For those who remember the summer of 2013, a little film called Man of Steel should ring a bell. The year of 2013 wasn’t a big year for summer blockbusters, but Man of Steel certainly delivered on the superhero action and its financial success kicked off the beginning of the DC Extended Universe. While it did succeed financially, it led to a divisive fan base, as its darker tone really caught fans off guard. Henry Cavill, the British actor who has taken up the cape, has portrayed the character in two other movies, leading to an even more divided fan base that either loves or hates him as Superman. A consistent darker portrayal, as opposed to the hopeful and more optimistic Superman we are used to seeing the character as, along with a computer generated mouth, has not made Cavill everyone’s favorite Superman. A year ago, it was even reported that he has hung up the cape and is apparently done with the role of Superman. There are probably many people out there who want this to be true, but in a recent interview with Men’s Health, Cavill seemingly confirmed that the role still belongs to him. Whether or not this is true, there is an argument to be made on why Cavill should still play Superman. The fake lip certainly ticked off many fans, but let’s put that aside for a few seconds and go over the reasons on why Cavill’s portrayal as Superman is one that is worth seeing again.
The biggest criticism that Cavill’s performance has faced is its little humor and excessive somberness. When Zack Snyder was creating this version of Superman, he wanted to tell a story about Superman living in a realistic world where not everyone would welcome him right away. While we are used to seeing Superman as the smiling beacon of hope that is loved by everyone, it is definitely more realistic to look at an all powerful and nearly god-like alien with paranoia and fear, rather than praise him as a hero right off the bat. Cavill’s Superman struggled with the decision of coming out as a powerful alien and exposing himself or hiding himself from the world, with the latter being the most difficult as he truly wanted to do good and help others. While Man of Steel showed the beginning of that struggle and how he ultimately chose to be a hero, Cavill’s subsequent performance in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice showed how his Superman had to earn the right to be called a hero. While previous portrayals of Superman show him being hailed as a hero after he saves one person, Cavill’s Superman faces constant backlash from the media, politicians, the general public, and even finds a foe in Batman. By the end of the film, Cavill’s Superman decides to sacrifice himself to save a planet that was largely divided on him and once that sacrifice is made, nearly everyone on Earth recognizes him for the hero he truly is. Cavill’s Superman may have spent a lot of time brooding, but he made the darker interpretation of Superman interesting and believable, something that we’re not used to seeing and it’s something that was worth seeing on screen.
Speaking of a more light-hearted Superman, the very last battle in Justice League showed us Cavill’s potential of how much he can really bring to the role. Since he spent most of his time being more serious, Cavill’s Superman literally flew into the battle against Steppenwolf with a big smile and delivering cornball lines like the Superman we are used to seeing. One of the biggest criticisms Man of Steel faced was its excessive destruction scenes, but in the final battle of Justice League, Cavill’s Superman briefly ignored Steppenwolf so he can make sure civilians were safe. While it was short, it was very refreshing to see, as Cavill was able to bring the fun aspect of Superman to his performance. Even in the post-credits scene, where he was challenged to a race by the Flash, the humor and the smiles were all there, proving that Cavill wasn’t just a down in the dumps type of Superman. While the more joyful side of Cavill’s performance was brief, it gave us only a glimpse of what he can really do for the character, and if he really is staying on as Superman, then we can expect him to deliver even more on the hopeful and confident character traits that make Superman great.
For those who want to still complain about Cavill’s Superman killing Zod, just keep in mind that he had no choice and on top of that, he had to carry the burden of killing another member of his extinct race. It’s a crying shame that this arc wasn’t flushed out in a Man of Steel sequel or Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it was unexpected and it still gave us an interesting decision that can be explored more in future sequels. Oh, and just in case anyone forgot, Superman has killed in the comics too, not to mention Christopher Reeves’ Superman threw Zod to his death without a second thought. Killing Zod didn’t do an injustice to Cavill’s Superman; it actually made him more human and believable as a character. Cavill deserves the chance to return to the role and continue where he left off so he can expand on what his Superman has learned and how he chooses to act in the future. Cavill’s Superman is without a doubt the most realistic and interesting Superman we’ve ever had on screen and if he really is still Superman, then we can expect even more complex character development for future sequels.
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