Credit: Inside the MagicThis might mark Henry Cavill’s final farewell to DC.
Related: Dwayne Johnson Hints That New DC Leadership is Why Henry Cavill Returned as Superman
Following the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) last year, extensive restructuring took place within the company. This resulted in the departure of Walter Hamada, the former head of DC, who was replaced by James Gunn. James Gunn, renowned for his directorial work on the Guardians of the Galaxy series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) under The Walt Disney Company, and The Suicide Squad (2021) — distinct from the 2016 Suicide Squad featuring Jared Leto as the Joker — assumed the role as Hamada’s successor.
Most people know by now that Henry Cavill, who played Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent in the Zack Snyder Justice League films starting from Man of Steel (2013), the first installment in DC Films’ DC Extended Universe (DCEU), and subsequent blockbusters Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017) as well as Zack Snyder’s Justice League, has left the DC franchise following the establishment of Gunn’s new DC Studios.
Now, new reports are indicating that the former Man of Steel is truly done with DC — and instead headed for Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Related: After Change in DC, Henry Cavill Says Next Project Is “Lifelong Dream Come True”
Why Did Henry Cavill Leave DC?
The former DCEU, which featured Snyder’s Justice League prominently, introduced fans to Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince, Ezra Miller as The Flash/Barry Allen, Jason Momoa as Aquaman/Arthur Curry, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg/Victor Stone.
However, the newly rebranded DC Universe (DCU) will substantially overhaul this prior DC film continuity and reboot the franchise with Superman: Legacy. Initially, Cavill was expected to reprise his role in the DCEU, reportedly at the urging of Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam) himself — until the sudden shake-up at Warner Bros. removed the Superman actor from the DC Universe.
Superman: Legacy by director James Gunn will star David Corenswet as a totally alternate variant of Clark Kent/Superman, and Rachel Brosnahan as Daily Planet journalist (and Superman’s love interest) Lois Lane.
Henry Cavill Reportedly Jumping Ship
Already busy with The Witcher and Enola Holmes, it looks like DC’s former poster boy is reportedly switching up sides and heading to Marvel, as Hollywood insiders are claiming that Cavill has agreed to join the MCU.
Blurayangel reported that Cavill was set to portray the “greatest Marvel villain”, the Fantastic Four villain Victor von Doom AKA Doctor Doom, in the upcoming MCU film The Fantastic Four starring Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman/Sue Storm, Ebon Moss Bachrach as The Thing/Ben Grimm, and Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch/Johnny Storm.
However, known Disney and Marvel insider My Time To Shine Hello reports that Cavill was actually offered another role, which he accepted:
He was offered something else and he accepted
@bluerayangel: From the greatest superhero Superman, to our greatest Marvel villain Doctor Doom…Henry Cavill Nah this would be the most insane casting announcement probably of all time #TheFantasticFour
He was offered something else and he accepted https://t.co/rtJcaqYBc1
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) February 16, 2024
Although Cavill is allegedly expanding his repertoire to incorporate the MCU, it’s also highly likely that his work at DC isn’t truly over.
As Kingsman franchise and Stardust (2007) director Matthew Vaughn shares following his explosive new James Bond-esque spy comedy Argylle (2024) starring Cavill released on February 1, that he wants to work on an adaptation of the DC Comics “Superman: Red Son” storyline. James Gunn’s DCU will take a leaf from DC’s comic book Elseworlds imprint with DCU’s very own Elseworlds concept encompassing alternate universe stories like Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise starring Robert Pattinson (Bruce Wayne/Batman) — of which a Cavill-led Red Son would be a part of.
Additionally, Cavill has his hands full as the “Kevin Feige” and “James Gunn” of yet another franchise — the popular Warhammer 40K games by Games Workshop, whose film and TV rights have been acquired by Amazon Prime Video. Cavill, a massive fan of the games and lore, is said to head the upcoming Warhammer Cinematic Universe.
With so many projects seemingly on the actor’s plate, it’s truly astonishing that Cavill is reportedly joining the MCU. What he will play, or if he even is joining Marvel, remains to be seen.
Cavill will star in another spy comedy — director Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and slated to hit theaters April 19, 2024.
Who do you think Henry Cavill could play in Marvel? What do you think of him jumping from DC to Marvel? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
More on DCU’s Superman: Legacy
Penned and helmed by Gunn himself, the forthcoming DC movie is set to essentially scrap director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013) from DC film continuity. Titled Superman: Legacy, the cast features David Corenswet (Hollywood) in the eponymous role of Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) in the role of Clark Kent’s love interest Lois Lane, Nathan Fillion portraying Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi embodying Mister Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan (Barry), known for his past portrayal of Victor Zsasz in Gotham (2014-2019), returning to the DC universe now as Metamorpho.
Nicholas Hoult (Renfield, X-Men: First Class) takes on the role of the antagonist Lex Luthor. Sara Sampaio, a Victoria’s Secret model, joins the ensemble as Luthor’s accomplice Eve Teschmacher, while Skyler Gisondo has been officially confirmed to depict Clark Kent’s close friend Jimmy Olsen, confirming a previously circulating rumor.