Those muscles, that light wave in his hair, those sparkling eyes, that chin—if there was ever an actor born to play Superman, it was Henry Cavill.
But fans received a major shock this week when it was announced that Cavill would be hanging up the cape, stepping aside from the role so that Warner Bros. could take its DC Comics superhero characters in new directions.
Shortly after the news broke, the actor shared an emotional response on Instagram, reminding fans that, although his turn to wear the cape has passed, “what Superman stands for never will”:
View this post on Instagram
The news comes in the wake of major shake-ups for what’s become known as the DC Extended Universe—the “DCEU”—the movie franchise that includes Supes, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the rest of the Justice League.
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Under the supervision of new DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn (the director of Suicide Squad and the Guardians Of The Galaxy movies) and Peter Safran (producer of The Conjuring movies), plans for another Gal Gadot-starring Wonder Woman movie had already been scrapped, making it clear more big changes were ahead.
(To be fair to Gunn and Safran, it’s not like the DCEU was in the best shape to begin with. Remember that already filmed Batgirl movie the studio canned? Or the fact that The Flash has a very big Ezra Miller problem?)
Related: Thirsty fans thrilled to spot Henry Cavill taking a bath
Still, DC’s decision to ditch Cavill feels like such a smack in the face because it was only a few months ago that the studio re-committed to his take on Superman with a much hyped post-credits scene in the Dwayne Johnson starring Black Adam.
Worse yet, it was simultaneously announced Cavill would be stepping down from Netflix fantasy series The Witcher (replaced by Liam Hemsworth), seemingly freeing up his schedule for more DC movies.
Ouch. How could they do this to such a pretty face?
View this post on Instagram
Of course, fans are pretty upset about the decision, especially the gays who—even if they don’t care about Superman—love an excuse to drool over Cavill on their screens.
Over on Twitter, the news has inspired a wave of support (and thirst) for the actor, with folks suggesting all sorts of new roles they’d like to see Cavill in next… including in their bed room. Here are just a few of the reactions that had us LOLing:
Now Henry Cavill can spend more time letting me win at video games and rustling my hair when I make him laugh.
— Jingle all the Blaines (@Whataboutblaine) December 15, 2022
I got a job for Henry Cavill that only he can fulfill. pic.twitter.com/HS9ECE3gBZ
— christmas cowgirl nico robin ? (@sassyreigns) December 15, 2022
so now that henry cavill left THE WITCHER to be superman, and isn't ~actually~ going to be superman, can we get THE MAN FROM UNCLE 2 (with, yes, AH recasting) going already? or put him into the next KNIVES OUT? dammit, THE WHITE LOTUS? I only want the best for my fave broad man!
— ?? roxana | ?? zivar | ?? hadadi (@roxana_hadadi) December 15, 2022
henry cavill having to watch liam hemsworth put that blonde wig on from the unemployment line oh that’s not- pic.twitter.com/WlFvc5KhOm
— tia (@cursedhive) December 8, 2022
But this means Henry Cavill can finally play James Bond, right? pic.twitter.com/PLUMSQxN84
— Stephen Ford (@StephenSeanFord) December 15, 2022
learning henry cavill is a warhammer nerd i was like “well you never can tell some people are late bloomers.” then i discovered he used to look like this pic.twitter.com/W1OlZqpsRS
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) December 15, 2022
Alas, it’s the end of an era. But, before you get too upset, don’t forget that Henry Cavill looks like this, so we think he’s going to be just fine…
Henry Cavill pic.twitter.com/d62acuPscs
— Menswear ? (@Itboytrends) December 15, 2022
cuteguy
Don’t get me wrong, this guy is so f*cking hawt but is he at least openly bi? If he isn’t lgbtq (or even a staunch ally) why is this news ON HERE?
thebaddestbabby
because he’s hot, and looking at hot guys is gay? not everything is about representation ya know… sometimes it’s just about presentation!
SDR94103
he waxes his ass, doesn’t that qualify as gay.
Aaron
You gonna give that same energy to gay icons that happen to be straight? Cher, Barbara Streisand, Janet Jackson…
cuteguy
@thebaddestbaby
Dan Bognino
Ron Desantis
Josh Hawley
Madison Cawthorm
Bill Hemmer
50 cent
All these guys are attractive but hate you and all gay guys. Want to still stick to your sophomoric perspective?
thebaddestbabby
um, none of these guys are nearly as hot as Henry Cavill? Ron De santis and Josh Haw ley are not even remotely hot??? Good grief, at least I have some perspective!
Fahd
Brandy Jensen’s tweet explains it all. Nevertheless, the lechery of the “Editors” is a little over the top in this post. Has Michael Musto become an “editor”?
Rambeaux
If I was going to “letch” over anyone, it would be him.
However, I have read over the years, that he is not gay or bi.
But then, who knows?
linedrive
He’s the kind of beautiful that makes you feel bad about yourself.
JTinToronto
He’s the only reason that I’ve seen the more recent Superman movies. DC has lost it.
Claytonisahobo
Me too but I did find Superman’s hairy chest peeping out very distracting(and I love hairy chests)…. the DC movies all sucked for the most part.
Web1975
Who cares? The last thing liked him in was the Tudors.
KyleMichelSullivan
The first thing I saw him in was The Count of Monte Cristo, when he still had some of his baby fat, and he looked adorable. He’s also been a murder victim in a Misdomer Murders episode. He’s just plain gorgeous, no matter what.
Diplomat
Such a sexy sexy man. 007 sounds right.
bachy
Doesn’t it, though?
Craig who?
dbmcvey
The problem with the DCEU has nothing to do with any of the casting (possibly excluding Ezra Miller) but rather the bleak vision of Zach Snyder.
bachy
Gawd, yes – they’re all so dreary!
Joshooeerr
Cavill certainly has movie star looks, and he’s a better than average actor. He kind of screwed his career by going the superhero route. He’s now pretty much trapped in that world, and not taken as seriously as an actor as he was a decade ago. And he’s not the only promising actor who has made that mistake. If you’re an established star with serious credits in both film and theatre, then you can do superhero movies and be seen as slumming it for the money. It doesn’t work out so well for those, like Cavill, who seem to think it will be the making of them.
greekboy
The hell with all the advice, he wants to marry me. Sadly, he doesn’t know, and never will. Oh well!
Peter
Oh for God’s sake… Try to adjust, make him the next Bond and carry on. The earth will keep spinning and he will find suitable (pun intended) employment.
andrew.agee
To: Barbara Broccoli@Eon Productions.
Re: Henry Cavill
Just hire him already. You already missed out hiring him once, don’t make the same mistake twice.
Jack Meoff
He was the best Superman to date and now who are they going to replace him with? Probably some slender millennial with boyish looks and limited sex appeal.
G A Y L O R D
Maybe it’s just the tights, but I always wanted to see more of the Brandon Routh Supz 8^p
bachy
Oh yes, Routh really delivered on the super sex appeal!