Playing an iconic DC superhero like Superman is a challenging proposition especially after actor Christopher Reeve’s pioneering effort. Over the years, many actors have taken up the role including Henry Cavill who was first seen as the celebrated superhero in Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel. The British star though, was not the only on who was in consideration to portray Superman.
Director Zack Snyder in his effort to create a darker and edgier version of Superman, shortlisted multiple actors to play the role of the DC icon for his film Man of Steel before ultimately zeroing in on Cavill for the part. Among the probables were many A-list names from Hollywood.
Zack Snyder Had These Big League Stars in Mind for Superman
While British star Henry Cavill became synonymous with Superman in the DCU, he was not Zach Snyder’s only choice to play the celebrated superhero in his film Man of Steel. The director shortlisted many popular names from Hollywood as probables to play the character including Armie Hammer, Matthew Goode, and Joe Manganiello among others. Snyder though, ultimately cast Cavill for the part as he was dissatisfied with the final look of the other stars in the Superman suit. Speaking of his reasons for choosing Cavill, Snyder said,
“He walked out, and no one laughed. Other actors put that suit on, and it’s a joke, even if they’re great actors. Henry put it on, and he exuded this kind of crazy-calm confidence that just made me go ‘Wow.’ Okay: This was Superman. If you can put on that suit and pull it off that’s an awesome achievement,”
Zack Snyder’s final decision to cast Henry Cavill as Superman paid rich dividends with the actor being hailed as one of the best choices to play the DC superhero among all the other stars who had earlier portrayed the character.
Will Zack Snyder Return To The DCU?
Following the appointment of James Gunn as DC Head, the franchise is now going through a major facelift. As part of this overhaul, Gunn made some shocking decisions including terminating Henry Cavill’s contract as Superman. With this decision, the future of Zack Snyder’s role in the DCU is also in doubt. Snyder, who was instrumental in creating a new darker version of the superhero with Cavill, has now got fans speculating about his future in the franchise.
Despite stating publicly that he was in touch with Snyder, James Gunn was quick to point out that there were no immediate plans for the Man of Steel director to get involved in the DCU or to take Gunn’s vision for the franchise to the next level. The director and DC head was critical of Snyder evangelists who were averse to accepting change and growth in their unflinching support for the Justice League director.
Source: Cheatsheet
