Not Superman, Henry Cavill is now part of an Amazon Warhammer 40K adaptation
Following the heartbreaking news of Superman: Man of Steel star Henry Cavill's sudden departure from the future of James Gunn's DCEU, the actor has been tapped by Amazon for an adaptation of Warhammer 40k.
Having teased a return for the better part of the year, including a missed appearance at San Diego Comic Con, a cameo in Black Adam earlier this year, as well as the big news announcing the return of the prodigal son of Krypton on the big-screen; it was all for nought it seems.
The new DCEU helmers - James Gunn and Peter Safran - have spent the short time elected by WarnerBrosDiscovery CEO David Zaslav devising the blueprint for the future of the DC Extended Universe.
The future of a great many projects hung in the balance under the Gunn-Safran-helmed DCEU, including Henry Cavill’s much-anticipated return as Superman in Man of Steel 2. However, the freshly drafted plan for the DCEU seemed to have different plans, as reflected in a tweet by Gunn:
Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022
Shortly after, Cavill confirmed fans’ worst fears on Instagram:
Despite being dropped from the DCEU roster, Cavill will not reprise his role as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher; a role that has now been assigned to the Australian actor Liam Hemsworth. However, Cavill’s third and final season as Geralt is set to air sometime in 2023.
Me after hearing the Henry Cavill Superman news pic.twitter.com/Z4hEPICqQN
— Cris Parker (@3CFilmss) December 15, 2022
How DC treats Henry Cavill as Superman pic.twitter.com/Dq6idAuW7N
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) December 15, 2022
@ Hollywood for dropping Henry Cavill from The Witcher AND Superman pic.twitter.com/DZQS49viNI
— Emma Lynn (@emmaspacelynn) December 15, 2022
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cavill is now attached to star and executive produce a series adaptation of Warhammer 40,000, the popular science-fiction fantasy miniature wargame for Amazon.
In the same likeness as Dungeons & Dragons (which is also receiving a motion picture adaptation early next year), Warhammer 40,000 features dice, miniature action figures and a miniature constructed battlefield.
The mini war game setting is 40,000 years into the future where things are dark indeed. Human civilisation has stopped progressing and is in an unending war with aliens and magical beings, with gods and demons figuring into a theological class system.
An avid fan of video games and fantasy RPGs, Cavill had his eyes set on Warhammer as a frequent player himself.
Warhammer 40K retailers now that Henry Cavill has all the free time in the world to play. pic.twitter.com/TITGCXF6lo
— Justin Martin 🅱️🚛➡️⬆️ (@supertrucker) December 15, 2022
Though the world may never see the likes of Cavill donning the red cape or wielding the silver sword Zirael ever again, Gunn has hinted at the possibility of the British star being recast in the DCEU in the future.
But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022