Despite being featured again in Zack Snyder's Justice League in 2021, Henry Cavill's future as Superman has been uncertain. The current landscape of the DCEU so far has mainly focused on other notable heroes, such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam, and many would agree that a notable omission is Cavill's Man of Steel. While the British actor has been open to returning as Superman on several occasions, it seems that the character is not part of the studio's plans for now.
This comes after the confirmation that a project centered around a Black Superman is in development, dashing the hopes of seeing Cavill's much-anticipated comeback. Cavill did express his excitement about the project, stressing the fact that Superman is "far more than skin color."
Still, Cavill previously admitted that he feels a sense of "unfinished business" by not having made a true sequel to 2013's Man of Steel, saying "there is still a lot of storytelling for me to do as a Superman, and I would absolutely love the opportunity."
Now, as the DCEU embraces the Multiverse, a new Superman-related rumor has emerged.
Henry Cavill's Superman Future: A Breakdown
Big Screen Leaks shared that a test screening for The Flash has finally happened.
As a result, movie insider KC Walsh unveiled more details about the Ezra Miller-led movie, saying that it is "very much a DCEU reboot:"
"#TheFlash is very much a DCEU reboot, a new universe will be born by its end and the DCEU you knew will be completely different. So while some may rejoice at possibilities for the future, others will face a reality that some characters aren’t long for this world."
When asked if Henry Cavill would still be the DCEU's Superman after the movie, Walsh responded with a grimacing face emoji, potentially indicating that fans should not get their hopes up about the character's return.
When further pressed for answers, the scooper insisted that Cavill "appears to be done" as the Man of Steel based on the test screening:
"As if the test screening (this could change) Cavill appears to be done as Superman."
Walsh also retweeted Viewer Anon's take on The Flash, with the user saying that the post-production process could result in The Flash's story being changed over the next 15 months between now and its June 2023 release:
"I would caution that movies can change a lot in 15 months (!), but I'll say that the people I've talked to who have seen THE FLASH - and last night was not its first test screening - have liked it. That's probably the most important thing in the end."
Will Henry Cavill's Superman Return?
Based on the DCEU's current slate, The Flash is the most viable option to address the confusing state of Henry Cavill's Superman. However, this rumor clearly spells bad news for fans of the actor's iteration of the DC hero.
At this point, it's safe to say that it is entirely out of Cavill's hands depending on whether he will return as the Man of Steel in future DCEU projects. Many would agree that this is unfortunate since there is still a lot of storytelling potential for the character.
Even though Cavill's Superman is seemingly not present in the test screening version of The Flash, this doesn't cement the fact that the character is not in the movie. Given that the film is still due in 2023, there are still many things that could happen.
It's possible that Warner Bros. could at least pay tribute to Cavill's Superman with a brief cameo or reference in the movie. Doing this essentially avoids an unceremonious ending for the character, especially considering that Man Of Steel launched the DCEU back in 2013.
The Flash premieres in theaters on June 23, 2023.
