Actor, Henry Cavill has taken to Instagram to confirm that he will not be returning to his role as Superman in this new era, after James Gunn announced that the master plan for the new DC movie has been finalized.
Guardians of the Galaxy director and DC Studios’ new co-chairman, James Gunn, is writing a Superman movie that won’t involve the actor, according to reports.
Gunn, said it was “not the easiest news” after Cavill only recently announced that he would be returning to the role.
It had been reported earlier that Cavill’s future as Superman was not as secure as it was when he announced his return.
Certainly, Cavill confirms that at the time of the announcement that he would return for a Man of Steel sequel, there actually were plans for the movie. But those plans changed once Gunn and Safran were hired.
The announcement comes amid momentous change at DC Studios and parent company Warner Brothers, which has been slashing scores of projects to cut costs after merging with Discovery, Inc.
Cavill has played Superman since the 2013 film Man of Steel and last appeared in the role in a cameo in Black Adam earlier this year.
In October, after resigning from the lead role in Netflix show “The Witcher”, he announced he would be returning to play Superman again.
On Wednesday, Cavill wrote on Instagram that Gunn and his co-chair, Peter Safran, had met with him to deliver the news.
“I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,” Cavill wrote. “After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. 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.”
Fans might want to “mourn for a bit”, he wrote, but “Superman is still around”.
“My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will. It’s been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards.”
Cavill’s announcement that he would return as Superman was reportedly signed off by Warner Bros, before Gunn and Safran assumed their roles at DC Studios on 1 November.
The new Superman film penned by Gunn will take the character in a different direction and focus on the superhero’s younger years.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that DC Studios’ ‘Wonder Woman’ director, Patty Jenkins would no longer be working on a third film in the franchise.
In response to reports, she denied quitting, writing in a lengthy open letter: “I never walked away. I was open to considering anything asked of me. It was my understanding there was nothing I could do to move anything forward at this time.”
The Hollywood Reporter claims that Gunn and Safran have also met with Batman actor, Ben Affleck to float the idea of him directing for them in the future.
A Black Superman film written by author Ta-Nehisi Coates and produced by JJ Abrams is reportedly still going ahead, and will not be impacted by Gunn’s film.