Recent reports indicate Henry Cavill's time as Superman in the DC Extended Universe could be over, but is this just more negotiation tactics playing out in the media? After making his debut as Superman in 2013's Man of Steel, Cavill essentially kickstarted the DCEU. While he wasn't well known at the time, his profile has only grown in recent years for roles in films like the cult favorite Man From U.N.C.L.E.and more recently, his intense performance in Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

The news came fast and furious, starting with a report that talks had broken down and the studio and actor were moving in different directions, but things quickly got confused when Cavill's agent publicly responded, resulting in an official Warner Bros statement, before Henry Cavill capped off the day with an odd video to his Instagram. Needless to say, it was a bizarre day of news, leaving many people more confused than ever over Cavill's future in the role.

Related: Why Henry Cavill Has Reportedly Quit Playing The DCEU's Superman

While things certainly look doubtful, Cavill and his agent's persistence suggests it's not completely over yet, and the crazy day of news could merely be a dramatic example of contract negotiations spilling into the public sphere.

Henry Cavill (Technically) Isn't Done Yet

Henry Cavill Superman Man of Steel

Henry Cavill's contract isn't actually up yet - he still has one movie left. Just how that plays into this whole situation isn't clear yet, but its possible disagreement over the extension could preclude him from even appearing in that last film. In fact, it's negotiations over that final appearance that landed Cavill and Warner Bros. in this stalemate in the first place.

WB wanted the actor to appear in a short cameo in Shazam!, but that would have used his last contracted appearance, meaning a new contract would be necessary for Man of Steel 2 or any other appearance. Cavill loves playing the character and would like to continue, but thinks his rising star power and tenure in the role have earned him a higher payday. His time with Tom Cruise during Mission: Impossible - Fallout may have also played a factor because he's also taking a play from Cruise's book by asking for more creative control of his movies (a wise move considering Justice League's mustache removal in reshoots turned him into a meme).

Warner Bros. Doesn't Want To Meet Cavill's Demands

Justice League Superman

Unfortunately, while Cavill's star may be on the rise elsewhere, his three appearances as Superman haven't inspired much confidence in Warner Bros.. Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice both turned a profit, but the studio was hoping for bigger numbers, and the polarized audience reaction doesn't help. Justice League didn't even use Superman in marketing, and his presence in the film was bland and riddled by obvious reshoots, including the CGI mustache removal, but as the worst performer in the franchise, it probably also plays a role in their decisionmaking, even though none of that was Cavill's fault.

Related: What Cavill's DCEU Departure Means For Solo Superman Movies

Fortunately for Cavill, the strong reception to Mission: Impossible - Fallout gives him a little more bargaining power. Also helping his case, the news that he was no longer in the role spawned an outpouring of support on social media, resulting in both "Henry Cavill" and "Superman" trending on Twitter. If Warners were concerned about his bankability, the actor will surely use that fact as leverage in any future conversations.

Page 2 of 2: The Story Has Played Out Like Negotiation Theatrics

The Story Has Played Out Like Negotiation Theatrics

The most notable thing about the entire situation is the way in which the news unfolded. The first word of the situation was a report by THR that talks had broken down between Cavill and WB. This was immediately confirmed by the other Hollywood Trade publications, meaning that specific bit of news should all but gospel.

Things got interesting when Cavill's agent, Dany Garcia, posted to Twitter, saying "the cape is still in his closet," telling everyone to wait for an official WB statement. That statement came out shortly after, merely saying "no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films." Cavill himself then posted a bizarre video to his Instagram account wearing a"Kryptonian Lifting Team" shirt and holding up a Superman action figure. So there's clearly some desire on his side of negotiations to return to the role. If no decisions have been made, then it's possible a decision could still be reached, although the disagreement over Cavill's value has yet to be resolved, meaning things aren't bright for his future right now.

Along with this news were rumors that the studio has already considered replacements for Cavill and might just move ahead with Supergirl instead of Superman. These could very well be legitimate studio pursuits, but given the context, they no doubt also serve as proof that they're ready to move on without Cavill if he doesn't reduce his demands.

Related: The Future Of The DCEU Without Cavill's Superman

The easiest way to summarize the sequence of events is "theatrical." The reports of talks breaking down feel like a bluff being called (by one or both sides), then Dany and Henry stirring things up on social media are clearly another ploy to make noise on the internet and show WB the actor's support as the character. We saw something similar, although less dramatic, play out with Matt Reeves during his negotiations for The Batman. The director wanted complete creative control and walked away from the table when Warner Bros. wouldn't meet his demands, only for the studio to reach an agreement with him less than a week later.

UPDATE: Now TMZ has reported that there's not even a new Superman project even on the table, meaning there's no part to sign for, adding fuel to the speculation that Cavill and his agent are trying to drum up enthusiasm for Cavill to return to the role as a negotiation tactic.

It's important to note that Cavill's situation is likely more precarious than what played out with Matt Reeves. The negotiations have been going on for far longer without a resolution, and it sounds like there's far more interest on Cavill's side than on WB's. While an agreement could certainly be reached, it seems like there may be a ticking clock for both sides to reach a resolution. Warner Bros. is moving full steam ahead with multiple projects, with a number of titles expected to start production in 2019, further delaying the next possible opening for another Superman movie, and Cavill is also signing on to projects, like Netflix's The Witcher series, also reducing his future availability.

It's sad to see such a gloomy situation for the character and actor that started the shole DCEU, especially when he's supposed to stand as a symbol of hope, but the Zack Snyder Superman story Henry Cavill signed on for isn't the one Warner Bros. plans to carry on, so its only fitting for Warner Bros. to close the door on Cavill as they also close the door on Snyder's vision for the franchise and move forward with a (mostly) clean break.

MORE: Henry Cavill's Superman Contract Renewal Should be a DCEU Priority

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