Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Henry Cavill entered the world of superheroes as DC’s most celebrated icon Superman in 2013’sMan Of Steeldirected by Zack Snyder. This film set the events of the DCEU in motion and laid the foundation for future narratives to be developed, leading up to an ambitiousJustice Leagueproject envisioned by Snyder. While Cavill’s darker and edgier version of Superman famously connected with audiences, the same could not be said for the future films of the DCEU.
The lukewarm responses toSuperman vs Batman: Dawn Of JusticeandSuicide Squadput a lot of pressure on 2017’sJustice League, especially in comparison to Marvel’s stupendous success story withAvengersat the same time. As it turned out, this highly ambitious Snyder project went through a lot of controversy despite the presence of A-list stars. Interestingly, Henry Cavill made this prediction even before the film’s release.
Also Read:Henry Cavill and Christian Bale Almost Teamed Up in DCU- Why Did Zack Snyder Vote Against This Superman-Batman Duo?
Why Henry Cavill Was Prepared ForJustice League’sFailure
Henry Cavillis widely considered one of the best actors to have taken on the role of Superman. While the star’s arresting personality and charisma ensured that the character was still memorable with fans, Cavill’s presence was unable to create the necessary aura for the other films in the franchise.
While 2013’sMan of Steelwas a positive step towards expanding the DCEU leading up toZack Snyder’sambitiousJustice League, the film, unfortunately, did not make an impression owing to a ton of controversy surrounding it. With Snyder backing out midway due to personal problems, Joss Whedon taking over the reins did more damage than good.
Expectedly, with all these problems, theJustice Leaguebombed at the box office. Henry Cavill though, was one star who seemed prepared for the bad news even before the film hit theaters. Addressing comparisons between Marvel and DC and the pressures for the DCEU to compete with the success of the MCU, Cavill toldRake Magazine(viaHenry Cavill News) that this result was inevitable even without Marvel breathing down their necks.
“Even if Marvel didn’t exist, we’d struggle. There was a style they [DC] were going for, an attempt to be different and look at things from a slightly different perspective, which hasn’t necessarily worked. Yes, it has made money but it has not been a critical success; it hasn’t given everyone that sensation which superheroes should give the viewer.”
Having candidly accepted the mistakes that cost the franchise, Cavill confessed that the only way forward was to learn from them and create films that did not repeat these errors.The Witcherstar quotedWonder Womanas a shining example of DC bouncing back strongly after the failure ofSuicide SquadandSuperman vs Batman: Dawn of Justice.
Also Read:“No one has even come close to him”: Henry Cavill Might Have Made One Mistake That Christopher Reeve Avoided While Playing Superman
Henry Cavill Was Always Destined To Play Superman
Despite his self-confessed fears about doing justice to Superman, Henry Cavill has been widely regarded as the perfect choice to play DC’s most celebrated superhero. The character though, was always part of his destiny. While the actor made his DC debut in 2013 withMan of Steel,he was considered to play the character many years before that whenTerminator Salvationdirector McG was tipped to helm a DC project involving Superman titledSuperman: Flyby.
Unfortunately, the project did not take off owing to a peculiar reason involving the filmmaker. The film which was to have been shot completely in Australia, was shelved owing to McG’s chronic fear of flying. The director expressed his deep regret at not being able to do the film, and confessed that he had missed a big opportunity to work with Henry Cavill.
As it turned out, the British star got his chance with Zack Snyder and used it to the fullest before his shocking exit from the franchise after James Gunn’s appointment. It now remains to be seen if David Corenswet can fill Cavill’s big shoes.
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
