It’s a real rollercoaster being a DC fan when it comes to Warner Bros, isn’t it?
Just a few short weeks ago the world woke up to the news that Henry Cavill, the greatest Superman since Christopher Reeve in the 1970s, was back as Superman after WB’s reluctance to have him back after Justice League. It was exciting – he popped up at the end of Black Adam and everything in the (DCEU) world was right again.
Today we wake to find that Cavill is no longer Superman.
I shit you not.
Cavill took to social media (here) to confirm what many of us had feared after that report last week (here)… his Superman days, which had just been resurrected, are now over: “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,” Cavill wrote.
“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.”
What is happening??!
In response to the post, Gunn posted: “Peter & 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.”
This is odd because Gunn’s post seems to be saying that Cavill may return to the role at some point but for now, they need a younger actor in the role, while Cavill’s post seems to be saying that he’s done. Completely.
And who can blame him? He quit The Witcher on Netflix for his Superman return and now he’s lost both gigs.
Later on in the Twitter thread, Gunn confirmed he is writing the next Superman movie, saying: “I am writing (and have been for a while). We don’t know who is directing yet.”
Insiders say Gunn’s movie will focus on a young Clark becoming a reporter at The Daily Planet and will see him meeting familiar faces such as Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Lex Luthor.
But what of the other Justice League members? Well, if Cavill is being replaced, you’d have to assume the others will too; after all, we have learned Wonder Woman 3 isn’t happening, Jason Momoa may be done as Aquaman and Ben Affleck is no longer in Aquaman 2 (all here) with, and there’s something strangely ironic here, Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen/Flash being the only actor/character currently safe was the DCEU evolves. Wut?
Gunn confirmed on Twitter too that Ben Affleck wants to direct a DC movie and they are currently trying to find the right project for him.
I don’t even know what to say anymore. But I know this is going to put some noses out of joint and I can’t blame them, really.
What I do know is that next year’s DC-slate – Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Blue Beetle and The Flash – are all now building to nothing. But we have a feeling there’s still more to be revealed when it comes to all this.
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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