In a world where lesser-known comic characters like the Suicide Squad or Birds of Prey can headline their own live action movies, it’s easy to take DC’s original costumed hero for granted. There probably wouldn’t be superhero movies today at all if it wasn’t for Superman — but despite this, the Last Son of Krypton has struggled to find his place on the big screen for the last few decades.
After 2006’s Superman Returns faded into obscurity, Clark Kent returned to cinema in the 2013 Zack Snyder-directed Man of Steel, where Henry Cavill first donned the red cape of Kal-El. Since then, there’s been no shortage of controversy around Snyder’s interpretation of Superman, and for a while, it looked like Cavill’s time in the role would be cut short. However, it was recently announced that Cavill would be returning as Superman for a new solo film — and though his career as the Man of Tomorrow has been a tumultuous one, there are plenty of reasons why Henry Cavill’s Superman has earned a second chance.
Doing Superman Justice
When Cavill made his debut as Clark Kent in Man of Steel, many fans were unimpressed by Zack Snyder’s take on Superman. The film was widely criticized for its serious tone, which presented Superman as a much more dour and conflicted figure than audiences were used to. Compared to the brave, compassionate beacon of hope he’s typically characterized as, Cavill’s Superman felt downright brooding. Moreover, Snyder seemed more concerned with epic fight scenes than showing Superman saving civilians, making the hero seem more ruthless and destructive than intended. Even Pa Kent, usually a wise and kindly mentor, instead teaches Clark to hide his gifts instead of helping others, even letting himself die in a tornado to reinforce this lesson.
Three years later, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice didn’t do much to win back Superman devotees. Cavill’s Clark is still cold and distant, seemingly finding no joy in helping others. And to make matters worse, the film ends with his death in a decidedly rushed adaptation of his iconic fight with Doomsday from the comic storyline “The Death of Superman”. And while Cavill’s Superman soon returned in the much-reviled theatrical cut of Justice League, moviegoers were more fixated on his infamous mustache-concealing CGI than his actual performance. But of course, the story doesn’t end there.
While Cavill’s portrayal of Superman largely failed to win over audiences, he nevertheless managed to flex his acting talent in other roles. In Guy Ritchie’s 2015 spy flick The Man from U.N.C.L.E., he starred as the secret agent Napoleon Solo, showing off the kind of effortless charisma and confidence that Zack Snyder’s Superman was often criticized for lacking. Later roles would showcase his range even further — in 2018, he starred opposite Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Fallout, while 2019 saw him skyrocket in popularity with his widely-acclaimed portrayal of Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher. Before long, Cavill had proven himself as an exceptional performer, even to those who had previously derided his portrayal of Superman.
Hope For Tomorrow
Then, in 2021, the highly-anticipated “Snyder Cut” of Justice League was finally released, and it offered a very different Superman than the one Cavill had portrayed in Snyder’s previous films. He was kind and caring, with all the boundless hope and resolve that fans expected of the character. And while he had significantly less screen time than his teammates — being dead for half the movie will do that — Superman nevertheless shone bright as one of the highlights of Snyder’s four-hour behemoth of a magnum opus. And while some fans were disappointed that this kinder, gentler Superman wore a jet-black suit as opposed to his classic red and blue, his more courageous characterization was still received extremely well.
Cavill’s appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League was essentially the perfect proof of concept to prove that he could deliver a truly excellent performance as the Last Son of Krypton if given the opportunity. But for the next year, it seemed as if another opportunity would never arrive. Rumors swirled that DC would be abandoning Cavill’s Superman in favor of another reboot, cutting his tenure in the cape short just as he was starting to thrive. But recently, with the release of Black Adam, it’s been confirmed that Cavill will indeed be returning as Superman in a new solo film — his first since Man of Steel back in 2013. And along with his official announcement, Cavill posted a brand-new promo image of himself in the classic red and blue costume, its colors now brighter than ever, with his hair styled in Superman's trademark spit-curl.
With all the past controversies around Cavill’s Superman and his characterization in Zack Snyder’s films, it’s easy to see why some would rather do away with him altogether and start fresh with a new Superman — preferably one who’ll be more true to the source material from the start. But though his initial appearances were divisive to say the least, that doesn’t mean that Cavill doesn’t have the makings of a great Superman. His other roles have shown just how much range he has as a thespian, while Zack Snyder’s Justice League proves that he can pull off a more heroic Superman. So in honor of the DC Universe’s champion of truth, justice, and hope, let’s all hope that Henry Cavill’s next turn as Superman will be his best performance.
