and both Man of Steel, and Batman v Superman under-performed. I mean, Aquaman just broke a billion dollars at the box office. Aquaman… Let that sink in for a minute. Man of Steel couldn’t even crack $700 million with a $668 million box office haul while BvS made $873 million. Any halfway decent Superman movie that audiences actually embraced would have had better numbers. As for the critics, you may not care what they say, and I don’t blame you, but you can bet the studio cares, and that’s what matters. As… Read more »

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sundevil82

I’m going to continue to say (and I know others will disagree and argue with me) that the reason audiences haven’t embraced Superman since 2006 has been because they have written him with zero personality and charisma. Add to that they’ve given him the most generic dialogue and you find yourself a superhero that won’t connect with the audience. It has nothing to do with Superman being unrelatable or too powerful, no, the writing has failed him and Cavill. Can you quote anything from the last 4 movies that weren’t Chris Reeve lines in SR? I’ll honestly wait… nope nothing.… Read more »

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cpm72586

I agree with basically everything you said. I just disagree about Cavill getting another shot. I want to see a franchise that’s good from beginning to end. A one off with Cavill where they maybe do a better job then before does nothing for me. He’d still be the Superman from the three previous films that I didn’t particularly care for.

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redcape

I guess were going to have different definitions of “bombed”. While unrealistic goals of movie profits, and I can’t argue that with what they did with JL, they almost deserved it, MoS and BvS still pulled in big money. And for all the negativity that got shoved down the JL’s throat, it still did OK. In saying that, if unrealistic goals of a billion dollars is the bench mark for these movies then their all asking by your definition, for bombs. And by the way, if it wasn’t for the overseas market they’d all be in trouble. I’ve said this… Read more »

Member

s-shield

If “Superman” does show up, it’ll most likely be a joke. Billy will be in trouble, see Superman talking to someone on the street, run up to him shouting “Oh, man! Thank God, I really need your help!” Superman turns around, and it’s just some guy in a fake suit, taking photos with tourists or something.

Member

RalphTurano

It would be hilarious if he turned around and had a mustache!

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Superman2878

And then he meets up with his friends who are dressed as the rest of the Justice League for a cosplay event.

Member

RAS

I’m really hoping that the studio is faking everyone out and that we will get a Superman cameo in Shazam.

Member

Superman2878

So basically they could be taking a page from season one of Supergirl with the faceless silhouette of Superman?

I’m wondering if Cavill had time to film any scenes for Shazam. If he’s getting ready to work on the Witcher series, would there have been enough time to do both? He is obviously growing out his hair for the series, and probably is learning his lines for that series. I just don’t see how he could do both in such a short period of time.

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Lord_Alexander

I’m not buying this. A grain of salt indeed.

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redcape

Well I hope he DOESN’T show up in Shazam. Superman doesn’t make guest appearances. Guest appearances are made in HIS movies.

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Iluvsuperman88

Exactly!!

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Iluvsuperman88

That is stupid. I mean Henry Cavill and Superman got screwed. Number one Henry Cavill is a very handsome and charming guy who made a great superman. Henry worked out hard for the superman role. Dieting and exercising like he did was not easy. He really really put a lot of work into the role. Then DC/WB left him out of all the Justice League trailers and media. They screwed up the cgi lip/moustache fiasco and these idiots think a cameo that BTW again screwing Henry over by using a body double for a superman cameo in a Shazam movie… Read more »

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car2nst

Cavill is still Superman. Nothing has even been officially stated or proven otherwise. It has however, been proven twice with the same actors such as Mamao & actress Gadot (who appeared in these “so called” less than stellar movies BvS & JL ) that the actors are not the problem but the people running the show. I highly doubt WW & Aquaman would have done half as good if they up & replaced the actors. It would be cool to see Cavill cameo in Shazam, but if some rumors hold to be true with a “stand-in” that is blurred out… Read more »

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sundevil82

I think it’s being misreported that Gunn was offered MOS2 when in fact he was given the option to direct any DC property he wanted. MOS2 just wasn’t off the table and if he wanted to write a treatment, they would have let him. This does NOT mean that they are actively trying to a develop a Superman film.

Member

car2nst

That’s also possible. Gunn would still be better suited for SS2 than MOS2. I just hope SS2 doesn’t turn out to be just GOTG in Joker & Harley costumes if you know what I’m saying.

