Zack Snyder had so many plans for Henry Cavill’s Superman during the reign of the DC Extended Universe, but unfortunate circumstances led to the downfall of the franchise. Now, with James Gunn already rebuilding the new era of heroes and villains under DC Universe, can his version live up to the game?
With the news of the upcoming Superman movie, it’s quite inevitable to wonder what would have happened with Cavill’s version had he never taken off the cape and suit.
Zack Snyder Reveals Original Plans For Henry Cavill’s Superman
Zack Snyder spoke with GQ and extensively discussed Superman’s narrative in the once-promising DCEU franchise.
It’s birth, deaths, and resurrection, really is what the first three movies are. In the end, they’re Superman stories. I think the people get sidetracked by Batman a little bit.
Indeed, Man of Steel was meant to be a trilogy. Henry Cavill would have had a very lucrative career playing the Last Son of Krypton. Snyder said his plan for the hero was “that we killed Superman because I needed to resurrect him.”
The director stated that in “his death and resurrection, he goes almost full circle,” and that being kind is what he would consider as “the purest form of Superman.” Snyder also shared the most shocking plan he had for Superman:
At his peak, he was going to have to succumb to the anti-life, be destroyed, turn the clock back, and then get his chance for this battle against Darkseid that would, if you will, sort of finish his like trilogy of like becoming this guardian of the planet, and sort of return him to his humanity. That was our hope.
Of course, there is no way fans could witness these epic movie plans in action for Superman as Snyder has long been done with DCEU. The director is now focused on his own passion projects. Still, there’s James Gunn to pick up this superhero dream.
What Is The Plot Of James Gunn’s Superman?
James Gunn’s announcement of an upcoming Superman film seems to have appeased fans after the heartbreaking exit of Cavill as Clark Kent. The Guardians of the Galaxy director previously clarified a rumor that’s been making rounds online. He wrote via Threads:
The primary protagonist of Superman is, shockingly, Superman. The main villain of Superman is, shockingly, Lex Luthor. I don’t know where all the stuff is coming from that it’s something other than this. There are so many stories coming out every day it’s difficult to deal with, and every time I strike something down I’m giving it attention.
Indeed, the story remains as fans know it, but it’s the twists and turns and the conflict that would give it spice and flavor. Gunn was clearly annoyed at these fake reports spreading online.
On the other hand, he remains secretive about the plot of Superman, but knowing how incredible and mind-blowing Snyder’s concepts are, there is definitely a pressure to outdo it.
Man of Steel is available to watch on Max, while Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.
