Summary
- Cavill may explore other roles in DC, like Wildcat, to distance himself from Superman.
- Booster Gold offers a comedic shift for Cavill, showcasing his versatility and potential in a major career change.
- Apollo in The Authority could provide a Superman-like role that connects to the hero while exploring new depths of darkness.
Henry Cavill could join James Gunn’s new DC Universe as a few different heroes who have great potential. Cavill played Superman in the DCEU, with the actor never really getting the chance to shine in the role. Despite starting the shared universe with 2013’s Man of Steel, Cavill’s Superman would appear in multiple controversial films, only to go missing for years and return with a cameo in 2022’s Black Adam and a promise of more to do in future DC movies.
However, DC Studios co-CEOs Gunn and Peter Safran were brought in to make some major changes at the studio, and those included the reboot of the DCEU into the new DCU. The first of the DC Universe Chapter One projects on the movie side was announced to be a Superman reboot movie, with David Corenswet taking over from Cavill as Clark Kent. While Cavill is out as Superman, Gunn has revealed that other possible DCU roles have been discussed for Cavill, and there are some exciting choices that would allow the actor to have a future at DC.
Related
Recasting Henry Cavill As 10 Villains For James Gunn’s DC Universe
Henry Cavill may not be reprising his role of Superman in the new DC Universe, but he could still return, potentially even as an iconic DC villain.
10
Wildcat
A Smaller Role Could Distance Cavill From Superman
Cavill has become famous worldwide for playing Superman, which means that the actor returning to another superhero project, let alone one in the new DC Universe, would be complicated. The best way to try and distance Cavill’s image from Superman if he were to return for the new DCU would be to give him a smaller role that is not similar to Clark Kent.
Enter Wildcat. As one of the members of the Justice Society of America, Wildcat could be part of some exciting crossovers and epic villain fights while also giving Cavill a role that would be easily distinguishable from Superman. Ted Grant, aka the original Wildcat, is an expert hand-to-hand fighter who started as a boxer. The character is known for bringing in the king of grit that Cavill was shown to excel at in The Witcher.
9
Booster Gold
The Hero Will Lead A Max Series
Booster Gold would be a major shift for Cavill, not only in terms of his DC roles, but career-wise. Booster Gold is a character known for his comedic nature, with Michael Carter coming from the future. After some tragic events end up leading to Michael’s life as a star quarterback getting destroyed, he steals 25th-century technology and travels to the past to become a hero.
Cavill is used to playing more serious roles, but spending some time in Booster Gold’s shoes could be great for the actor. It would allow Cavill to show a different side of his that not many projects have brought forth, and with his more comedic turn in the trailers for director Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare showing that Cavill is skilled in that regard, he could excel as Booster Gold and make fans forget about Superman.
Related
Who Is Booster Gold? Comics Origin, Powers & DC Universe Future Explained
Here’s everything you need to know about Booster Gold, including his origin in DC Comics and how his story can tie into the new DC Universe.
8
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
The Character Was Teased In Blue Beetle
If he does not get cast as Booster Gold in the DCU, Cavill could end up being a great choice to play his best friend — Blue Beetle. After starring in his own solo movie as Blue Beetle, Xolo Maridueña will join the new DCU as Jaime Reyes, with more members of his supporting cast likely returning as well.
While the Blue Beetle movie itself might not be canon, the DCU could continue its plot about a mystery regarding Ted Kord’s whereabouts. As the Blue Beetle before Jaime, Kord could serve as the young hero’s mentor. Cavill’s Superman never really got the chance to shape younger heroes, and the DCU could allow the actor to fulfill that mentor role. Cavill could also do great as the straight man in the Blue Beetle-Booster Gold dynamic in the DCU.
7
Adam Strange
The DCU Could Adapt A Dark DC Comic Book Series
Another possible role in the DCU for Cavill would be that of Adam Strange. The character even has live-action connections to the Man of Steel thanks to actor Shaun Sipos appearing as Strange over two seasons of the Superman prequel series Krypton, which saw Adam go back to the past in order to save Superman’s life. Cavill would be perfect for a specific Adam Strange story.
The DCU has a group of writers who are working alongside James Gunn to craft the overall story of the universe. One of those talented folks is DC Comics writer Tom King, who penned the “Strange Adventures” comic book series. The run told a story that took place both on Earth and in space, split between the present and the past. Cavill would be greatly suited for both sides of Strange presented in the story — the hopeful hero and the tragic veteran.
