James Gunn Clarifies He's Not Making a "Young Superman Movie, Just a Superman Movie" and Fans Question, Why Replace Henry Cavill?
Writer and director James Gunn is deep in the process of developing his Superman: Legacy film, and at the very beginning of his time at DC Studios, the filmmaker revealed that Henry Cavill would not be reprising his role as Superman in the movie. As you know, this upset a lot of fans.
David Corenswet has since been cast in the role of Clark Kent / Superman and fans have compared him to looking like a slightly younger version of Henry Cavill.
In a recent social media post a fan asked James Gunn about his “young Superman movie,” and if that movie was going to be “set in the past” prior to the events of Blue Beetle. Gunn responded to the fan writing: "I was never making a 'young Superman' movie, just a Superman movie!"
Gunn previously said of the film, "In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.” So technically this is going to be a younger version of Superman. That’s why he recast the role.
I’ve seen some people on social media question why replace Henry Cavill if Gunn is just making a Superman movie. Some of the comments include:
Then why not hire Henry because he's the one everybody wants and he pretty much is the modern-day Superman like Christopher Reeves was years ago. We want him and nobody else and he looks in his 30s It's a win-win and you'll make money bring him back. Bring back Zack Snyder to work under you or with you to finish the Justice League we want and deserve with the cast we want. It's money waiting to be made
Another asked:
Wait, so why not Cavill then? If you’re making a Superman movie that’s not about a younger Superman, why did you say Cavill was too old? Your worlds.
Gunn previously explained the Cavill situation saying:
“We didn’t’ fire Henry. Henry was never cast. He was in a cameo, and that was the end of his story. A lot of people made assumptions which weren’t true, but for me, it’s about who do I want to cast as Superman and who do the filmmakers want to cast.”
Referring to his Superman: Legacy movie, Gunn continued:
“For me, for this story, it isn’t Henry. I like Henry. He’s a great guy. I think he’s gotten dicked around by a lot of people, including former regimes of this company. But this Superman isn’t Henry for a number of reasons.”
Yeah, it still sucks that Cavill is done as Superman and we’ll never get to see his vision of the character come to life. But, I do hope that Gunn makes a great Superman, the world could use a great Superman movie right now.
Superman: Legacy will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
The movie also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific.
Superman: Legacy will launch the movie part of DC Studios’ Gods and Monsters: Part 1. It’s expected to begin in early 2024, and it’s scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11, 2025.