Henry Cavill nodded to his tumultuous history with post-credits scenes during a recent screening of his new Guy Ritchie-directed movie “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” As reported by Insider, Cavill made some introductory remarks before the film and references his other Ritchie films, including his leading turn in the 2015 spy film “The Man from U.N.C.L.E” and his appearance “in a post-credits scene” for the director’s 2017 box office disappointment “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.”
“Turns out, I don’t have much luck with post-credit scenes,” Cavill then wisecracked to much audience laughter. “So, I may give up on those.”
Cavill is likely referring to how “King Arthur” did not get a sequel because it flopped at the box, but also a debacle ensued years later when he showed up as Superman in the post-credits scene of the 2022 comic book tentpole “Black Adam,” headlined by Dwayne Johnson. The moment heralded the return of his iteration of the Man of Steel and set up a future in the DC Universe where he’d go toe-to-toe with Johnson’s Black Adam.
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The actor confirmed in an Oct. 24, 2022social media postthat he would be returning asSupermanin a new Warner Bros. movie following his cameo at the end of “Black Adam.” The actor wrote to his fans: “I wanted to make it official: I am back as Superman … Thank you for your support and thank you for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded.”
Two days later, Cavill spoke publicly for the first time about his Superman return during a live recording of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast at 92NY in New York City.
“The character means so much to me. It’s been five years now. I never gave up hope,” Cavill told the audience. “It’s amazing to be here now talking about it again. There is such a bright future ahead for the character. I’m so excited to tell a story with an enormously joyful Superman.”
However, Cavill’s Superman return was short-lived. Just over a month later, Warner Bros. and DC Studios announced James Gunn and Peter Safran as the latter company’s new bosses. The duo were tasked with overhauling the DC Universe on the big screen, and their plan included bringing in a new Superman actor to anchor their universe. It was an especially tough blow for Cavill, who had exited his starring role on Netflix’s “The Witcher” presumably because his future appeared to include more Superman projects prior to Gunn and Safran’s hiring.
David Corenswet is officially taking over the role of Superman in a new film written and directed by Gunn. “Superman” will open in theaters next year.
“I would love to see somebody do an upbeat, throwback [take on Superman],” Corenswet previously toldEntertainment Weeklybefore his casting. “I love the Henry Cavill dark and gritty take, but I would love to see the next one be very bright and optimistic.”
An “upbeat” and “optimistic” Superman sounds exactly like the kind of Superman that Corenswet will be playing. As GunntoldPvNewduring his casting search, “The next Superman has to be someone who has all the humanity that Superman has but he’s also an alien. It’s gotta be somebody who has the kindness and the compassion that Superman has and be somebody who you want to give a hug.”
Gunn’s “Superman” opens June 11, 2025 from Warner Bros.
