It wasn’t too long ago when it was reported that actor Henry Cavill was done working with the DC Extended Universe (although he did agree to return briefly for Zack Synder’s Justice League). In recent years, the actor has been more focused working on a couple of Netflix projects, specifically The Witcher and Enola Holmes.
Considering everything, it seems that Cavill is done exploring comic universes. However, there is now reason to believe that the actor is bound for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
His Rumored DCEU Exit Explained
Back in 2018, it was reported that Cavill and Warner Bros. had decided to part ways. Initially, the studio was trying to get the Superman actor to do a cameo in the DCEU film Shazam! However, contract negotiations broke down between Warner Bros and Cavill’s own management representatives, which meant that Cavill could no longer play Superman in any other DCEU project.
At the same time, the studio itself also admitted they didn’t have any plans to utilize Superman in the near future so keeping Cavill may not have been a smart business move. “We have a great relationship and great respect for Henry Cavill that continues to remain unchanged,” Warner Bros told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “Additionally we have made no current decisions regarding any upcoming Superman films.” More interestingly, a source had also pointed out, “Superman is like James Bond, and after a certain run you have to look at new actors.”
As for Cavill himself, the actor once admitted that DCEU has had some shortcomings in recent years. While assessing the films he had done for this comic universe, he told Men’s Health, “Man of Steel? A great starting point. If I were to go back, I don’t think I’d change anything. Batman v Superman? Very much a Batman movie. And I think that realm of darkness is great for a Batman movie. Justice League? It didn’t work.”
Nonetheless, the actor also seemed to imply that he wasn’t don’t playing a caped superhero back then. “The cape is in the closet. It’s still mine…I’ve not given up the role. There’s a lot I have to give for Superman yet,” Cavill explained. “There’s a lot of justice to be done for Superman. The status is: You’ll see.” On the other hand, some fans have also come to believe that a video he posted on Instagram on September 2018 seem to confirm that Cavill was saying goodbye to his DC superhero role.
In recent months, however, there have been indications that the DCEU is going in a new direction sans Cavill. Back in February, reports emerged that Warner Bros. and DC had tapped J.J. Abrams to produce a reboot of Superman as part of his $500 million deal with WarnerMedia. At the moment, the search is reportedly on for a new Superman. At one point, Michael B. Jordan’s was rumored to be donning the cape although the actor denied this, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m flattered that people have me in that conversation. It’s definitely a compliment, but I’m just watching on this one.”
At this point, it does seem that Cavill and the DCEU are no longer. That said, the actor’s fans ought to be excited since it seems he may end up in the MCU soon enough.
Why Henry Cavill May Be Headed To Marvel
Cavill himself may not have said anything about his future superhero plans. However, the actor’s manager, Dany Garcia, has hinted that there are “big things” happening for Cavill in the near future. “When you know all the things you know but can't share because of NDAs... You Filter...,” Garcia had said in an Instagram Story. “And just say big things are coming.” At the same time, writer and insider Daniel Richtman once revealed that Cavill had been talking to Disney. Small Screen’s source later confirmed as much but also added, “Henry Cavill is talking to Disney about a secret role. He’s actually in conversation with Marvel Studios for a secret MCU role.”
For the record, Cavill already has some friends in the MCU. In fact, he once worked with Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson while endorsing the Huawei P9 phone. And when he was asked to weigh in on the supposed rivalry between Marvel and DC, Cavill told Schon!, “They are very different universes and if a Marvel movie does well, I’m very, very happy. I love when they do well. I love to go watch their movies. If their movie’s doing well, that means people want to see more in the way of superhero stories.” That may mean that Cavill himself is not opposed about the idea of moving to Marvel.
The actor also once posted a photo of himself working out in a gym where a pair of Captain America weights can be seen in the background. And while that may just have been a coincidence (the gym was in Budapest too, of all places), fans can certainly hope that there’s more to the story. After all, no one will object seeing Cavill play a superhero one more time.