In a special Christmas surprise for fans, filmmaker Zack Snyder pulled back the curtain on a pivotal moment in DC cinematic history. He shared previously unseen test photographs of actor Henry Cavill wearing the original Superman suit made famous by Christopher Reeve.
The Decisive Moment That Cast Henry Cavill
The images, which Snyder posted directly to his Instagram account, originate from the early casting phase for the 2013 film 'Man of Steel'. Snyder explained that these specific photos were used as the ultimate visual proof for Warner Bros. executives. The decision, according to Snyder, was immediate and clear once they saw Cavill in the classic costume.
"Henry Cavill. The original Superman suit. This photo. It was undeniable," Snyder wrote in one caption. He followed up in another post, stating, "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." This moment symbolised a significant passing of the torch from Reeve's legendary portrayal to a new era for the Man of Steel on the big screen.
A Whirlwind Journey and a Short-Lived Return
Henry Cavill's journey as Superman spanned three films in Snyder's DC Universe: 'Man of Steel' (2013), 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' (2016), and 'Justice League' (2017). After a five-year absence from the role, Cavill made a thrilling comeback in the post-credits scene of 'Black Adam' in 2022.
The actor himself confirmed his return on Instagram, writing, "I am back as Superman." He later expressed excitement about the character's future during a live podcast recording, saying, "There is such a bright future ahead for the character... I'm so excited to tell a story with an enormously joyful Superman."
However, this revival was abruptly cut short. Soon after the announcement, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, initiating a full reboot of the universe. Gunn later called the sequence of events "unfair" to Cavill, revealing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that their reboot plans were already set when Cavill's return was announced. "The day our [DC] deal closed, all of a sudden, they were announcing that Henry was back," Gunn said. "So it was really unfair to him and a total bummer."
Moving Forward With No Hard Feelings
Despite the dramatic shift in plans, the transition appears to have been amicable. Gunn confirmed he remained in touch with Zack Snyder and that there were no bad feelings between them. In fact, Gunn consulted Snyder during the design phase for the new Superman suit for his upcoming reboot film.
"One of the biggest questions was, 'Were we gonna have trunks, or were we gonna not have trunks?'" Gunn shared with Fandango. "I talked to Zack Snyder... and I was feeling exactly the same way." The new DC Universe under Gunn and Safran will move forward with 'Supergirl' in summer 2026, followed by the new 'Superman' film, titled 'Superman: Man of Tomorrow'.
Snyder's revelation of these historic test photos serves as a fascinating look into a defining casting choice, celebrating Cavill's embodiment of the icon while bookending a turbulent chapter for the Last Son of Krypton on film.
