After months of work, and patience from the fandom, James Gunn finally unveiled the future of DC Studios. In a first stage, there will be 10 productions divided between television and cinema. In the second sector, the new Man of Steel film, Superman: Legacy, which will not star Henry Cavill, stands out. Taking advantage of such an important announcement, Gunn also ruled on the actor’s departure.
Due to the enormous speculation and assumptions that were generated around the controversial issue, James Gunn clarified some relevant points in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. First, he claimed that DC did not fire Henry Cavill. Simply, the actor was hired to make a cameo in the post-credit scene of Black Adam, but no more.
James Gunn adds that he has a new vision for Superman, but it doesn’t include Henry Cavill. For this reason, Superman: Legacy will have a new actor.
We didn’t fire Henry. He was never cast [de Superman Legacy]. For me, this is about who do I want cast as Superman and who are the filmmakers we want to cast. For this story, it’s not Henry.
James Gunn.
So… why did Henry Cavill announce his triumphant return as Superman in October 2022? Here begins the shady business. As James Gunn commented, the former DC administration, among other people, deceived the actor.
“I like Henry, he’s a great guy. I think a lot of people are cheating you, including the old regime of this company. But this Superman [el de la nueva película]for various reasons, is not for Henry.
James Gunn.
Henry Cavill did not sign any contract beyond the Black Adam cameo
For his part, screen rant He also tried to delve into the subject in a question and answer session with James Gunn. The manager assured that DC never offered Henry Cavill to give life to Superman in a new movie.
All I can tell you right now is that Henry and Ben [Affleck] they are not part of this universe. It is important to say that Henry Cavill was not fired. Henry just wasn’t hired for the next Superman movie. There was never a deal for another movie.
James Gunn.
It is evident that some people within DC Studios, in order to ensure Henry Cavill’s cameo in Black Adam, promised him a project that was not even underway. Will Dwayne Johnson be among those involved? It cannot be ruled out, since the actor did everything possible to have the man of steel in his feature film. At some point he went so far as to declare that he was not going to accept a “No” for an answer from Warner.
Be careful, when Henry Cavill announced his return as Superman, the production company was still being led by another administration. James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins at the end of October, and from then on, they began working on the future of DC. One of the first decisions was to greenlight a new Superman movie, but without Henry Cavill.
James Gunn has stated in the past that it wasn’t a personal issue with Henry Cavill. What happens is that Superman: Legacy will focus on the character’s early days as a superhero. Consequently, they need a younger actor for that role.
Fortunately, Henry Cavill understood the situation. “In the end I will not return as Superman. After the studio told me to announce my comeback in October, before he was hired [de James Gunn como director de DC]. This news is not the easiest, but such is life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that,” he commented in December.