So DC Studios co-chief James Gunn wasn’t kidding when he said he said some of the decisions surrounding the DC Universe would be challenging and difficult, and not everyone would like them. In an Instagram post tonight, Henry Cavill, the would-be Superman—who told the world he was returning to the character in October— revealed that he finally met with Gunn and DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran and said he would not be returning to the Superman role. Man, that’s kind of nuts and a crazy reversal. It feels like something of a mess, but also a bold reset with more drastic changes possibly on the horizon.
Gunn also announced part of his plans on Twitter. “Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year,” the director-turned-label-chief wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
“Among those on the slate is Superman. 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. But we just had a great meeting with Henry, and we’re big fans, and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.”
So a young Superman story then, and maybe Cavill returning in another role, ala the way Jason Momoa could reportedly be switching roles from Aquaman to Lobo? According to Gunn, his Superman story is not an origin story, and THR says, “rather [it] will be Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent, according to insiders.”
Does that mean a full reboot to the DC Universe as rumored, replacing Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Momoa as Aquaman, and more? It sure sounds like it, but it’s not confirmed. The news has to be seen as a little bit embarrassing to Cavill, who prematurely announced to the world he was coming back as Superman after his cameo at the end of “Black Adam.”
Cavill wrote on Instagram. “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return in October, prior to their [DC Studios] hire, this new isn’t the easiest, but that’s life.”
Variety says that Gunn has been quietly working on a new Superman story for several weeks. Gunn said on Twitter he had not selected a director yet, but THR says he is said to be entertaining directing, depending on where he is needed at DC Studios.
Strangely enough, the trades all say that the previously announced J.J. Abrams/Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Superman concept and screenplay, based on a Black Superman, is still in active development. Clearly, Gunn hasn’t killed it and presumably likes what he’s heard.
The news comes after recent reports that suggested significant change was coming and “Man Of Steel 2” was in jeopardy. Now, it just doesn’t exist. With Patty Jenkins gone from “Wonder Woman 3,” while no decisions have been made about Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman yet, if they’re going for a younger Superman, maybe Momoa, Ezra Miller, and the rest of the current DCU should dust off their resumes.
Today, reports surfaced that Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” universe would be folded into Gunn’s new DC Universe, but both Reeves and Gunn shut down those rumors fast.
