It turns out Henry Cavill won’t be returning to the role of Superman after all. The actor announced his unexpected and involuntary departure on Wednesday, posting a text screenshot on Instagram.
“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone,” wrote Cavill. “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life.”
Cavill has played the big blue Boy Scout since 2013, donning the tights for Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and (minor spoiler) in Black Adam‘s post-credits cameo.
Cavill had previously confirmed in October that he would be playing the Man of Steel again, however this was before Gunn and Safran were revealed as the new co-chairs and CEOs of DC Studios. A newly-formed division of Warner Bros., DC Studios replaces DC Films and is in charge of movies, television shows, and animation.
Unfortunately, it seems there’s no room for Cavill’s version of the Man of Steel in Gunn and Safran’s vision for DC Studios’ future.
“In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill,” Gunn wrote on Twitter. “But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.”
This dismissal isn’t great news for Cavill. The actor resigned from his lead role in Netflix’s The Witcher in October, just days after confirming his return as Superman. Now it looks as though he’ll have a lot of free time on his hands.
“The change of the guard is something that happens,” Cavill wrote on Instagram. “I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”
The casting of Superman isn’t the only change Gunn and Safran are making. Last week news broke that Wonder Woman 3 had been cancelled, which eventually prompted director Patty Jenkins to release her own text screenshot explaining that it had not been her decision.
While Gunn confirmed he is writing a Superman movie and that it is not an origin story, we’ll just have to keep waiting for further details.
