Zack Snyder Shares a New Photo of Henry Cavill’s “Pure Superman" From MAN OF STEEL
After giving us groundbreaking comic book adaptations like 300 and Watchmen, Zack Snyder seemed destined to take on the challenge of reinventing Superman for a modern age.
In 2013, he did exactly that with Man of Steel, which was a bold, gritty reboot that redefined what a superhero origin story could be.
While Man of Steel remains a fan favorite for many, it also sparked passionate debate among DC fans. The large-scale destruction of Metropolis, Superman’s moral struggles, and his controversial choice to kill General Zod continue to divide audiences even years later.
Despite the mixed reactions, Henry Cavill’s Superman became a defining image of the DCEU, leading into Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Snyder had originally envisioned a complete trilogy that would take Superman through darkness and corruption under Darkseid’s control before ultimately finding redemption and hope. Unfortunately, that full vision never came to life.
Cavill would later return briefly in Black Adam’s post-credits scene teasing a big return that would never happen. He also filmed a cameo for The Flash, but it never saw the light of day after DC Studios restructured and began charting a new course with James Gunn and Peter Safran at the helm.
Now that Snyder has joined Instagram, the filmmaker has been giving fans an intimate look behind the scenes of his DC projects. His latest post features a Polaroid of Cavill in full Superman costume from Man of Steel, captioned simply:
“I love this photo... it is pure Superman.”
It’s a striking image of Cavill standing tall, eyes intense, but as many have noted, it captures more of the stoic, burdened side of Superman than the hopeful one. Snyder’s Superman was always about the internal struggle of being an alien among humans, a savior who never asked to be one.
In contrast, Gunn’s Superman film showcased a lighter, more optimistic version of the character, reminiscent of the hero’s classic comic book roots. Still, Gunn has expressed empathy for Cavill’s experience during the DC shake-up, saying:
“It’s terrible,” Gunn said of Cavill's unceremonious DCEU exit. “Believe it or not, the day we were dealing with trying to figure out if we could take the job at DC Studios, the day the deal closed, all of a sudden, they were announcing that Henry was back.
“And I was like, ‘What is going on? We know what the plan is. The plan was to come in and do ‘Superman.’ It was really unfair to him and a total bummer.”
Gunn went on to explain: “There was a vacuum at the time and a lot of people were... They had a take on what they wanted to do at DC and they were trying to force their way and it was just never part of the equation for [WBD CEO] David Zaslav. We came in, and that was really unfortunate. I’m like, ‘This poor guy.’”
The DC Studios co-chief has since said he “would love” to cast Cavill in another role, adding that the two have spoken about it.
While Snyder’s vision for Superman may have ended sooner than expected, his latest photo reminds fans of the raw, powerful presence Cavill brought to the role. It’s a glimpse of a Superman who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and still stood tall.