Henry Cavill on why Superman broke his one rule in Man of Steel

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Henry Cavill has played Superman in MAN OF STEEL, BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, and JUSTICE LEAGUE, but of the three, MAN OF STEEL is Cavill's only standalone Superman film. The Zack Snyder film was developed before the DC Universe had been completely mapped out, and the later attempts at universe building in subsequent DC films meant that the story which began in MAN OF STEEL didn't get the proper payoff. While speaking with Square Mile, Henry Cavill spoke about MAN OF STEEL and how the controversial climax, in which Superman broke General Zod's neck in order to save an endangered family, was meant to set Superman on the path to becoming the more traditional version we know.

The killing of Zod would have led to a wonderful reason why Superman never kills. Not, he never kills just because his dad said so one day. He made the decision himself because of an impossible scenario, to which he then said, ‘I don't care if it's impossible again, I'm gonna find a way to make it possible in the impossible.'

JUSTICE LEAGUE took a step in the right direction with its portrayal of Superman, terrifying upper-lip aside, and I would imagine that if MAN OF STEEL 2 materializes, we'll get to see more of that side of Superman. When Warner Bros. moved ahead with fleshing out the larger DC Universe, Henry Cavill said that it meant that "we didn't get the opportunity to show the other side of it, the ‘I'm ready to be Superman now and I'm ready to show the world the best examples’. That's where the joy and glee comes from, and that sense of warmth from the character, which is his real superpower – he makes people believe in themselves. It was a shame because it would've been nice, and it would have been a lovely coupling with the seriousness and the depth of Man of Steel."

As for the future of Superman, Henry Cavill points to "Superman: For Tomorrow," a comic-arc which found Superman dealing with the disappearance of a million people off the face of the Earth, including Lois Lane, as the type of story he'd like a future film to tackle. "I would definitely like to tell a story like that," Cavill said. "There's an opportunity to keep on telling Superman stories, and getting them exactly right. Showing the things like hope and joy and that wonderful power of his to make people believe in themselves." It's no secret that Warner Bros. is still scrambling to get their DC movies in order, but I've got to hope that someday, Henry Cavill will get his shot at the Superman film he clearly desires.

Henry Cavill will next be seen in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, which will hit theaters on July 27th.