While the DCEU is going forward, it still needs Henry Cavill's version of Superman. It has been a few interesting years for Warner Bros. when it comes to their live-action cinematic universe for the DC brand. 2017 was when everything shifted after the controversial release of the theatrical version of Justice League. As the studio tampered with Zack Snyder's vision for the film and had Joss Whedon step in to revamp it, it became a crucial point for the DCEU. Not only did Justice League become a critical disaster, but it bombed at the box office as well. While Snyder's official cut is finally coming in March on HBO Max, the DCEU has changed a lot since 2017.
Despite still being an interconnected universe, the DCEU has gone in a few different directions that focus less on crossovers and more on individual stories. Characters like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam have become new heavy hitters for Warner Bros. as they have had positive results critically and financially. The Flash will soon be getting his own franchise in 2022 with other DC characters on their way too to the big screen. Outside of the DCEU, Warner Bros. has had success with their Elseworlds approach with films like Joker which might lead to other DC movies like that. However, when it comes to the Last Son of Krypton, his presence in film has been in a weird position for the last few years.
As Superman takes a bigger role on TV with The CW's upcoming Superman & Lois, his role in the cinematic world has decreased. While it definitely doesn't seem like Warner Bros. is benching Superman in film entirely, the Snyder Cut is so far the only scheduled appearance for the character for the foreseeable future. It would be out of character for Warner Bros. if a Superman movie never happens again - as Superman will always be one of DC's biggest superheroes. The bigger issue right now with the DCEU is that as it continues to go forward, it still needs Cavill's Superman.
Superman's DCEU Future Is Unclear
While other DCEU characters continue to progress, Superman's future is a big mystery for the time being. In May 2020, it was being reported that Warner Bros. and Cavill were working out a new deal for his version of Superman to continue in the DCEU. However, it wouldn't be for a Man of Steel 2 and so far, it hasn't been revealed in the last couple of months what those exact plans are. With films like Black Adam, The Flash and more being in the works, it was confirmed at the time that Cavill's Superman wasn't being lined-up for any of those films. Things may have changed on that front if those respective screenplays have altered.
Even though it looks like Cavill might only be eyed for cameos, it is still just hypothetical because that is how unclear Warner Bros. has been about the character's DCEU future. Cavill's Superman franchise began in 2013 with Man of Steel that, despite mixed responses, was still a financial success for Warner Bros. With a global box office success of $668 million, it did almost double more than Superman Returns that barely made $400 million. Even if Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which reached $873 million globally, didn't exactly hit the numbers that Warner Bros. was probably hoping for, the numbers alone do show that there is interest in Superman movies.
The DCEU Is Already Trying To Replace Superman
Whether or not Warner Bros. ever wants to admit it, the studio is seemingly trying to replace the Man of Steel in the DCEU. One of the characters that are - unintentionally or not - taking Superman's spot is Wonder Woman. A big theme in Wonder Woman 1984 was how Diana Prince represents hope, something that Superman normally does for the DC brand. That's not to say that both can't represent that theme, but it's intriguing that the latest Wonder Woman film doubled down on that as Clark Kent has faded more into the shadows. While he has yet to debut, Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam is being eyed as the next godlike character in the DCEU while Shazam has continued to uphold some of the layers of the Christopher Reeve Superman films.
While a Man of Steel sequel has barely been discussed for years, there has instead been some development on a Supergirl film. Reportedly, the studio has hit pause on a Supergirl movie, but it still shows that Warner Bros. is using other DC characters to replace Superman. Since the Supergirl TV show will be coming to an end on The CW with its upcoming sixth and final season, it might give some new life for the DCEU film. Nevertheless, even though it looks like Warner Bros. is just wanting to bring more characters to life, they are indirectly replacing Superman by having other characters represent various aspects of his character.
Why The DCEU's Future Still Needs Superman
While the DCEU is getting to explore many of the great DC heroes that exist, none of them are Superman. No matter how much Warner Bros. tries to, none of them can replace or replicate the meaning that he has for not just the DC brand, but the superhero genre. They are and should always get to stand as their own characters, not as stand-ins for Superman. Since the character's inception, Superman has been an imperative symbol and representation for the greater good. Snyder put it best several years ago by defining Superman as "the jewel in the DC crown" which is something Warner Bros. has neglected for years now.
Obviously, Warner Bros. has some trust for Superman in media given that he is about to get his own Arrowverse TV show on The CW. But for whatever reason, the studio doesn't seem to trust him with his own movie franchise on a larger scale. It would be ridiculous if every other Justice League member has their own film series going within the next 5 years but yet DC's oldest hero doesn't. Superman, more or less, made it possible for all these other iconic heroes to come to life after his debut in 1938. At some point, Warner Bros. needs to believe in Superman again because currently, there doesn't seem to be any trust for the Man of Tomorrow on the big screen by the studio.
How The DCEU Can Make Superman Work
While Man of Steel may have its mixed reception, Snyder and Henry Cavill began a process that has been needed for Superman in movies for years now: modernizing. A big misconception about Kal-El is that, regardless of his godlike powers, he has and never will be a god because that isn't even what he sees himself as. Something that a lot of Superman stories have captured over the last few decades is how Clark, despite being an alien, is still so human. While some critics were against some of Clark's actions in Man of Steel, Snyder managed to bring home the point that Superman isn't perfect. He may have powers that mortal men could only dream of, but Superman is still capable of being flawed.
It would be unreasonable if Superman stories don't have Clark going through dark moments in his life. What Man of Steel did, more than any other Superman film has ever done, was to highlight how human Clark really is. For his first mission as Superman, he had to take on a Kryptonian invasion just as he was discovering his ties to Krypton. Despite him having to make the tough call of killing General Zod, that doesn't make the DCEU's take on Clark Kent a dark version of Superman. Instead, it helps deliver the point in trying to modernize Superman by showing that sometimes, even someone as optimistic as him has to make a painful decision. That is what future Superman movies need to continue to do and Cavill's incarnation should get to continue to grow.
The message of hope and optimism has never been excluded from his take on Superman. All that has been added to the latest interpretation of the DC icon is a sense of reality which is part of modernizing him. This latest take on Superman has never been about trying to ground him or take away what makes him great. But it is to add something that previous Superman incarnations hasn't had which is a balance between the light and dark. With so many great Superman villains and stories that haven't been used yet in the Man of Steel franchise, Warner Bros. has so much unrealized potential with Cavill's Superman in the DCEU and hopefully, that's something they'll rectify in years to come.
