It is currently unknown what capacity Superman will have going forward at Warner Bros., particularly whether or not Henry Cavill will fit into their overall plan. Although the actor may potentially lend his voice for ADR in Zack Snyder's Justice League , it is unclear if Cavill will continue in the role beyond this.
Rumors about a potential Man of Steel 2 have circulated ever since the first film's release, but nothing has been outright confirmed. The film was rumored to be at a standstill at Warner Bros. , claiming that a standalone Superman would not be successful at this time. Additionally, other rumors suggest that Superman will star alongside another pre-established character's film instead.
In a new interview, Cavill has now spoken about how the role has affected his career and a potential future for him in it...
NEWS
In Variety's latest Actors on Actors segment , Henry Cavill spoke to Patrick Stewart about the importance of playing Superman:
"It's something I've always been incredibly grateful for. I've always been a fan of Superman. With a character like that, you carry the mantle with you off set. And it becomes part of your public representation. When you meet children, children don't necessarily see me as Henry Cavill, but they might see Superman, and there's a responsibility which comes with that. Because it's such a wonderful character, it's actually a responsibility I'm happy to have, and I hope that I get to play more of Superman in years to come."
The Superman actor also discussed how getting the role has affected his life and career:
"My life has changed dramatically because of it. And it has given me plenty of opportunity for roles, and yeah, it's been one of those characters which changed the entire course of my career. I'm incredibly grateful for it, and it's also taught me a lot about myself."
Cavill then spoke about how playing Superman caused the actor to look introspectively at himself:
"He's so good, he's so kind, and when you start to compare yourself to him, because you're playing him, you start to really look inwards. You say, “Am I a good person? Can I be a good enough person to play Superman?” And if you ever hear a whisper in there which is like, “Hmm, hold on a second. Maybe not,” then you adjust it, and you make sure you are a better person. I think that's all we can do in life."
WHAT THIS MEANS
From this interview, it is clear that donning the cape means a lot to Henry Cavill. Whether his hope to continue to play the character for "years to come" is a tease for the future or a message to Warner Bros. is completely up for speculation. Despite issues surrounding reshoots for Justice League , however, the actor seems confident in a future for the character and wants to be a part of that.
This is especially significant considering Cavill's success outside of the Superman role, specifically with Mission: Impossible - Fallout and The Witcher . Even though the actor has found great success elsewhere, he hasn't forgotten what started it all and is clearly passionate about returning to the character in spite of the massive responsibility that accompanies it.
Whether the actor returns in a separate DCEU adventure or another solo film of his own, hopefully, Henry Cavill will return to the role soon.
