Henry Cavill, best known for his role as Superman in the DCEU, has shared his interest in starring in a Red Dead Redemption 2 movie. The actor has a history of starring in video game-related adaptations, as he currently plays Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher series. Cavill also regularly portrays established fictional characters, such as Napoleon Solo in the film The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Sherlock Holmes in Netflix's Enola Holmes adaptations. His love for Red Dead Redemption 2 means he can be relied upon to bring its characters to life, as he has an understanding of the game from a fan perspective.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a 2018 video game developed by Rockstar Games, serving as a follow-up and prequel to the 2010 original. Set 12 years before the events of Red Dead Redemption, the game follows Arthur Morgan, a morally ambiguous cowboy who is trying to find his place in a world in which the age of outlaws and gunslingers is coming to an end. Faced with difficult decisions regarding where his honor stands, Arthur must make life-changing choices and sacrifices as he navigates through the fictionalized version of the American West at the end of the 19th century.
While walking the red carpet at the premiere for The Witcher season 2, Henry Cavill was asked if there are any other video games he'd like to see made into a Netflix original that he could star in, and he responded, "I've just started playing Red Dead Redemption 2. I recognize I'm a bit late to it, but I'm really enjoying it, and so something like that would be great to make into a movie." The prospect of Cavill being cast as Arthur Morgan in a Red Dead Redemption 2 adaptation is certainly desirable. The actor has already exhibited, in previous performances, the important talents that would aid him in bringing the character to life, including horseriding and fighting skills, and the ability to adopt a thick Southern accent.
Henry Cavill's role as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher has been a great success, receiving both critical acclaim and approval from Netflix audiences alike, and he can certainly be trusted to bring another very well-loved video game character to life, as he has done so before. However, Arthur is not the only character that Henry has the potential of playing. There's also the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption and deuteragonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, John Marston, a cowboy turned rancher who searches for a peaceful existence with his family after having been caught up in a life of crime. Henry Cavill possesses similar physical features to John, such as his dark hair and his build, which makes him a suitable choice for the role.
Since Henry Cavill's Red Dead Redemption 2 statement, many of the actors involved in the games have offered their thoughts on him starring in a potential adaptation. Mick Mellamphy, who plays Sean MacGuire in Red Dead Redemption 2, said, "Knowing that a star like Henry Cavill is a fan of our work is both humbling and extremely gratifying." He then added, "He would make a very handsome Sean MacGuire I'm sure." (via Geek Ireland). Roger Clark, who voices Arthur Morgan, has yet to speak on Cavill's statement, but in late 2019 he tweeted, "What ya'll thinking of #TheWitcher? I love Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra." So it's likely that Cavill has his seal of approval as well.
It is important to keep in mind that Henry Cavill never once confirmed that a Red Dead Redemption 2 movie or series is in the works. But video game adaptations have been on the rise recently, with the likes of XBOX Game Studio's Halo being made into a TV show and HBO adapting the Sony PlayStation exclusive The Last Of Us. The increase in video game adaptations suggests that a Red Dead Redemption 2 TV series or movie is probable, and when it happens, Cavill has essentially already thrown his name into the hat for a major role, any of which he'd be perfect for.