Defending Man Of Steel is a bit tough today with the release of Batman V Superman and Justice League. It still looks great in comparison, but so much has happened since then that you’re no longer standing on firm ground. That said, Henry Cavill did address one of the more controversial elements of the new Superman’s first adventure on the big screen during a recent interview with Square Mile.
While discussing the latest Mission: Impossible film and looking back over his career, the topic of Superman comes up with Cavill discussing where Superman would’ve gone had the push for Justice League not take over:
“The killing of Zod would have led to a wonderful reason why Superman never kills. Not, he never kills just because his dad said so one day. He made the decision himself because of an impossible scenario, to which he then said, ‘I don’t care if it’s impossible again, I’m gonna find a way to make it possible in the impossible.’”
The move toward a DC Universe meant “we didn’t get the opportunity to show the other side of it, the ‘I’m ready to be Superman now and I’m ready to show the world the best examples’. That’s where the joy and glee comes from, and that sense of warmth from the character, which is his real superpower – he makes people believe in themselves. It was a shame because it would’ve been nice, and it would have been a lovely coupling with the seriousness and the depth of Man of Steel.”
His explanation for Superman killing Zod and why it molded him into the Superman fans would know from the comics is something that some couldn’t grasp at the time. Even writer Mark Waid disagreed and said it wasn’t Superman in Man of Steel, which he was right about in a way. Taking off of what Cavill says here, Superman wasn’t born into the hero until after the events of Man of Steel. It’s a true origin film for the character that many couldn’t enjoy because of the city destruction and Superman not acting like Superman.
Worse yet, it doesn’t look like we’ll end up getting another Man Of Steel film at this point. Henry Cavill will likely remain Superman for a while but might take a crazy reboot to bring the franchise back to the point he describes above. Maybe that’s what Flashpoint will be for?
(Via Square Mile)