James Gunn Has Already Tried To Get Henry Cavill Back in the DCU (And Could It Still Happen?)

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James Gunn has shared that he’s had talks with Henry Cavill about the possibility of rejoining the DC Universe, but not as Superman. In a recent chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn, who shares co-head duties at DC Studios, mentioned that he proposed to Cavill the idea of portraying another character in the new DC Universe during their initial meeting about Cavill’s departure from the role of Superman. This discussion took place amidst the tumultuous early days of Gunn and Peter Safran taking charge, as they inherited a confusing and publicly contentious scenario involving Cavill’s brief return and subsequent reversal following his appearance in Black Adam.

In his recollection, the day the deal for [DC Studios] was finalized, they suddenly announced that Henry returned. This left me puzzled, because we knew the plan was for him to appear in Superman. It felt unfair and disappointing, especially since he had already agreed to this. So, Peter and I decided it was best to have a conversation with him. He turned out to be a gracious individual, handling the situation admirably. He requested only one thing: that he would be allowed to share the news himself, rather than through you both.

Fans were thrilled in October 2022 when Cavill made an appearance in the post-credits scene of “Black Adam,” suggesting his character’s return. However, Cavill himself later announced on social media that he was coming back, which was eventually retracted a few weeks later as Gunn and Safran disclosed their intention to make a new “Superman” film featuring a younger Clark Kent instead. According to Gunn, this decision was part of their long-term plan and left them in an uncomfortable position that they did not create. Gunn also stated that he had discussed the possibility of finding a new role for Cavill within their revamped DCU on that day, expressing his desire to include Henry Cavill in future projects.

Jason Momoa’s Lobo Role Creates a Precedent for Cavill’s DCU Return

The offer by Gunn to Cavill regarding a specific character hasn’t been realized yet, but the chance of Cavill rejoining the DC Universe feels more real than ever. Similar to Jason Momoa, who played Arthur Curry in Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Momoa is now set to appear as the interstellar bounty hunter Lobo in an upcoming Supergirl film within the new DCU. This move by Momoa, moving from one significant DC character to another, sets a clear path for other actors from the old franchise era to find renewed roles in the revamped universe. Moreover, this decision suggests that Gunn and Safran are ready to work with talent from the former DCEU, as long as the new role aligns well with both the actor and their future storyline plans.

In addition, the resounding success of Gunn’s Superman suggests that the reboot was both artistically essential and financially prudent, leading to a more solid foundation for an actor like Cavill to potentially rejoin. The later phases of the DCEU were marred by a series of critical and financial flops, such as Black Adam, which only managed to gross $393 million globally. In stark contrast, Gunn’s Superman has amassed over $400 million worldwide and garnered praise from audiences, earning an A- CinemaScore. For Cavill, returning would no longer mean stepping back into a struggling franchise. Instead, it would present a chance to tackle a fresh challenge within a universally admired and commercially potent universe with a distinct creative vision and a promising future.

Superman is currently available in theaters.

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2025-07-21 12:39