Zack Snyder celebrated Christmas by sharing two pictures of Henry Cavill in costume as Superman. What made the photos particularly interesting to fans is that they show the actor in the suit originally worn by Christopher Reeve. The caption on the first photo reads, “Henry Cavill. The original Superman suit. This photo. It was undeniable.”
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The pair of photos were reportedly shown to higher-ups at Warner Bros. during the casting process for Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel. “With the last image I shared, and this one, we showed WB [and] everyone agreed: Henry Cavill was Superman. That’s where the journey began,” Snyder wrote in the second caption.
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Reeve’s original costume was colorful and included the comics-accurate strongman-style trunks that Cavill’s darker Superman suit did away with. But the introductory image was apparently enough to convince Warner Bros. that the actor should portray the iconic hero. Snyder describing it as “undeniable” creates the sense that Cavill wasn’t simply cast as Superman — he was destined for the part.
The Superman Legacy
Since joining Instagram in late September, Snyder has posted several pictures of Cavill in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) Superman costume. After Man of Steel, the actor played Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2017). Snyder, due to a family tragedy during production of Justice League, was forced to step away from what fans had dubbed the Snyderverse.
Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck as the Snyderverse Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman – HBO Max
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Cavill made one more appearance as Superman in a post-credits scene in 2022’s Black Adam. But by that time Warner Bros. seemed to feel that the DCEU had run its course and turned the DC properties over to James Gunn for a full reboot.
With the new batch of photos, Snyder is reinforcing the idea that Cavill is the definitive Superman. By showing him in the Reeve’s Superman suit, Snyder is solidifying a narrative arc between the original cinematic Superman and the one he put on screen. It’s a legacy that not every actor who will go on to play Superman can share.
An Evolving Mythos
While Snyder’s DCEU was controversial for its dark tone and narrative choices, few would say that Cavill didn’t look the part. Despite the lingering hopes of many fans, the probability of restoring the Snyderverse is all but nonexistent. But perhaps the Snyderverse is simply evolving, moving from comic book-inspired tales of strange visitors from other worlds, and into a story of Cavill rightfully inheriting the role from Reeve.
Christopher Reeve as Superman from the 1978 film – Warner Bros. Entertainment, YouTube
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Many feel that Cavill was forced out of the role before his time was up, and many hope he will return. It’s a fantasy which parallels the Arthurian myth of the once and future king, and at least a few Superman comics. Sharing the pictures of the popular actor in the original costume at a time of year when people feel nostalgic invites a sense of longing for what was, and perhaps more profoundly, what might have been. Cavill as the ideal Superman is a concept Snyder seems determined to sustain, even though the DCEU and Snyderverse have come to an end.
What did you think of the pictures of Cavill in the original Superman suit? Let us know in the comments!
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