Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Black Adam!
Henry Cavill has finally confirmed his DCEU return as Superman following his appearance in Black Adam, with an Instagram post giving a new look at the Man of Steel, promising a Superman closer to what the fans have always wanted. Alongside this picture is a caption hinting at the future of Cavill's Superman in the DCEU, making this much more than a behind-the-scenes picture. For a while, it was uncertain if the DCEU would ever bring back Henry Cavill's Superman, but it seems that Warner Bros. has finally made some major changes to its flagship superhero.
First appearing in Man of Steel, Henry Cavill's Superman kicked off the DCEU, promising to be the franchise's equivalent to Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man. While Cavill did portray the character in several other films, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, the actor seemingly left the franchise due to contract negotiations and production troubles brought on due to mixed reception. While the DCEU's problems included the Snyderverse fiasco and a variety of other things, one of its biggest problems was its characterization of Superman. Many viewers have taken issue with the DCEU's gloomier Superman, as the character doesn't signify the ideals of truth, justice, and hope for a better tomorrow, but Cavill's post proves that these hopeful elements are finally coming with Superman's return.
Henry Cavill's Superman Wasn't The Symbol Of Hope The Character Should Be
While Cavill hasn't had a lot of DCEU appearances, in the few that he has had, Superman hasn't been the symbol of hope that he should be. In the comics, Superman makes the world better not just by saving people but by inspiring people. Superman is a symbol that anyone can be a hero no matter their situation, and his actions should inspire the people of Metropolis and the world to do better. While he can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes, those aren't Superman's true superpowers.
The most important part of Superman is his heart and his optimism, something that doesn't exist in the DCEU. Superman's most famous comic moments come from his inspiring levels of hope, such as when he saves a suicidal teenager in All-Star Superman #10. Superman's most famous DCEU moments involve him flying through buildings and snapping necks. So far, Superman hasn't lived up to the ideals of his comic-book counterpart, but that doesn't mean it's too late to course correct.
How Henry Cavill's Superman Future Can Do The Man Of Steel Right
In Henry Cavill's post, he specifically uses the phrase "The dawn of hope renewed," teasing that future projects will finally take Superman in the direction he should've gone in the first place. If Man of Steel 2 were to happen, Henry Cavill's big Superman return should make the character more optimistic and positive rather than continuing to characterize him as a stone-cold god. Superman can and should struggle, but his struggle should be about dealing with the expectations that the world has placed on him. Man of Steel attempts to challenge Clark Kent's hopeful ideology, but this doesn't work, as his optimism was never established in the first place.
Man of Steel came out in the post-The Dark Knight era, where major studios were attempting dark and gritty reboots of popular characters. While there could be a place for a more grounded Superman movie, the DCEU's Superman needs to keep the things that makes him beloved: his bright colors, his joy, and the futuristic setting of Metropolis. Henry Cavill's Superman can be done right, but in order to do so, Warner Bros. needs to reexamine the world of Superman as well as what makes him special.
What Else We Know About Henry Cavill's Superman Future
It is known that Superman's DCEU future will feature a hero that is a "beacon of hope," but what projects will he actually be in? Superman's appearance in the Black Adam post-credits scene was the character's first appearance in the DCEU since 2017's Justice League (with Zack Snyder's Justice League being non-canon). Henry Cavill has confirmed that he's back, but his next appearance is still up in the air as of now.
There have been heavy rumors that Henry Cavill's Superman will appear in The Flash, but nothing has been confirmed yet. It is also expected that Superman's conflict with Black Adam will be a long-term storyline, but no films featuring the two titans have been announced since Black Adam's release. Cavill's return as Superman clearly hints that a Man of Steel 2 could be happening, with rumors of the project's development having started up again recently. Once again, though, nothing is confirmed. It seems that these three projects have the highest likelihood of seeing Superman's next appearance, but even if nothing is confirmed, it's just good to know that Henry Cavill's Superman is back in the DCEU.
