Should Henry Cavill Have Returned as Superman?

Published: July 23, 2025

By India McCarty

Everybody is talking about the new SUPERMAN star David Corenswet, but what was Henry Cavill’s reaction when he found out he’d been recast?

“We were dealing with trying to figure out if we could take the job at DC Studios and we’re talking to David Zaslav [CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery] and talking to all the legal people there and figuring out what our deals would be,” James Gunn, SUPERMAN’s director and the co-head of DC Studios, said during an episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.

Gunn explained that as soon as the deal to become heads of the studio closed, he and co-head Peter Safran were surprised to hear that Cavill, who played Superman in MAN OF STEEL and BATMAN V SUPERMAN, was going to return to the role.

Cavill also appeared to confirm his appearance in an upcoming Superman project, writing on Instagram under a video of himself in the Superman costume, “A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded.”

“I’m like ‘What is going on?’” Gunn recalled. “We know what the plan is. The plan was to come in and do SUPERMAN.”

He continued, “There was a vacuum at the time and a lot of people were…They wanted to take on what they wanted to do at DC and were trying to force their way. It was never part of the equation.”

Gunn and Safran both agreed that it was “really unfair” to Cavill, and they decided “the right thing to do is to sit down with him and talk to him.”

“We sat down, we talked to him, he was an absolute gentleman, a great guy about it,” Gunn shared. “He said, ‘The only thing I ask is that I’m able to reveal it myself as opposed to coming from you guys.’”

Cavill would later announce he would not be returning as the popular superhero, writing in an Instagram post, “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.”

“This news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” Cavill continued. “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.”

He concluded, “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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Cavill even sent a letter to Corenswet after it was announced he would be taking on the role of Superman, along with SUPERMAN & LOIS star Tyler Hoechlin, who also played the comic book hero.

“They were very encouraging and we had a lovely exchange and I’m excited to meet them one day. It’ll be great when we can all get in a room together,” Corenswet said. “Both of them, interestingly, sort of said in their own words, ‘I’m not gonna try to give you any tips.’ And I think that’s a very Superman thing.”

While Cavill was disappointed by his ousting from the comic book franchise, his gracious acceptance and encouragement to Corenswet exemplify some of Superman’s most beloved characteristics.