Henry Cavill’s Superman Reboot Movie Pitch Would Still Be Perfect

Henry Cavill
‘s Superman was one of the most beloved iterations of the character in recent history, so it could be worthwhile to bring him back in an Elseworlds story, but potentially not as people would expect. With the dawn of the DCU
, there were some very unfortunate casualties as the DCEU was laid to rest. Since 2013, Cavill had led the way for the DC franchise with his debut in Man of Steel. And despite his surprise return in Black Adam, the DCEU was officially made redundant when James Gunn was brought in to lead DC Studios in a new direction.

While Cavill and the rest of the DCEU cast were retired from their roles, there was also some confusion about how previous films and shows would connect to the new DCU. As a way to resolve these complications, Gunn clarified that other projects may continue or remain as part of the larger canon, but labeling them DC Elseworlds. In this way, they could still be included in the larger DC narrative, though they would not have to impact or overlap with anything going on inside the primary universe.

Matthew Vaughn’s Superman Red Son Pitch Could Bring Together Those Who Hated & Loved Cavill’s DCEU Character

A Much Darker Superman Story For Esleworlds

While Cavill clearly represents the closed chapter of the DCEU, director Matthew Vaughn, who recently worked alongside Cavill on Argylle, proposed an Elseworlds project that could get Cavill back in the iconic suit, albeit with some minor adjustments. One aspect of the DCEU that was considered extremely divisive was the dark tone. While some DC stories remain grounded and gritty, like Batman, DC as a whole is not meant to be a monochromatic noir set of stories. However, the films leaned heavily into a darker take on heroes, with the characters appearing more like fallen gods.

For some, seeing Superman and Batman battle it out in this way was incredibly satisfying, and for others, it was an affront to the nature and message of the characters. But, if Cavill were to don the cape as the Superman from the Red Son miniseries, where the hero lands in Russia as opposed to America, and is influenced by entirely different social and political ideals, it could satisfy both sides. For fans of a powerful Superman who doesn’t hold back, and those who want to see things more in line with the comics, Red Son is the perfect story to adapt as an Elseworlds project starring Cavill.

Why The DCU’s Elseworlds Needs To Bring Back DCEU Actors

The Potential For Elseworlds Is Limitless

But considering how successful this kind of project would be, and the potential to bring fans of the DCEU back, it feels like a huge missed opportunity for the DCU to not capitalize on the Elseworlds potential. Instead of simply using it as a label for movies like The Batman and Joker to remain adjacent but not central is a clever workaround, but using it to deliver incredible stories with stars who were let go could be far better. And depending on when these projects are delivered, they could shine a spotlight on the talented actors who built the DCEU.

Considering the wealth of stories that exist even just within the DC Elseworlds label in the comics, there is near endless potential for people like Gal Gadot to reprise their role as Wonder Woman, or Ben Affleck as Batman. The Elseworlds label even opens the door to potentially explore stories with other former DC stars, including Michael Keaton, Brandon Routh, Christian Bale, and many more. Ultimately, if the DCU fails to use Elseworlds in this way, and never brings back Henry Cavill and other stars, it will be a huge missed opportunity.

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