The status of Superman on the big screen has been in question for years, and it isn’t getting any clearer following the recent Warner Bros. Discovery deal. Major shake-ups have already taken place with more sure to come, as CEO David Zaslav looks to solidify the studio’s superhero slate. And as part of that, we could be seeing a final decision on the future of Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel.
According to a new Variety piece, Zaslav is “frustrated that [DC’s] cinematic output has been inconsistent and that there hasn’t been sufficient long-term planning in terms of rolling out sequels and follow-ups to popular movies.”
This ties into recent reports that he’d approached Joker director Todd Phillips about becoming a Kevin Feige-like overseer of DC Films. Now that Phillips is embarking on a Joker sequel that’s unlikely to happen. Others reportedly approached for the job are Paramount exec Emma Watts, and former Disney chief Alan Horn.
Interestingly, the article goes on to suggest the 39-year-old Cavill is “aging out” of the Superman role, or that he’s perceived as such. That seems premature, especially when you consider the godlike physical condition he continues to be in. My belief is that Cavill might not return because of other competing Superman projects, although the fate of films from writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and another that may star Michael B. Jordan remain in flux.