Member

sundevil82

I don’t think it’s going to have joker and Harley from what it sounds like and it’s going to most likely be a soft reboot with new characters. While overall it was a terrible film, I did enjoy the characters in it especially deadshot, captain boomerang and Waller among others. Didn’t see enough of the Joker to give a proper assessment. Harley was good too, but she’s doing her own movie Unattached from this one.

Member

car2nst

I agree, I just meant I hope it’s not a carbon copy of GOTG with DC “skins” for the characters. (I just used Joker & Harley as examples since they were the 1st characters to pop in my head)

Member

sundevil82

Ah gotcha. I have enough faith in gunn as a writer that it will be different enough from GOTG. I think this property will actually let him go a little more extreme with it and utilize his roots in Troma. I just hope it’s not too out there and weird.

Member

sundevil82

They’re making a movie about the Trench people from Aquaman with no Aquaman characters?? EXTREME eye roll. It was a cool scene in the movie, but doing a whole movie about it? WB will never get it together will they? Shocking that hiring a guy who specializes in horror movies to spearhead your universe wants to make movies focused on a 3 minute horror scene from a movie. I would say ‘go home DC… you’re drunk’, but this feels more like them getting their 3rd DUI. This is beyond stupid.

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car2nst

Well, the trench were in the comics & the concept of them was pretty cool & horrific , but yea….devoting an entire movie seems a little off the wall. I could see it as more of a story arc in a well done tv series.

Member

MattComics

I’m not sure he would be willing do it. Or rather I get a sense that he’d be willing to do it if there was an actual movie on the plate for him. In other words he signed up to be Superman, not Cameo Boy. He’d do the cameos if he was getting a Superman movie but he’s not going to do cameos as a way for the WB to check movies off his contract. That’s just a theory. But at the same time now thanks to WB having gone all-in on Snyder, then rushing a course correction Henry’s Superman… Read more »

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sundevil82

I think this goes back to Henry trying to negotiate. Now that he has a chip in the game, they’ve folded and left the table. I don’t blame him for wanting more than just a cameo when they’ve started to do right by other characters yet given him the bare minimum. It’s not his fault Goyer and Snyder are hack writers. (I’ll give snyder his due for being a good visual director). I think Henry’s social media posts are brilliant because they show he’s still interested in playing Superman and he’s trying to get fans to rally around that… and… Read more »

Member

Superman2878

I just have to ask this, but what is the official title for the Wonder Woman sequel? Is it Wonder Woman 1984, or are they just calling it Wonder Woman 1984 since it takes place in 1984, and until they get an official title?

Member

redcape

I’m sure most have seen the trailer for Shazam. Looks to me like this is going to be a fairly, compared to say MoS, lighthearted adventure. I think the appeal of it is directed towards a much more general audience that relates more so to your light heartened and adolescent side. I think Superman(as we know him today) would be out of place in this setting. That’s another reason I wouldn’t want him in it. I think the picture above of him(Shazam) next to Superman looking at a phone and blowing a gum bubble pretty much wraps up where this… Read more »

Member

car2nst

Remember…Shazam is still a kid, just in a buffed up, magical man’s body, so it’s natural for the movie to have a “bubblegum” tone to it. Superman is also a role model for him & other Kids. (as seen on the admittedly weird cell phone footage from JL) so I think it makes sense if Superman were to make a cameo/appearance. It could be in the form of helping out in a fight, though I think it will be more on the lines of a pep talk or words of encouragement. Maybe in later movies there can be a 2… Read more »

Member

redcape

Well in my opinion(again MY opinion) regarding the animated appearances that Shazam was in, was best when Superman beat the crap out of him!! There has to be a king of the jungle and it’s not a woman……it’s Superman!! Case closed.

Member

car2nst

Ok??? I think you may have misunderstood my post. Not sure if you were offended by the post or not? I meant that Superman could appear in a cameo as an inspiration to Shazam & if they ever made more movies with the characters together, It would be cool to see them team up to Kick Black Adams A$$. similar to the animated movie. Trust me I’m ALL for Superman as #1, but the more DC characters they can properly do (whether together on film or separate stand alone movies) the better as a whole for WB/DC.

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redcape

Not offended at all!! I know they could have him make a cameo and you do make good point regarding other DC characters. It’s just with all the garbage that’s happened,.. to me using Superman like that would be trivializing him. Seeing his show up for some 30 second scene just seems wrong. And in the big picture(if there is one), what will that actually serve?

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Chiptooth

…yeah, I’m kind of in the “Superman deserves more than a measly cameo” camp, myself.

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