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DC Studios has a new “Superman” movie in the works, but it won’t feature Henry Cavill as the franchise’s eponymous hero, according to the studio’s co-head and the British actor himself.
“I just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone,” Cavill wrote in a statement posted on Instagram Thursday, referring to the studio’s co-heads. “After all, I’m not coming back as Superman.”
The news comes just weeks after Cavill announced that he would return as Superman, though he did not reveal details of the film at the time, and entertainment outlets reported that various ideas were being considered. for the franchise.
“After being told by the studio to announce my return in October, prior to his hiring, this is not the easiest news, but that’s life,” Cavill said in his statement Wednesday. He added: “I respect that James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and everyone involved in the new universe the best of luck and the happiest of fortunes.”
Gunn announced in a tweet Wednesday afternoon that he is writing the new film, which will focus “on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”
“But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re huge fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities for working together in the future,” added Gunn.
Gunn and Safran were hired to run DC Studios this October, and this is their first major project announcement since taking over. Gunn, known for directing “The Suicide Squad” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” said he has been writing the script for the new “Superman” movie for “a while” and is looking for a director for the project.
Peter and I have a DC board ready, which we couldn’t be over the moon about; We will be able to share interesting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022
The news comes amid a major shake-up at DC Studios owner Warner Bros. Discovery, which was formed after the recent merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. After the merger, Warner Bros. announced a series of cancellations of planned content in an effort to save money, including superhero universe projects such as “Wonder Woman 3,” which was to be directed by Patty Jenkins. The company said in October that the price of its content cuts could reach $2.5 billion.
HBO Max and Discovery Plus merge into a single streaming service
Cavill has played Superman since “Man of Steel” in 2013, and in each of the three DC Extended Universe films that have come out since then. He made a cameo appearance as Superman in “Black Adam,” which opened in October.
In a video from the time, he said his cameo in “Black Adam” was “a small taste of things to come” and told fans their patience would be “rewarded.”
Zack Snyder, who directed the previous four “Superman” DC Extended Universe films starring Cavill, was asked in a radio interview last month if he was returning to DC Studios under the leadership of Gunn and Safran. “As far as I know, it’s very little…I’m just doing my thing and I haven’t been called by anyone or anything,” he replied. “So I just wish them the best and I hope they make great movies.”
According to Variety , the new Gunn-directed film will show Superman as his alter ego, Clark Kent, working as a reporter in the fictional city of Metropolis, where he will meet fellow reporter and future love interest Lois Lane.
The plans for Warner Bros. Discovery to release a different “Superman” movie, produced by JJ Abrams and written by novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates, is still moving forward, Variety reported.