“Henry never came anywhere close…”: Henry Cavill Needs to Silence DC Fans’ 1 Accusation That’s Gotten Louder Since David Corenswet’s Superman Teaser
- David Corenswet’s Superman trailer sparks debates about Henry Cavill’s portrayal in 'Man of Steel'.
- Netizens argue that Henry Cavill’s Superman lacked emotional range, partly due to Zack Snyder’s and the studio's vision.
- Unlike Cavill’s loner Superman, Corenswet’s version is supported by a community of heroes.
James Gunn’s Superman is about to take his first flight soon. The David Corenswet-starring movie’s trailer already gave a glimpse of what is about to come, and it has also inevitably brought comparisons to Henry Cavill’s portrayal in Man of Steel.
Superman is one of the few comic book characters who has been portrayed by many different actors over the years. Now as Corenswet is donning the cape, fans have their opinions about both Corenswet and Cavill, and it looks like the latter has not been very lucky.
David Corenswet’s Superman brings up Henry Cavill comparisons
The upcoming Superman will kickstart the live-action movie series of the DCU. The film will explore David Corenswet‘s Clark Kent’s struggle between his superhero expectations and his human upbringing. With James Gunn as the director, the movie has a supporting cast of Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, and Nathan Fillion playing important roles, among others.
The first teaser trailer of Superman shows a bloodied, beaten-down Superman calling Krypto for help. It shows Clark Kent rushing through the busy street to the Daily Planet. It also shows scenes where Corenswet’s Superman is angry, sad, in pain, and possibly every other emotion in between, and fans have already started praising the actor for his performance.
However, amid the praises, discussions about Henry Cavill‘s portrayal have emerged, and the opinions are divided. Some feel that Cavill never showed that range of acting in his portrayal, while others feel he was not well used by Zack Snyder.
I’m not broadly anti-Cavill (he’s amazing in MI: FALLOUT) but Corenswet is doing a level of believable vulnerability and emotion in this dialogue-free trailer alone that Henry never came anywhere close to https://t.co/xb1Ak50NQN
— evan romano (@EvanRomano) December 19, 2024
Cavill is basically Don Draper: he's not talented he's just handsome lol
— 21 kindness (@LilUziVartan) December 19, 2024
To be fair, Cavill didn’t get much of a chance because the Snyderverse didn’t write his Superman with range.
— Aaron (@thered_aaron) December 20, 2024
He's going to eat up this role, the depth of emotion expressed here is right on the mark pic.twitter.com/aKUX7oxQ0l
— Cogniflu𝕏 (@cogniflux) December 19, 2024
See if you watch Cavill in other things you realize he's actually an insanely good actor.
— Torch, Twitch Streamer (@AutomatonTorch) December 20, 2024
It's just that he can only do so much given that he was in a Snyder film
Snyder took a Watchmen-like approach for Man of Steel as well, showing a darker version of Superman, who is essentially the symbol of hope and strength. This pushed Cavill’s Superman away from the traditional image, which has been a constant criticism of his portrayal over the years.
The lack of a clear vision for their cinematic universe and the clashes of opinions between Snyder and Warner Bros. also deeply affected Cavill’s image as the Man of Steel. Things like his infamous mustache controversy, change of script, and forced humor in Justice League had a negative impact on the character’s weight.
Despite being a good actor, Cavill was directed to act in a flat, repetitive way. Moreover, the actor has not been very lucky in movies since he was removed from the role, which makes it necessary for him to have a hit flick where he shows his potential to the fullest as an answer to his doubters, who feel his acting ruined previous Superman.
How David Corenswet’s Superman is different from Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel
Judging just by the appearances and looks, it is quite evident that James Gunn has taken a much lighter and brighter approach for Corenswet’s Superman than what Snyder did with Cavill’s Man of Steel. Corenswet’s suit has lighter shades of blue, red, and yellow, resembling more of the classic suit, while Cavill’s suit was darker and a different take on the character.
Corenswet’s suit is less muscle-defining and has gotten back the iconic trunks and the ‘S’ symbol at the cape as well. However, apart from the looks, Gunn’s Superman feels like a hero with a strong support system.
Unlike Cavill’s version, Corenswet’s Superman is already existing in a world that has established superheroes. The trailer already shows other DC heroes like Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl. This superhero community seems crucial as they appear to be helping Superman during the scenes showing angry protesters.
According to insider Daniel Richtman (via ComicBookMovie), Superman will be “a complete shift to hardcore sci-fi and fantasy, the exact opposite of Man of Steel.”
Cavill’s Superman was kind of a loner with Lois Lane and Martha Kent as his onlu emotional supports. His initial interactions with other superheroes were also not friendly as well. However, since Gunn is not bringing an origin story, Superman, supported by a community of heroes, might be a good start in setting up the DCU.
Superman will be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
