Amidst plans of putting together a new DC Universe with Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been facing criticism after criticism. The criticism began with the removal of Henry Cavill and is still surrounding the same topic, more or less. The wounds are pretty fresh after all!
As the first part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s vision for the new DCU has been announced already, the duo should probably be working on easing the tension a little bit. However, that does not seem to be happening as James Gunn somehow keeps digging himself into a deeper hole with each tweet he posts. Recently, the co-CEO revealed on Twitter that Superman: Legacy was already a separate project before he and Peter Safran even joined the DC Studios. This led to a lot of backlash from fans.
James Gunn’s Tweets End up Causing Trouble. Again.
We all know by now that James Gunn isn’t one to sit around seeing information that might mislead the fans floating around, which is why he has time and again clarified things through social media. So when someone stated that Creature Commandos was being fast-tracked at the DCU, Gunn took to Instagram to reveal that it was “not THAT fast-tracked” as both Creature Commandos and Superman: Legacy were in development even before his arrival at the DC Studios. He also clarified that Superman: Legacy was always a different project from Man of Steel 2. He also revealed that he was hired as a writer for the new Superman film over six months ago.
It was. I was hired to write Superman Legacy over six months ago.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 19, 2023
Well, that was enough for the wheels to be turning at great speeds in fans’ minds. While on one hand, Gunn is saying the new Superman film was already decided before him, on the other hand, Henry Cavill seems to have been kept in the dark about the whole ordeal. This, obviously, enraged the fans who are now blaming the studios for using Cavill as a pawn.
They took to Twitter to express their harsh opinions stating that bringing Cavill back as bait was simply uncalled for. Some fans are saying that Cavill in the DCU could have worked through the universe having multiple Superman, just like it has multiple Batmen if Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam turned out to be a hit. However, that wasn’t the case with the film. So did the studios drop Cavill after Black Adam failed to impress?
So, you made @TheRock lie? 👻@blackadammovie is now the biggest joke film ever. We expected more Black Adam and Superman. You can’t announce Henry Cavill is back then just fire him. 🚫
— 💥Supernova🎟️ (@TVOnTheSpot) February 20, 2023
The only way this makes sense is if they were open to the idea of having multiple Superman’s as they will have multiple Batman’s…if Black Adam had hit, Cavill could have carried on with that franchise, while Gunn wrote/directed Superman:Legacy with a different guy…
— Jason Jordan (@LoganW1974) February 20, 2023
So why was Cavill in black Adam if this Superman legacy movie was “planned” for 6 months it seems Gunn just wants to keep your friends from suicide squad and peacemaker and fire/ not hire the rest
— Cj (@The_Diamond_Bro) February 20, 2023
6 months ago you say? So when Henry Cavill was informed he was back, & he did a post credit scene with @TheRock in @blackadammovie, you knew the whole time it was farce, but you used the fans (& actors) for the sole purpose of viewership? Why should anyone trust you & DC Films?
— Joe Bateman (@josephgbateman) February 20, 2023
Wow. This is a new level of low. Does that mean that Warner Bros Discovery knowingly used Henry Cavill and the fans and mislead them with false information? Wow. Worst execs EVER!
— Paco 🇲🇽 🇯🇵 (@pacolepe85) February 20, 2023
What a despicable thing to do to Henry Cavil. Your company used him and gaslit the fans. Your “direction” looks no different than the previous failed regimes. #FireJamesGunnAndPeterSafran
— รђคฬภ ђเɭɭєﻮคร (@Laoschbag) February 20, 2023
Whatever the reason behind Cavill’s exit, fans are still not over the whole situation. And it looks like they are not going to get over it anytime soon. After all, they waited for a long time to see Cavill back in action only for him to be taken away from them, once again.
James Gunn Says Henry Cavill was Never Cast
Regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes, the DCU is moving forward with good speed and leaving Cavill behind. Contrary to what a lot of people believe, Gunn previously revealed that he and Peter Safran never fired Cavill because he was never officially hired in the first place. He continued on to say that while he like Cavill and thinks he’s a great guy, the Man of Steel actor was d*cked around by a lot of people. He even put some of the blame on the company’s former regime.
“We didn’t fire Henry. Actually, Henry was never cast. For me, it’s about who I want to cast as Superman and who the filmmakers want to cast. And for me, for this story, it isn’t Henry. I like Henry and I think he is a great guy. I think he’s getting d*cked around by a lot of people, including the former regime at this company. But this Superman is not Henry for a number of reasons.”
Sure the studios might have had to make a few tough decisions regarding Superman, however, the fans (and Cavill) seem to be paying for it all. All they wanted was to see the actor don the red cape again and even though Johnson made it possible, it was short-lived.
Superman: Legacy is set to release on July 11, 2025.
Source: Twitter | James Gunn
