Director reveals how Henry Cavill reacted after being told he wasn’t returning as Superman

James Gunn has detailed Henry Cavill’s surprising reaction to the ‘terrible’ news that he’d have to shed his Superman title after previously announcing his return to the DC Universe.

Before David Corenswet’s Superman, the mantle was graciously carried on the shoulders of Argylle actor and Mission: Impossible alumnus, Henry Cavill.

The 42-year-old first stepped out as the Metropolis Marvel in 2013’s Man of Steel, the first Superman movie since 2006’s Superman Returns.

After Man of Steel, which has an average 57 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, Cavill appeared as the comic book character on four more occasions: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Zack Snyder's Justice League, and a cameo in Black Adam.

His appearance beside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson seemed to signal Cavill’s return to DC, with the star even officially confirming the reprise himself.

However, in December 2022, the actor announced he would not be donning the superhero’s cape again after all.

“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,” he wrote via Instagram.

“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.”

Henry Cavill announced he was returning as Superman, only to make a U-turn months later (Warner Bros.)

Cavill went on to say that he ‘respected’ the new heads of DC Studios had a ‘universe to build’ before thanking fans who had ‘been by [his] side through the years.’

“My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will.”

Gunn, who directed and wrote the Corenswet-starring Superman, has opened up about recasting Cavill in a new podcast interview with Josh Horowitz.

Appearing on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the DC Studios co-head claimed he and Safran were ‘dealing with trying to figure out if we could take the job at DC Studios’ at the time Cavill was re-announced as Superman.

“And the day our deal closed, all of a sudden, they were announcing that Henry was back and I’m like ‘What is going on?’” the 58-year-old explained.

“We know what the plan is. The plan was to come in and do Superman.”

Gunn, who claimed it was ‘really unfair’ and ‘terrible’ what happened to Cavill, said: “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.

James Gunn revealed Henry Cavill's reaction to his 'firing' in a recent interview (Happy Sad Confused podcast/YouTube)

“It was never part of the equation for David Zaslav [CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery], who was the head ...”

The Guardians of the Galaxy director then revealed what Cavill said when he was told he wouldn’t be appearing in the DCU after all.

“We sat down, we talked to him, he was an absolute gentleman, a great guy about it,” Gunn said.

“He said: ‘The only thing I ask is that I’m able to reveal it myself as opposed to coming from you guys.’”

“And I’m like, ‘That’s a class act.'”

When asked if Cavill would ever feature in a future DC Studios project, Gunn confessed he’d actually broached the topic with him on the day of his firing.

“I would love to put Henry in something,” he added.

Earlier this month, Gunn gushed about Corenswet, revealing to LADbible how ‘easy’ it was casting him in the superhero movie.

“David [Corenswet] was the second audition that I looked at out of hundreds of people who auditioned for Superman.

Gunn said casting Corenswet was 'easy' (Warner Bros.)

“So from the very beginning, I'm like, ‘Well, if we don't find somebody better, I think we found this guy.’”

If you loved Superman, then you’ll be pleased to know that DC Studios has an absolutely packed roster over the next couple of years.

Next year, Supergirl and Clayface will hit cinemas on June 26 and September 11, respectively. Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II will follow more than a year later on October 1, 2027.

Meanwhile, the second outing of John Cena’s Peacemaker is hitting HBO Max on August 21, with other offerings like Lanterns, a Blue Beetle animated series, and a Teen Titans movie all in development.