6
Mister Miracle
Cavill Could Help Establish The DCU’s Cosmic Side
Mister Miracle would be an interesting role for Cavill. The DCU’s Chapter One is called “Gods and Monsters.” Announced projects like the animated series Creature Commandos are already making good on that, introducing both kinds of characters to the DCU. Mister Miracle could be the point-of-view character in a possible movie or series about the New Gods, opening the DCU’s cosmic side and preparing the universe for the arrival of Darkseid in the future.
Scott Free is a character who had to endure a great deal of pain and suffering from a young age due to being raised on Apokolips. However, he managed to become a hero whose outlook is almost always toward the positive in life, as there is always a means of escape for him. Cavill could deliver an emotional showcase in an adaptation of Tom King’s “Mister Miracle” series.
5
Batman
The Actor Could Again Nab A Major DC Role
Cavill has been one of the names mentioned by fans to play the next Batman. Like the DCEU Superman actor, Ben Affleck is out as DC’s Dark Knight, with a new actor set to take on the role in The Brave and the Bold Batman reboot. The film will include Damian Wayne — Bruce’s biological son — and other unspecified members of the Bat-Family.
While Cavill, at 40, was too old to fit Gunn’s vision for Superman in the DCU, the actor could be great for Batman. Cavill has the physicality needed for the role, and with the Bat-Family being a part of the DCU, perhaps an older Batman could be the way to go. The actor has plenty of roles that show he would be great for fight scenes, and movies like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. are proof his Bruce Wayne would also hit the right notes.
Related
What The 3 Fan-Favorite DCU Batman Candidates Have Said About The Role
The Brave and the Bold, the DC Universe’s Batman reboot, has seen many actors rumored for Bruce Wayne, and three of them have become popular picks.
4
The Human Target
Cavill Has The Skills For A Nuanced Noir Detective Story
Another character from a DC Comics story written by Tom King who would be a great fit for Cavill is Christopher Chance, aka the Human Target. The character is known for being a master impersonator, with Chance’s abilities allowing him to pretend to be the person he is hired to protect and insert himself in dangerous situations on their behalf.
“The Human Target,” a masterpiece of a series by King and artist Greg Smallwood, would make for the perfect DCU limited series. The book follows the Human Target on his last case as a private investigator — his own murder. With multiple players of the Justice League International set to appear in the DCU, the Human Target could be used as a way to expand on the team’s past, with Cavill being able to deliver as a suave PI.
3
Orion
The Actor Would Be Great As The New God
While Mister Miracle would be a cool choice for Cavill that would have the actor exit his safe zone, another character related to the New Gods would be a bit more in his wheelhouse. The former Superman star would be able to deliver as Orion, Darkseid’s son, who was traded in exchange for Scott Free and got to live a better life with the Highfather in New Genesis.
Orion is one of the strongest of DC’s gods, with the character being often depicted as a fierce warrior. Known for uttering few words, Orion would be a seamless fit for Cavill after the actor turned in fan-favorite performances as the similarly gruff Geralt of Rivia over three seasons of Netflix’s The Witcher series. Orion has served in the Justice League, which could lead to Cavill rejoining the team.
2
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
Cavill Would Be Great As The Hero
While there are many roles for Cavill to return to DC, the star might not want to return to the franchise if it is for a role that is not as high-profile as Superman. While few characters stand in the same ranks as Superman in DC Comics, there is a character who has often served with the Man of Steel in the Justice League that Cavill could play.
The actor would be a cool choice to play Hal Jordan. The most popular Green Lantern shines due to his willpower, which seems to know no limits. Cavill can play a confident and charming character like the ace pilot Hal Jordan. After the DCEU barely used the Green Lantern Corps, the DCU will be making the cosmic team important, with Hal Jordan debuting in DC’s announced Lanterns series.
1
Apollo
Cavill Could Get A Superman-Like DCU Role
Finally, while Cavill will not be giving life to Superman in the DCU, the actor could play a character that shares some similarities to the hero. DC has confirmed The Authority as one of the first movies in the DCU. The film will follow the team of the same name, which is a squad of anti-heroes that saves the world by any means necessary.
Toppling governments, killing prominent figures, and more are just par for the course with The Authority. The team possesses two famous members who are commonly referred to as extreme versions of Batman and Superman, which are Midnighter and Apollo. Cavill could join the DCU as Apollo, fully delving into the violence and darkness that a being with Superman-like powers can bring to the table. This way, Henry Cavill’s DCU role could connect to Superman and be its own thing at the same time.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
