James Gunn recently addressed a fan conspiracy theory suggesting that he always planned to remove Henry Cavill from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Gunn took to social media to clarify that this theory is unfounded and based on misinformation. The director explained that he never intended to replace Cavill as Superman and that the casting decisions for the new Superman film were made separately from his involvement in the DCEU.
The conspiracy theory began to gain traction after Nathan Fillion’s comments about his casting as Green Lantern in a new DC film. Fillion mentioned that he was informed about his role at the premiere party of “The Suicide Squad” by James Gunn. However, Fillion later clarified that he misspoke and that he actually found out about his casting during the premiere party of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” This misunderstanding led fans to speculate that Gunn had been planning major changes to the DCEU since 2021, which Gunn has vehemently denied.
Many DC fans believed that Gunn’s involvement in the DCEU signaled a shift in the direction of the franchise, including the recasting of major characters like Superman. However, Gunn emphasized that when he was hired to write the new Superman story, it was always meant to be a fresh take on the character. The director expressed confusion over how the conspiracy theory gained traction, given that his intentions were clear from the beginning.
Despite Henry Cavill’s reprisal of his role as Superman in an end credits scene from “Black Adam,” Gunn and his co-CEO Peter Safran decided to recast the character for the upcoming reboot of the DCEU. David Corenswet was chosen to play the new Superman, with filming already in progress. The film also features a stellar cast including Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer. Gunn’s vision for the DCEU includes a fresh lineup of actors to breathe new life into the iconic characters.
The conspiracy theory surrounding James Gunn’s alleged intentions to remove Henry Cavill from the DCEU has been debunked by the director himself. Gunn’s clarification on social media sheds light on the misinformation that led to this theory gaining momentum among fans. As the DCEU undergoes a reboot under Gunn’s guidance, it is essential to separate fact from fiction and trust the creative decisions made by the filmmakers involved. Henry Cavill may no longer don the cape as Superman, but the future of the DCEU looks promising with new talent and fresh perspectives driving the narrative forward.