Comment DC Studios has a new “Superman” movie in the works — but it won’t feature Henry Cavill as the franchise’s eponymous hero, according to the studio’s co-director and the British actor himself. “Just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone,” Cavill wrote in a statement posted Thursday on Instagram, referring to the studio’s co-directors. “I, after all, won’t be coming back as Superman.” The news comes just weeks after Cavill announced he would return as Superman, though he did not reveal details about the film at the time, and entertainment news outlets reported that there were different ideas being considered for the franchise. “Having been told by the studio to announce my return in October, prior to their hiring, this is not the easiest news, but such is life,” Cavill said in a statement on Wednesday. He added, “I respect that James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and everyone involved in the new universe the best of luck and the happiest of fortunes.” Gunn announced in a tweet late Wednesday that he is writing the new film, which will focus “on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.” “But we’ve just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re huge fans and we’ve talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future,” added Gunn. Gunn and Safran were hired to lead DC Studios this October, and this is their first major project announcement since taking over. Gunn – who is known for directing “The Suicide Squad” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” – said he has been writing the script for the new “Superman” film “for a while” and is looking for a director for the project. Peter and I have a DC slate about to launch, which we couldn’t be more over the moon about. we will be able to share some exciting information about our first projects early in the new year. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022 The news comes amid major upheaval at DC Studios owner Warner Bros. Discovery, which was created after the recent merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. After the merger, Warner Bros. announced a number of planned content cancellations in an effort to save money, including superhero projects such as “Wonder Woman 3,” which Patty Jenkins was set to direct. The company said in October that the price of its content cuts could be as high as $2.5 billion. HBO Max and Discovery Plus to merge into single streaming service Cavill has played Superman since 2013’s “Man of Steel” and in each of the three DC Extended Universe films that have come out since then. He made a cameo as Superman in “Black Adam,” which was released in October. In a video at the time, he said his appearance in “Black Adam” was a “very small taste of things to come” and told fans their patience would be “rewarded”. Zack Snyder, who directed the previous four DC Extended Universe “Superman” films starring Cavill, was asked in a radio interview last month if he would return to DC Studios under the leadership of Gunn and Safran. “As far as I know, which is very little… I’m doing my own thing and I didn’t ask anyone to call me or anything,” he replied. “So I wish them all the best and I hope they make some good movies.” According to Variety, the new film under Gunn will feature Superman as his alter ego, Clark Kent, working as a reporter in the fictional city of Metropolis, where he meets fellow reporter and future love interest Lois Lane. The plans for Warner Bros. Discovery to release a different “Superman” movie, produced by JJ Abrams and written by novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates, are continuing, Variety reported.
