Taking on an iconic superhero like Superman is no small task but Henry Cavill embraced it with aplomb and made it his own amid a host of other actors who played the part including the original great, Christopher Reeve. After his edgier and darker version of the celebrated DC superhero, Cavill went on to bag the prominent protagonist’s part in the popular series The Witcher which further heightened his superstardom.
Despite his sultry good looks and charismatic personality, the going was not easy for Henry Cavill in Hollywood. The star faced many rejections and disappointments during his journey to become an actor and almost gave up on his dreams at certain junctions. Thanks to the unlikely intervention of James Bond, Cavill persisted and ultimately succeeded.
Henry Cavill Almost Quit Acting To Join The Armed Forces
As difficult as it is to believe, Man of Steel star Henry Cavill who made women swoon with his demi-god looks, had a rough time making his presence felt in Hollywood during his initial days. Speaking on the Graham Norton Show, Cavill elaborated on the challenges he faced in getting prominent roles while struggling to match up to his counterparts despite receiving positive responses from casting agents.
“All the right things were being said to me. The casting directors said ‘you were great, you’re the best thing that walked into the room but you’re not a name, and we need a name’. And that’s when I thought, this is a bit like a Catch 22”
After the discouragement, Cavill seriously considered joining the Armed Forces which was his initial career choice before wanting to become an actor. Ironically, it was after a role that Cavill did not get, that finally got him recognized. The actor was one of the probables to play James Bond in Casino Royale which ultimately went to Daniel Craig. Despite not landing the part, Cavill’s face was splashed on the cover pages of major magazines across the world that laid the foundation for the actor’s future superstardom and his stint as Superman. There was no looking back for the British star from then on.
How Did Henry Cavill Approach Superman?
The pressure of bringing Superman to life is a daunting task. The challenge of making the character different from earlier interpretations while still staying true to his legacy in the comic books is even harder. But Henry Cavill managed to balance these aspects perfectly with his unique take on Superman. The actor spoke to Josh Horowitz in the Happy Sad Confused podcast to elaborate on how he approached Superman or other characters who have a history and a legacy to live up to.
“To approach it honestly and have faith in yourself that’s the key. It’s your work and if you approach it from a place of self confidence then that’s the best way of doing it rather than just trying to be different or worse, imitating someone else.”
Cavill went on to add that this method allowed him to embrace the best parts of Superman as embodied by other actors including the pioneer Christopher Reeve while also giving him space to explore areas of the superhero that were dormant until then. Now, with his shocking departure from the DCU after James Gunn’s appointment, it will be a daunting task to find the next actor who can live up to Cavill’s iconic interpretation of the DC superhero.
Source: Twitter
