Justice League spoilers lie ahead.
While Justice League‘s $96 million weekend US debut may have fallen a little below Warner Bros’ wishes, it did still prove there’s commercial mileage in the series. Further, it re-established Henry Cavill as Superman on the big screen. Given that there had been reports of a possible Man Of Steel 2, it’s now opened up a different path for the blue tights man.
And now, actor Henry Cavill has hinted at a more sanguine Superman for the future.
Speaking to The LA Times, Cavill reveals that he is currently contracted for one more Superman movie appearance. While he did not specify if it will be fulfilled in Justice League 2 (which, as far as we know, is still on the table, but don’t place your bets) or a Man Of Steel solo sequel, he clearly believes that the future for his version of Superman will veer away from the initial doom and gloom that dominated his previous turns. Addressing the post-Justice League DCEU playing field, Cavill said that “there’s a wonderful opportunity to tell the Superman story. Now there is a fantastic chance to show Superman in his full colors and tell a very complex, character-driven movie that is based on story and have that wonderful sensation of hope and happiness. A feel-good movie with lessons laced in there as well.”
Cavill’s Superman debuted in 2013’s Man Of Steel with director Zack Snyder – armed with a story developed with The Dark Knight Trilogy visionary Christopher Nolan – attempting to curb the character’s big blue boy scout image with a darker, pathos-centric introduction. His return in 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice ended up with hero-on-hero movie mayhem, leading to a version of the character’s famed comic book demise. Yet, Justice League saw a resurrected Superman embracing his super-heroic destiny, armed with smirks and one-liners, with an emphasis more on super power and less on glower. As Cavill contends:
“I think there’s an opportunity for these heroes to be represented in a way in which everyone can access. It should be funny. You should be able to take your kids to it”, Cavill added.
“I’ve always enjoyed the traditional, very classic view on Superman in the comic books,” Cavill says. “I think there’s an enormous complexity to that character. I know when I was working with Joss [Whedon], he and I saw eye-to-eye on some of the aspects of Superman. That paragon of hope. That ideal. That wonderful feeling of, ‘Oh, good, Superman’s here!’ I have also developed a very personal and protective relationship over this character, and it was just lovely to have the opportunity to smile and feel good.”
Justice League is in cinemas at the moment, of course. We wait and see just what Cavill’s next Superman project will be…