James Gunn Calls Henry Cavill’s Superman Exit “Terrible” and “Unfair”

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has addressed the controversial firing of Henry Cavill as Superman, calling the situation “really unfair” to the actor.

How Cavill’s Superman Return Fell Apart
Cavill first donned the cape in 2013’s Man of Steel and reprised the role in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

In October 2022, after a cameo in Black Adam, Cavill announced his return as Superman—only for DC Studios to reverse the decision months later when Gunn and Peter Safran took over.

Gunn’s Candid Admission
On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn revealed:

“The day we were finalizing our DC deal, they announced Henry was back. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ We already had our Superman plans. It was really unfair to him.”

He blamed studio chaos at the time, saying:

“There was a vacuum, and people were pushing their own agendas. Henry got caught in the middle.”

Despite the abrupt exit, Gunn praised Cavill as an “absolute gentleman”, recalling:

“He only asked to break the news himself—no leaks. That’s a class act.”

Could Cavill Return to the DCU?
Gunn hinted at future possibilities, saying:

“I’d love to work with Henry. We talked about it that day.”

However, the new DC Universe (DCU) has moved on, with David Corenswet starring in Superman (2025). The film has earned 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Corenswet’s fresh take (read reviews here).

Cavill’s Graceful Exit
In a classy Instagram post, Cavill wrote:

“After being told to announce my return, this news isn’t easy—but I respect James and Peter’s vision. I wish them luck.”

What’s Next for Cavill?
He’s set to star in Warhammer 40K adaptations for Amazon.

Fans still hope for a SnyderVerse return (via The Direct).