Henry Cavill Confirms He Won't Return As Superman; James Gunn Releases Statement

DC fans were super-excited when Henry Cavill’s Superman made a special cameo in a recent movie (spoiler alert). Since then, everyone has been eager to know what they can expect from the upcoming Superman sequel. But that dream may never come true.

Unfortunately, it has just been announced earlier today (Thursday, 15th December) that Henry Cavill will not be returning to play the man of steel. Wait, what happened? Did something go wrong? Who will replace the actor? Here’s what we know so far:

After announcing his return as the character back in October, Henry recently shared a post on his Instagram to inform fans of his departure from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). According to the actor, he had just met up with writer James Gunn and producer Peter Safran and after much discussion, it has been decided that he will not be reprising his role as the iconic DC superhero.

“This news isn’t the easiest but that’s life. James and Peter have a universe to build and I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes,” he wrote. The 39-year-old continued his post by thanking his fans who have supported him and the character since 2013. “We can mourn for a bit but then we must remember…Superman is still around. Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he set for us are still there,” the actor added.

Fans and fellow celebrities are all saddened by the news and took to the comment sections to express their gratitude to the British actor for playing the iconic role. The news now beckons the question, “what will happen to the Superman movie?”

Moments after Henry’s announcement, James Gunn finally tweeted to address the situation and give hints on what fans can expect for the Man of Steel sequel. According to the writer, the next Superman movie will focus on the hero’s early life but be reassured that it’s not an origin story. He also stated that he and Peter Safran are open to the possibility of having Henry play a different DC character.

We’re sad to see Henry Cavill go but if he’s open to playing another character in the DCEU, we’re curious to know which character would be perfect for him to play. Another hero? A villain? For now, who do you think will be the next Superman?

Sources: Instagram, Twitter