With the DCEU's plans going ahead without any apparent intention to include Henry Cavill, it seems that Man of Steel 2 isn't likely to happen - even though it really should. Beginning in 2013 with Man of Steel, the DCEU has faced its share of controversy. Plagued by behind-the-scenes issues as well as dividing both its audience and critical opinion, the franchise certainly hasn't been as successful as Warner Bros. hoped when they began setting up their cinematic universe. However, despite these difficulties, Zack Snyder's debut DCEU effort still deserves a follow-up.
Of the 19 DC movies releasing in the coming years, a Man of Steel sequel is conspicuous by its absence, particularly as Cavill's character has so far been an instrumental part of the franchise. Having first appeared in Man of Steel, he then met Ben Affleck's Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before leading DC's iconic super team in Justice League. Any further appearances from Cavill's Superman are yet to be confirmed, prompting many to believe that there may well be plans to introduce a new Superman into the franchise.
There may have been very little news on Man of Steel 2, but Cavill's sequel deserves to be made. His turn as the character didn't do justice to the hero's iconic nature or the actor's talent, and by making a sequel, these cinematic slights could be made right. While the DCEU's future needs Superman, it seems that Man of Steel 2 isn't coming any time soon - or possibly at all - thanks to the underwhelming reception of the franchise so far. Nevertheless, there are several compelling reasons why the project really needs to get off the ground.
Why The DCEU's Superman Was Disappointing
The reason why Warner Bros. hasn't already attempted to continue the story of Cavill's Superman most likely lies with the way the character was handled in his DCEU appearances. This stemmed from Man of Steel's attempt to reinvent the character's backstory as a gritty sci-fi take on Superman, with a focus on his Kryptonian origins and the characterization of Cavill's Superman as a dark and brooding figure.
This trend continued throughout the DCEU, prompting many to believe that the DCEU's Superman deserves a reboot. While the attempted reinvention was both innovative and admirable, it ultimately failed to capture the nature of the iconic character. Whether or not a reboot is even possible isn't yet clear, but it is apparent that the franchise has severely mishandled Cavill's Superman. This may have hurt the franchise as a whole, but more importantly, the iconic hero deserves better cinematic representation than his existing DCEU appearances offered him.
Cavill's Superman Still Has Untapped Potential
Despite the DCEU having ultimately failed the character so far, Cavill is excellent in the role. Although the franchise may not have done him justice, Cavill is an incredibly talented actor whose performance as Superman has earned him the respect of many. However, Cavill's compatibility with the role is actually compounded by his real-life personality.
The actor's well-known immersion in numerous fandoms has seen Henry Cavill analyze the DCEU's mistakes, proving that he's willing to approach the role as a fan as well as an actor. Cavill's willingness to show reverence to the comics and his knowledge of Superman's history makes him a perfect fit for the role. His physical presence and acting talent speak for themselves, but Cavill's attitude towards every role he takes on is something that has been widely commended, and it's something that the DCEU would do well to make use of.
The DCEU Needs Superman (And It Should Be Henry Cavill)
While its version of the character has so far been a long way from perfect, the DCEU simply can't be without Superman. Writing the character out of the franchise in some way or introducing a replacement would feel far too soon after just he has made only three appearances, but it seems that the DCEU is already replacing Henry Cavill's Superman. While replacing him would allow the DCEU to continue exploring Superman's story and place within the franchise while moving away from Man of Steel's mistakes, it's still not the best approach.
Cavill should remain the DCEU's Superman, as his version of the character had genuine promise. Cavill has also been relatively vocal about his desire for the character's DCEU shortcomings to be resolved, and as his face is the one that spawned the franchise, it would feel far more natural for him to continue in the role. Whether Warner Bros. will seek to move ahead with the DCEU without Cavill isn't clear, but so far, there's no indication that he'll be involved in upcoming projects. Nevertheless, Cavill's undeniable commitment to the character means that he should be the first choice for taking the role forwards.
Man Of Steel 2 Could Redeem Cavill's Superman
One of the biggest issues with Cavill's Superman is that he's too serious, and the DCEU needs to make Superman a little sillier in order to fully redeem the character, but this is something that could easily be achieved with Cavill in the role. The actor has proved his sense of humor and his willingness to laugh at himself - he's even gone as far as to say he'd like his Superman to wear red underpants over his costume - which would help the DCEU fix its earlier mistakes. However, this could also be satisfyingly achieved from a narrative point of view.
By continuing the arc of Cavill's Superman, the DCEU can introduce a lighter side of the character that has so far remained unseen. This would actually be a better solution than recasting Superman in the DCEU, as it would allow the franchise to remedy the over-serious tone of the character's earlier appearances. By allowing Cavill's Superman to remain in the franchise and simply adjusting the approach to the character, Man of Steel 2 could redeem the DCEU's Man of Tomorrow.
Why Man Of Steel 2 Is Unlikely To Happen
While there's a strong argument for Henry Cavill's return being important for the DCEU, it seems unlikely. After Justice League's poor critical reception (and even after the better reaction to the Snyder Cut), Warner Bros. made no move to announce a Man of Steel sequel, which makes the project unlikely to happen. While many hope to see Henry Cavill's Superman return, his future in the franchise looks increasingly bleak.
Despite there being a wealth of Superman stories the DCEU has yet to tell, the fact that no Man of Steel 2 plans have been announced is somewhat telling. It's clear that the DCEU isn't entirely sure what to do with Superman after introducing a version of the character that doesn't live up to his own potential, as drastically changing him also presents a challenge for the franchise. Ultimately, however, Henry Cavill deserves to return as Superman for Man of Steel 2, even if the film isn't likely to ever be made.
