Henry Cavill is officially back as Superman

Speculation has been rife for years about whether Henry, 39, would reprise his role as the beloved superhero with his last stint going back to 2017’s Justice League.

Henry Cavill, the Man of Steel himself, confirmd in an Instagram video that he will be returning to the DCEU as Superman. The announcement comes after Superman made a cameo appearance in the mid-credits scene of Black Adam.

“I wanted to wait until the weekend was over before posting this because I wanted to give you all a chance to watch Black Adam,” Cavill explained. “But now that plenty of you have, I wanted to make it official: I am back as Superman.”

Black Adam marks Cavill’s latest outing as Superman since 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League. The character also made a brief appearance in 2019’s Shazam!, but since it was only a quick shot of that iconic red and blue suit, Cavill didn’t actually appear. Now, after much speculation and pleading from fans, Cavill has donned the superhero tights once again.

“A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends,” reads Cavill’s Instagram caption. “The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded.”

Clearly, the DCEU isn’t done with Superman just yet. What the future holds in store is still a mystery, but based on his appearance in Black Adam and Dwayne Johnson’s desire to see Black Adam and Superman fight, it looks like we’re headed for a major superpowered showdown. Here’s hoping this one doesn’t end with Black Adam and Superman realizing their mothers have the same name.

Cavill’s little speech was obviously intended to pay homage to those who’ve kept the flame alive in hoping the actor would return to the role of Superman after Justice League. Such hopes had long seemed dim with Warner Bros. Pictures pivoting away from the character after three financial disappointments in a row between Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League. Of course, it can be strongly argued, it was the approach to the character in those films (particularly the third uneven one with a digitally removed mustache) that muted audience excitement instead of the character or even the performance itself.

In 2019, Shazam! famously ended with a pseudo-cameo of Superman… but not Cavill. Instead the camera saw the familiar S-emblem, but the superhero wearing it had his head cut off by the frame. Apparently, Cavill was offered the chance to appear onscreen in that movie, reprising the role, but it did not work out and rumors swirled that Cavill wouldn’t agree to a cameo unless there were plans to use Superman in his own movie again.

While those rumors were never confirmed, Cavill said the following in an interview “I’ve not given up the role. There’s a lot I have to give for Superman yet. A lot of storytelling to do. A lot of real, true depths to the honesty of the character I want to get into. I want to reflect the comic books. That’s important to me. There’s a lot of justice to be done for Superman.”

The Witcher actor was first cast as Clark Kent in 2010 before making his screen debut as the character in 2013’s Man of Steel.

In 2016, he starred in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice alongside Ben Affleck as his nemesis, and then again in 2017’s Justice League.

It’s not known who will be writing or directing Henry in his next turn as Superman but it’s expected he’ll star in at least one future solo movie.

Additionally, “Batman v Superman” star Ben Affleck returns as Batman in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” after similar reshoots. Oscar winner Affleck previously announced he was hanging up the cape for Batman in 2019. However, the “Deep Water” actor was confirmed to appear in “The Flash,” in theaters June 23, 2023. Former “Batman” star Michael Keaton is also set to reprise his role from the Tim Burton-helmed installments for the film.

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Adam Regan

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