Superman director condemns DC Studios for its 'terrible' handling of Henry Cavill after announcing the actor's return as Man Of Steel - before handing role to David Corenswet
Gunn has overseen something of a renaissance for the beleaguered franchise, with his reimagining of Superman - starring relative newcomer David Corenswet - currently enjoying enormous box-office success.
But Corenswet's appointment came after fan-favourite Cavill, who starred as the iconic superhero across five films, was told his services were no longer required.
Recalling his uncomfortable conversation with the British actor during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn admitted the situation was worsened by DC Studios initially announcing his return.
He said: 'It's terrible. 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.'
Cavill, 42, had announced that he was set to reprise the role he first played in 2013 blockbuster Man Of Steel, only to reveal two months later that he wouldn't be part of the new DC Studios co-head's vision for the franchise.
'I'm like, what is going on? Like, we know what the plan is, the plan was to come in and do Superman,' said Gunn. 'That was really unfortunate, I'm like, this poor guy.'
Cavill was released following a series of commercial misfires as the superhero, among them box office flop The Flash, released to poor reviews in 2023.
But Gunn says he was impressed with how the actor handled the news after he and Superman producer Peter Safran told him he would not be returning to the franchise.
He added: 'And so Peter and I [knew] the right thing to do is to sit down with [Cavill] and talk to him. And we sat down, we talked to him, he was an absolute gentleman, a great guy about it.
'He said, "The only thing I ask is that I'm able to reveal it myself as opposed to it coming from you guys."
'It was really unfair to him and was a total bummer.'
Gunn explained there were external influences who 'wanted to take on what they wanted to do at DC and were trying to force their way and it just was never a part of the equation.'
The filmmaker - who ultimately cast Corenswet in the title role of his Superman movie - was asked if it would be "too confusing" to recast Henry in a different DC Universe role, and he admitted he is keen to work with the Witcher star.
Confirming his departure on social media in 2022, a gracious Cavill admitted he was blindsided by the news after initially being told he would retain the role
He said: 'No, as another character? Absolutely not. I talked to him about it on that day. I would love to put Henry in something.'
Confirming his departure on social media in 2022, a gracious Cavill admitted he was blindsided by the news after initially being told he would retain the role.
'I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it's sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,' he told Instagram followers.
'After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn't the easiest, but that's life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build.
'I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and happiest of fortunes.'
The actor went on to address, 'those who have been by my side through the years,' adding, 'we can mourn for a bit,' before addressing the future of the franchise.
'But then we must remember.... Superman is still around. Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there!' he said.
'Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there! My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will.
'It's been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards!'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Osiris review – Linda Hamilton drops in to rescue charmingly hokey space-horror
An entertaining-enough space-horror, a mishmash of storylines and character types that sees some special forces commandos abducted by a gang (herd? flock? troop?) of aliens whose intentions are aligned more closely with the likes of the predator than lovely little ET the Extra-Terrestrial. The pop culture off-worlders these beasties most resemble physically, however, are the xenomorphs from James Cameron's Aliens – and not the massive multi-limbed queen, mind you, but the smaller foot-soldier guys who can be played by a fella in a suit. This fella-in-a-suit aspect is the one of the film's strengths. You might argue that it hinders the willing suspension of disbelief, because you always know you're looking at a fella in a suit. But in truth there's something about the physicality of even the hokiest practical effect that is more enjoyable than all but the most skilfully rendered digital efforts. Another area in which the film recalls the earlier work of James Cameron is in the casting of Linda Hamilton (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) in the role of a tough, uncompromising military type. Lest fans get too excited by the Hamilton-heavy marketing for the film, she certainly gives good Hamilton while on screen, but she doesn't appear for the first hour; it's very much an 'and Linda Hamilton' credits situation. And that's fine: it's better to have practical effects and a modest helping of recognisable actors than A-listers sleepwalking through expensive CGI glop for a paycheck. Osiris is far from a perfect film, and it's certainly not an original one, but it understands the assignment and delivers. Osiris is on digital platforms from 28 July.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Don't cry for Stephen Colbert — he should have been axed years ago
