Why David Corenswet replaced Henry Cavill in ‘Superman’

It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s a totally different guy!

When moviegoers head to “Superman” this weekend, they won’t spot Henry Cavill, the actor who played Clark Kent as recently as 2022’s “Black Adam” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Instead, the iconic red cape will be donned by David Corenswet, the 32-year-old star of TV’s “Hollywood” and “The Politician.” 

A talent change-up for a reboot isn’t unusual. For instance, in the 23 years since Marvel’s “Spider-Man” first got the big-screen treatment in 2002, Peter Parker has been played by three actors: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland.

But Cavill’s departure was atypically dramatic. 

The 42-year-old Brit was the victim of a corporate shakeup that took him and his fans totally by surprise. 

Becoming Clark

In 2013, Cavill first played Kal-El in the origin story “Man of Steel,” directed by Zack Snyder, which kicked off the DC Extended Universe. 

Critics were lukewarm on it (Though The Post’s Lou Lumenick called the movie “a highly respectable, and sometimes inspired job of retooling the basic Superman mythology”), but it grossed a healthy $668 million worldwide.

A fly-away success, Cavill appeared as Clark Kent in several other films: 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” opposite Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne; 2017’s “Justice League” (and a 2021 re-edit called “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”) and 2022’s “Black Adam.” The reviews — and box office — got steadily worse.

In 2022, David Zaslav became CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns DC Studios. He shelved the completed film “Batgirl” that August, and DC Films head Walter Hamada resigned shortly after. Hamada left his post just two days before the October release of “Black Adam.” 

‘A very small taste of things to come’

Even with all the chaos swirling around him, Cavill was optimistic.

In an October 24, 2022 Instagram post about his surprise appearance in “Black Adam,” he announced that he would assume the role of Superman again.

“A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded,” he said.

In an accompanying video, Cavill added, “There’s a lot to be thankful for, and I’ll get to that in time, but I wanted to thank you guys most of all. Thank you for your support and thank you for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded.”

There had been rumors brewing of a sequel to “Man of Steel,” the only standalone Superman film in the DC Extended Universe. But it was not to be.

New blood

One day later, James Gunn (director of “Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Peter Safran were announced as the new co-chairs of the newly created DC Studios. 

“We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved,” they said in a statement. 

One artist who would not be involved was Cavill.

Cavill gets canned

Eleven days before Christmas, 2022, the actor took to Instagram again for a far less chipper update.

“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran, and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,” he wrote.

“After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” Cavill added. “The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”

Gunn and Safran decided to scrap the existing DC Extended Universe and start it fresh with new actors. 

Gunn, who directed “Superman,” wanted a younger actor for the part, since the story would concern “an earlier part of Superman’s life,” he said on X.

Cavill even shot a cameo for 2023’s “The Flash,” with Ezra Miller, but Gunn and Safran decided to cut it.

There was more carnage. “Wonder Woman 3” was nixed.

And in a June 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn said a whole new “Wonder Woman” is in the works. Variety confirmed that it will not star Gal Godot.

A new dawn

When Gunn announced his first slate of DC films, he told reporters that Cavill wasn’t technically axed.

“We didn’t fire Henry. Henry was never cast,” the director said. “For me, it’s about, ‘Who do I want to cast as Superman, and who do the filmmakers we have want to cast?’ And for me, for this story, it isn’t Henry.”

He added: “I like Henry, I think he’s a great guy. I think he’s getting d—– around by a lot of people, including the former regime at this company. But this Superman is not Henry, for a number of reasons.”

In June 2023, it was announced that Corenswet, who is a decade younger than Cavill, would play Clark Kent opposite Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane.

“Superman” hits theaters July 11.