Henry Cavill Reacts to Black Superman Movie Plans

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Posted:
Henry Cavill as Superman, Black Superman

One of the intriguing questions about the DCEU is the future of Henry Cavill's Superman. 

Henry Cavill made his debut as Superman during 2013's Man of Steel, officially launching the DCEU. Even though the film received mixed reviews and a $668 million box office cume, Cavill's performance as the Man of Tomorrow was still well-received by fans and critics. 

The DC star went on to star alongside Ben Affleck's Batman in the Man of Steel follow-up entitled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, pitting the two famous DC heroes against one another. After his character's death during the sequel, Cavill's Superman was resurrected to help protect Earth in 2017's Justice League.

After the DC team-up film, Cavill's DCEU future became uncertain since his Superman is not currently slated to appear in a future project. A potential return seems to be up in the air, mainly because of the arrival of a new project led by a Black Superman

The planned Superman reboot is produced by J.J. Abrams, and it will be written by acclaimed author and comics writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. Plot details are still being kept under wraps, but it is expected to tackle the hero's Kryptonian origins

Now, Cavill has addressed the upcoming Superman reboot in a new interview. 

Henry Cavill Addresses Black Superman Project 

Michael B Jordan, Superman
HBO Max

Henry Cavill, who plays the DCEU's Superman, sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about Ta-Nehisi Coates' DC project centered around a Black Superman.

Cavill addressed the new DC project by expressing his excitement and stressing that Superman is "far more than skin color:" 

“It's exciting — Superman's far more than skin color. Superman is an ideal. Superman's an extraordinary thing that lives within our hearts."

The Man of Steel and Justice League star then pointed out that "multiple Supermen" can exist at the same time within the same franchise: 

"Why not have multiple Supermen going on? Joaquin Phoenix did a wonderful Joker movie; so what if it's not tied to the rest of [the franchise]? They have multiple Superman comic book storylines happening at the same time.”

What's Next For Henry Cavill's Superman?

Henry Cavill's latest comments suggest that he will be at peace with the possibility of not reprising his Superman role in the near future. However, his "multiple Supermen" remark could hint that he could still return down the line. 

Cavill has an immense passion for the DC hero, and it is apparent throughout his comments. Many agree that it's high time for DC to portray Superman in a different race, especially now that superhero projects are leaning on more diversity and representation. 

Superman is one of the most recognizable DC superheroes of all time, and seeing the hero portrayed by a Black actor should inspire the Black community. This representation, combined with Cavill's remarks, should serve as a major launchpad for the upcoming project.  

Meanwhile, Cavill's reference to multiple Supermen existing alludes to the DCEU's Multiverse plans. Ezra Miller's The Flash is expected to push the concept to the forefront, meaning that there is a possibility that several Men of Steel could exist after the speedster's solo project. 

If this happens, this would allow Cavill to have one last ride with his Superman persona while also serving as an inspiration to the other planned projects centered around the Kryptonian. 

- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.