Superman, the ultimate superhero, has encountered numerous challenges on the big screen. The Last Son of Krypton has seen his fair share of upheaval, from unimpressive storylines to contentious casting decisions. The recent buzz surrounding Matthew Vaughn’s potential Superman: Red Son adaptation starring Henry Cavill has made fans thrilled and curious about what lies ahead for the Man of Steel. Although it’s exciting to imagine that witnessing the actor donning the red cape once again makes one feel alive, there are legitimate concerns regarding the character’s portrayal in this dark alternate narrative.
In recent years, writers have transformed Superman into a very specific type of villain: a dictator.
Recently, Vaughn showed interest in a Superman film that takes place outside of the main DCU timeline, but the proposal runs the risk of reiterating a well-known issue with the DCEU. The director’s plan for Cavill’s Superman film is to adapt Mark Millar’s Superman: Red Son Elseworlds tale, in which Clark Kent lands in the Soviet Union rather than Kansas.
From the looks of things, the DCU might want to distance itself from the DCEU era. But it is hard to ignore the pairing of an established actor with the ‘dictator Superman’. Though potentially intriguing, Vaughn’s Superman concept appears to build on what has already failed for Cavill in the DCEU.
Thus, it is time to consider why it might be a wise decision for the Man of Steel star to gracefully step down.
Superman: Red Son’s ‘Dark’ Plot: Why Henry Cavill Shouldn’t Return For Matthew Vaughn’s Flick
Superman: Red Son, based on Mark Millar’s graphic novel of the same name, tells a different story of Superman’s spacecraft crash landing in Soviet Russia instead of Kansas. The story explores a world in which Superman nearly becomes a dictator himself, showing an entirely different side of the beloved character. Given the bleak nature of the storyline, reintroducing Henry Cavill as the protagonist may elicit vehement criticism from fans who have long wished for a more upbeat portrayal of Superman.
The concept of the Sam Liu-helmed 2020 animated film is a not-so-ordinary Elseworld story. Rather than growing up on a Kansas farm, Kal-El was raised on a Soviet farm. His childhood friend Svetlana informs him that he must use his abilities for the good of ‘the state’ and the public. Thus, rather than a red S on his chest, this Superman flies with a sickle and hammer instead.
Superman is always conflicted in this quest. He is not just doing your average hero thing. Being the leader of a country, he is always attempting to act morally on a scale that makes violence seem unthinkable. He is not a true hero in Superman: Red Son, and it may not be possible for him to be one. He is not a force for good; rather, he is an advocate of strong leadership who kills without remorse.
As the possibility of Matthew Vaughn’s Superman: Red Son adaptation starring Cavill continues to enchant fans, it’s also important to take into account the potential consequences of revisiting such a dark and divisive story arc. While it is tempting to see the actor return as the Man of Steel ‘once again’, the risk of an even greater backlash than Zack Snyder’s film may overshadow Cavill’s performance and his overall legacy.
Henry Cavill Should Escape the Shadow of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel
It is no secret that Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel divided fans, with some praising its gritty realism and others believing it strayed too far from the traditional Superman portrayal. Henry Cavill’s performance, on the other hand, received widespread praise, prompting many to associate him with Snyder’s divisive take on the iconic superhero. Superman, often referred to as the ‘icon of hope’, necessitates an actor capable of embodying the character’s compassion, bravery, and inherent goodness.
While Cavill brought a lot of physicality to the role, some critics argue that it lacked the emotional depth that made the character so appealing. To be more specific, fans claim that the film lacks any heart associated with the iconic character, adding that ‘this Superman is dark and brooding’. Man of Steel is arguably very different from most other cinematic depictions of the character as well as from the way Superman is usually portrayed in comic books.
By choosing not to participate in Matthew Vaughn’s potential Superman flick, Cavill can distance himself from any probable ties to the previous divisive adaptation.
Do you think Vaughn should helm a Superman: Red Son film?
Man of Steel is streaming on Netflix & Max.