S econds after the news broke on Friday that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was being axed in May next year, fans were crying foul. Jimmy Kimmel — the ABC late-night host paid a whopping $15 million a year to tell jokes to an average 1.7 million viewers — wrote on his Instagram stories: 'F*** you and all your Sheldons, CBS.' Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont, railed against the decision on X. The former TV host Katie Couric published a lengthy statement on her Instagram page. The actress Jamie Lee Curtis told the Associated Press that 'it's bad' and called Colbert 'a great guy'. It's true that the optics were awful. Only days before he was axed, Colbert slammed the CBS owner, Paramount, for paying President Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit. Trump had claimed the network had edited an interview with Kamala Harris in a favourable light to help her win the election. Paramount needs approval from Trump's Federal Communications Commission to close a multi-billion-dollar merger.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Anne Hathaway's quirky wardrobe on Devil Wears Prada 2 set in NYC hints at major plot twist
Anne Hathaway sported a series of funky looks while filming Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York City on Monday. The actress, 42, is reprising her role as Andrea 'Andy' Sachs for the sequel of the hit 2006 movie – which is due out in May. And one particularly vibrant outfit may have even offered fans a clue about the plot of the sequel. The brunette beauty was pictured rocking a colorful mosaic-style maxi dress paired with chunky brown platform heels. But it was the garment bag attached to her luggage that seemed to hint at Andy's direction in the upcoming film. Though at the end of the original movie Andy quit working at Runway magazine, run by the ruthless Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), in the new images she was seen with a dress bag that featured the name of the magazine, suggesting she may have returned. Anne Hathaway, 42, sported a series of funky looks while filming Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York City on Monday Her look was paired with a light bucket hat, two chunky necklaces and a pair of sunglasses. Her long brunette tresses cascaded from underneath the hat in loose waves. Aside from the garment bag, she was pictured walking with a blue suitcase and another blue mesh bag. Anne also shared a video of her in the dress to her Instagram. Later she was seen wearing a denim zip-up jumpsuit with colorful patches. The outfit was paired with black open-toe Chanel sandals and a black leather Valentino purse. Another outfit saw her in a white tank top with a black vest and a long denim skirt. The day prior the star was seen filming dressed in a pinstripe vest and pants. One particularly vibrant outfit may have even offered fans a clue about the plot of the sequel Anne rocked a colorful mosaic-style maxi dress paired with chunky brown platform heels The original film lifted the lid on the cut-throat fashion world, and two decades on that world will have changed, not least for Sachs's domineering boss, Runway editor-in-chief Miranda, played again by Meryl. The movie is expected to at least reveal her fate, showing her once-all-powerful character dealing with the decline of print industry. One question is whether she will have retained her icy demeanor. In one scene in the first film, Andy chuckles through an editorial fashion meeting led by Priestly, who then delivers a cutting assessment of her 'cerulean' sweater. 'You think this has nothing to do with you,' Priestly tells her. 'You go to your closet, and you select, I don't know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back, but what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean.' The scene became iconic and spawned the 'cerulean blue' theory of how all styles trickle down from the catwalk. Anne made a nod to the scene yesterday morning when she posted a clip online wearing a similar sweater with the caption 'Heading to werk' [sic] with the hashtag #dwp2. In the video, Anne is seen hurriedly getting ready, this time brushing her teeth with an electric toothbrush, a modern upgrade from Andy's manual one in the original film's memorable job interview scene. But it was her outfit that truly sent her followers spiralling. The brief clip quickly exploded online, with commenters quoting Miranda's epic takedown of Andy's supposed fashion indifference. One gushed: 'SHE'S WEARING THAT CERULEAN BLUE!!!!' Another confessed they felt 'like a kid waiting for Christmas for Devil Wears Prada SEQUEL!!!!' Hathaway's wink to the fashion-forward film comes just weeks after confirmation that The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially in development, with Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci all set to reprise their roles. Joining them in the sequel are new cast members Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, and Pauline Chalamet. In the sequel, Blunt's character, Emily Charlton, has climbed the corporate ladder and now holds the power Miranda needs—setting the stage for a delicious clash of ambition, loyalty, and fashion politics. While plot details are still under wraps, sources suggest the film may draw inspiration from Lauren Weisberger's 2013 novel Revenge Wears Prada, which follows Andy's post-Runway life as she becomes a magazine editor, only to find Miranda crashing back into her world. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, marking two decades since the original film strutted into pop culture history.
