Henry Cavill Can Return to 'Superman' — In a Villainous Role
Superman’s actor isn’t reprizing his role in James Gunn’s new movie, but instead he could continue DC’s trend with a much more fitting role.
Some fans still aren’t over Henry Cavill’s replacement now that the DCU is in its new Superman era, but the studio can still make everyone happy by inviting the actor in a potential sequel — and for a completely different role.
Released back in July, James Gunn’s Superman marked yet another chapter in the superhero’s long story that will now be led by David Corenswet, with the movie making a pretty impressive entrance for a possible franchise with more than $550 million in its piggy bank at the moment.
However, Superman’s previous actor Henry Cavill shouldn’t be written off the DCU’s history that easily, especially since he can join the list of actors who have already had double (and pretty polarizing) roles in the superhero franchise.
Henry Cavill Can Still Return to the DCU as Kryptonian General Zod
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Now having wrapped his Superman story, Cavill might potentially go to the opposite side by turning into his former character’s primary rival in James Gunn’s Superman universe.
Determined to rebuild Krypton, the planet he’s from, Zod is the first person to come in Superman’s way when it comes to the latter’s mission to protect the Earth no matter what, with the two constantly clashing and making attempts to destroy each other’s planets.
The antagonist was portrayed by Michael Shannon in 2013’s Man of Steel that starred Henry Cavill as Superman, and now it seems like Cavill has in fact entered a phase where he does look like a much more compelling candidate for Zod’s role in James Gunn’s sequel.
Apart from the fact that the actor’s past as Superman makes the villainous part all the way more exciting, Cavill, who is now 42, is in the perfect age to play the character and boasts of enough “villainous” acting experience to nail the part.
Henry Cavill’s Kryptonian General Zod Would Continue DC’s Hero/Villain Trend
Just like it was fine for Marvel to introduce former Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, the same goes for the DCU that has already seen several actors taking on the roles of both good and bad characters within the same superhero universe.
Talking about the upcoming releases, 2026’s Supergirl will star Jason Momoa as Lobo while the actor already appeared in DC movies as Aquaman.
“I actually think Zod would be the perfect role for him [Henry Cavill] to play, it would give him a chance to be a supervillain and to act opposite the new Superman”, Redditor AenarionsTrueHeir supported the idea in a thread.
