The DCEU set up multiple storylines for Henry Cavill’s Superman that will never happen. After almost five years without playing Superman, Henry Cavill returned as the Man of Steel for Black Adam’s post-credits scene. However, shortly after Black Adam’s release, a Superman movie reboot was announced. James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios is developing a new DC Universe, of which Gunn’s Superman: Legacy (2025) will be the first theatrical film.
Henry Cavill will not play Superman in Superman: Legacy. Instead, the upcoming Superman reboot will follow a young Clark Kent in the early years of his superhero career. Who will play Superman in James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy has yet to be announced. From becoming a father to fighting alongside Supergirl, here are 12 things set up for Henry Cavill’s Superman that will never happen.
12 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Be A Father In The DCEU
Zack Snyder’s Justice League subtly revealed that Lois Lane was pregnant. Snyder originally considered making Lois Lane and Bruce Wayne a couple in the DCEU following Superman’s death, but that idea was abandoned. Instead, Lois and Clark would have a child in Snyder’s Justice League 2. Regardless of the Superman recast, it is difficult to say whether Superman and Lois would indeed have a child in the DCEU. That is because the theatrical cut of Justice League, which is presumably the canon version of the movie, did not feature Lois’ pregnancy storyline. With Superman: Legacy being an origin story, a movie version of Jonathan Kent will not happen anytime soon.
11 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Fight The Legion Of Doom
DC’s Legion of Doom could have been featured in the DCEU on two different occasions. Snyder’s Justice League 2 would have used the Legion of Doom, whose lineup included Captain Cold, Doctor Poison, Lex Luthor, Black Manta, and Ocean Master. The Legion of Doom would initially serve as “smaller villains” for the Justice League to take on before the eventual confrontation against Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips in Justice League 3. The theatrical Justice League cut also hinted at the Legion of Doom, although a sequel would not necessarily have followed Snyder’s plans. Either way, Cavill’s Superman will never fight the Legion of Doom.
10 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Fight Darkseid
One of the biggest DCEU Superman teases that will never come to fruition is the battle against Darkseid. Introduced in a Jimmy Olsen comic, Darkseid is a Superman villain as much as he is a Justice League villain. Some of the best Darkseid stories, including the DC Animated Universe’s take on Darkseid, make his clash against Superman personal. Snyder’s Justice League movies were building toward a confrontation between Darkseid and the Justice League. More specifically, Darkseid would have targeted Superman, hoping to turn the Man of Steel into his general. Zack Snyder’s Justice League’s ending teased Darkseid heading to Earth. However, Cavill’s Superman will never fight DC’s most powerful villain.
9 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not See Lois Lane Dying By Darkseid
Zack Snyder’s DC movies were hinting at Lois Lane’s death since Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. During the first “Knightmare sequence,” Superman accuses Batman of taking “her” from him, noting that “she was [his] world.” Right after Batman wakes up from the nightmare, the Flash appears in front of Bruce Wayne and tells him that Lois Lane “is the key.” Presumably, Lois Lane’s death would break Superman and cause him to become a tyrant. Zack Snyder’s Justice League made this potential storyline clear, revealing that Darkseid would kill Lois Lane right before brainwashing Superman. The death of Lois is one of many DCEU Superman storylines that are no longer happening.
8 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Succumb To Darkseid’s Anti-Life Equation
Lois Lane’s death would lead to evil Superman, but not in the same sense as Injustice. Clark Kent would not have become evil because of Lois’ death. Instead, Superman, broken by the loss of Lois, would have succumbed to Darkseid’s Anti-Life equation. The Anti-Life equation is a rather confusing DC Comics concept, but it can be summarized as something that allows Darkseid to remove someone’s free will. Darkseid’s search for the Anti-Life equation was a plot point in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and it would have continued in Snyder’s Justice League 2. After finding the Anti-Life equation on Earth, Darkseid would have used it to brainwash Superman.
