Henry Cavill will no longer play as Superman
Sorry DC fans, but it looks like you'll have to say goodbye to Henry Cavill's Superman character as he will no longer be returning to play as the iconic superhero.
The actor announced the heartbreaking news on his Instagram account on Dec. 15 shortly after he had a meeting director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, who have recently took the reins of DC Studios back in October.
"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," Cavill disclosed.
While the news "isn't the easiest" for the 39-year-old actor, who had been portraying the Man of Steel since 2013, he seemed to have accepted the decision as "the changing of the guard is something that happens."
"James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes," Cavill wrote.
Gunn meanwhile announced on his Twitter that he and Safran have a slate of DC films in the works. Among those is a new Superman film, but there's a catch: "In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill."
However, Variety learned from sources close to the studio that Cavill may still be part of the DC Universe, writing that "Gunn, his co-president Peter Safran, and Cavill met recently and are all energized to find something in the comic book universe for Cavill to tackle."
Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022
Cavill stressed that while his journey as Superman has now come to an end, those who have been by his side throughout the years should not mourn too much about the changes.
"[W]e must remember... Superman is still around. 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," Cavill wrote.
He ended, "It's been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards."
Cavill recently portrayed the character in the Dwayne Johnson flick Black Adam during a mid-credits scene. He made a much more prominent appearance in 2017's Justice League, where he allied with Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg to fight a powerful villain.