Warner Bros. Reportedly Wanted a Michael Bay Man of Steel Sequel Starring Henry Cavill, Before James Gunn Was Brought in to Reboot Superman

Warner Bros. reportedly wanted Transformers manager Michael Bay to marque a Man of Steel sequel starring Henry Cavill earlier the DC Universe was overhauled and James Gunn acceptable astir rebooting Superman.

According to TheWrap, execs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy attempted to propulsion unneurotic a "standalone Henry Cavill-led Superman movie going successful 2022, with Michael Bay eyed to perchance direct.” This effort was made anterior to bringing James Gunn and Peter Safran successful arsenic the caller co-heads of DC Studios, which was announced successful October of the aforesaid twelvemonth Warner Bros.' reported effort to springiness Cavill backmost the cape.

That said, those attempts intelligibly fell through, which gave mode to bringing Gunn and Safran successful to reimagine the DCU — which, successful turn, rapidly led to Cavill’s exit from the Superman franchise successful December 2022, conscionable 2 months aft the co-heads were instated.

Obviously, since then, Superman has gone successful a wholly antithetic absorption from the days of Cavill past. David Corenswet, who is possibly champion known astatine this constituent for his roles successful Ti West’s Pearl and the Ryan Murphy Netflix bid Hollywood, is taking implicit the coveted relation successful James Gunn’s reinvention of the franchise, with Marvelous Mrs. Masel prima Rachel Brosnahan starring arsenic Lois Lane alongside him. Plus, Nicholas Hoult rounds retired the halfway 3 arsenic Lex Luthor. That said: it’s hard not to ideate what Bay and Cavill would’ve done with 1 much changeable into the sky.

For their parts, though, those 2 are plentifulness busy. Cavill is acceptable to look successful respective upcoming projects, including a live-action Voltron movie and a live-action reboot of Highlander, portion Bay precocious enactment retired a parkour documentary called We Are Storror. He’s besides said to beryllium doing the Skibidi Toilet movie that we’re each trying to hide was announced, but helium took to societal media to contradict directing that, uh, thing past month.

James Gunn’s Superman arrives successful theaters connected July 11, 2025.

Lex Briscuso is simply a movie and tv professional and a freelance amusement writer for IGN. You tin travel her connected Twitter astatine @nikonamerica.