7 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Fight Batman’s Knightmare Resistance
Zack Snyder’s evil Superman storyline was originally teased in Batman v Superman, during which Batman had the first glimpse of a world ruled by a fallen Man of Steel. Following Lois Lane’s death and the encounter with the Anti-Life equation, Clark would have become Darkseid’s general on Earth. Zack Snyder’s Justice League’s “Epilogue” chapter offered an extended look at the Knightmare timeline, during which Batman led a resistance against Superman. Batman’s team included the Flash, Cyborg, Mera, Deathstroke, and the Joker. The Snyder Cut’s Knightmare future scene ended with Superman landing right behind Batman, teasing a fight between Kal-El and Batman’s resistance that will never happen.
6 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Be Redeemed & Lead The Justice League
Henry Cavill’s Superman story would have taken a dark turn in Zack Sndyer’s planned Justice League sequels, but the character would have found redemption in Justice League 3. Darkseid and evil Superman would essentially win, and most of the Justice League members would have been killed or neutralized. Batman’s last hope would be to send the Flash back in time to prevent Darkseid from killing Lois Lane. This time, Barry would have picked the right time portal, instead of the wrong one that led him to the Bactave in Batman v Superman. After the Flash reset the timeline, a reunited Justice League led by Superman would have defeated Darkseid.
5 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Fight Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam
Snyder’s Justice League plans did not move forward, but Henry Cavill’s Superman could have gotten a different future in the DCEU. Black Adam’s post-credits scene brought Cavill back as Superman for the first time since Justice League, teasing a confrontation between Black Adam and Superman. While no official plans for a Superman vs. Black Adam story were ever announced, Black Adam’s post-credits scene was likely meant to build toward a crossover between Henry Cavill’s Superman and Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. Neither Henry Cavill’s Superman nor Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam will return in James Gunn’s DC Universe.
4 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Have Another Solo Movie
Batman v Superman was a direct sequel to Man of Steel, picking up the story right where Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot had left off. That said, a Man of Steel 2, a second solo Henry Cavill Superman movie, never happened. Man of Steel could have been the beginning of a Superman trilogy in the style of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, but its sequel ended up being a crossover event leading up to Justice League. Even still, Man of Steel 2 starring Henry Cavill always seemed like something that both the character and the DCEU needed. However, with a Superman reboot on the way, Man of Steel 2 will not happen.
3 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Fight Brainiac
Had Man of Steel 2 happened, it would likely have seen Superman fight Brainiac. Steven Kngith reportedly worked on a treatment for Man of Steel 2 featuring Brainiac as the main antagonist. Brainiac, one of the most popular Superman villains, has never appeared in a live-action movie. After Superman encountered General Zod, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, and Darkseid’s Apokolips army, taking on Brainiac seemed like a logical next step for the character. Cavill’s Superman fighting Brainiac on Man of Steel 2 could also have tied into Supergirl, as Kara Zor-El’s origin is connected to Brainiac in some versions of the DC lore.
2 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Not Interact With Supergirl
The Flash features Sasha Calle as Supergirl, but Henry Cavill’s Superman will never interact with Kara Zor-El in the DCEU. Presumably, Zack Snyder’s original plans for Supergirl in the world of Man of Steel were quite different from The Flash’s multiverse story. An open Kryptonian pod can be noticed in Man of Steel’s Kryptonian scout ship, suggesting that there were plans for Kal-El to eventually run into Kara Zor-El. The Flash is introducing the DCEU’s Supergirl through the multiverse, and this iteration of Kara experienced an alternate version of Man of Steel. Sasha Calle’s Supergirl and Henry Cavill’s Superman will not interact.
1 Henry Cavill’s Superman Will Miss The DCEU’s Closing Chapter In The Flash
The Flash movie is expected to be a closing chapter in the original DCEU, but Henry Cavill’s Superman will not be in it. The Flash is revisiting moments from Man of Steel, which makes Cavill’s absence from the film even more noticeable. James Gunn confirmed that The Flash resets the DC Universe. Therefore, the continuity that began in 2013 with Man of Steel comes to an end with The Flash. How exactly The Flash resets the DC Universe and what will change in the timeline after the film is difficult to say. Regardless, Henry Cavill’s Superman will not be involved.
