British actor Henry Cavill will no longer be putting on Superman's cape. Talks fell apart between him and Warner Brothers ahead of the new superhero film Shazam!, which Cavill was supposed to make a cameo in.
Here's why, according to the scoop from The Hollywood Reporter. The DC universe is planning on focusing on a young Supergirl in her teenage years, meaning Superman would only be an infant. In other words, there's no need for an adult Superman.
Other THR sources say the issue was over scheduling conflicts.
Furthermore, Warners isn't likely to make a solo Superman film for at least several years, according to another source. "Superman is like James Bond, and after a certain run you have to look at new actors," says a studio source. As such, Cavill will join Ben Affleck, who isn't expected to reprise his role for director Matt Reeves' forthcoming Batman stand-alone film, as a hero on the way out.
A Warners source says the Shazam! deal fell apart because of scheduling conflicts. And that is backed up by the fact that Cavill recently signed on to star in the Netflix series The Witcher. However, another source says that the Witcher commitment came after the Warners impasse, suggesting a change in Warners' strategy.
Cavill has starred as Superman in three films: 2013's Man of Steel, 2016's Batman v. Superman and Justice League in 2017.
Warner Brothers's DC Universe is trying to keep pace with Marvel Universe, which has won the box office in recent years thanks in part to the success of the Avengers films. In the next few years, the DC universe hopes to have hits in Aquaman, starring "Games of Thrones" star Jason Momoa, Flash, starring Ezra Miller, and Wonder Woman 1984, the sequel to Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot.
Which actor will take over from Cavill and don the cape?