Henry Cavill
Superman was one of the most beloved iterations of the character in recent history, so it might be worth bringing him back in an Elseworlds story, but potentially not in the way people would expect. With the dawn of UDC
there were some very unfortunate victims when the DCEU was wrapped up. Since 2013, Cavill has paved the way for the DC franchise with his debut in Man of Steel. And despite his surprise return in Black AdamThe DCEU was officially made redundant when James Gunn was hired to lead DC Studios in a new direction.
Although Cavill and the rest of the DCEU cast have retired from their roles, there has also been some confusion about how the previous films and shows would connect to the new DCU. As a way of resolving these complications, Gunn clarified that other projects may continue or remain part of the larger canon, but labeling them DC Elseworlds. That way, they could still be included in the larger DC narrativealthough they did not need to impact or overlap with anything that was happening within the primary universe.
Matthew Vaughn's Superman Red Son Pitch Could Bring Together Those Who Hated and Loved Cavill's DCEU Character
A much darker Superman story for Esleworlds
While Cavill clearly represents the DCEU's closed chapter, director Matthew Vaughn, who recently worked alongside Cavill on Argyleproposed an Elseworlds project that could bring Cavill back to the iconic costume, albeit with some minor tweaks. One aspect of the DCEU that was considered extremely controversial was its dark tone. While some DC stories remain grounded and gritty, like Batman, DC as a whole isn't intended to be a monochromatic set of noir stories. However, the the films leaned heavily into a darker view of the heroeswith the characters looking more like fallen gods.
For some, seeing Superman and Batman battle it out like this was incredibly satisfying, and for others, it was an affront to the characters' nature and message. But if Cavill donned the cape as Superman from Red Son miniseries, where the hero arrives in Russia rather than America, and is influenced by totally different social and political ideals, could satisfy both sides. For fans of a powerful Superman who doesn't hold back and for those who want to see things more in line with the comics Red Son and the Perfect story to adapt as an Elseworlds project starring Cavill.
Why the Other DCU Worlds Need to Bring Back DCEU Actors
The potential for other worlds is limitless
But considering the success of this type of project and the potential to bring back DCEU fans, it seems like a huge missed opportunity for the DCU to not capitalize on Elseworlds' potential. Instead of simply using it as a label for films like Batman and Clown remaining adjacent but not central is a smart solution, but using it to tell amazing stories with stars who were let go could be much better. And depending on when these projects are delivered, they could highlight the talented actors who built the DCEU.
Considering the wealth of stories that exist just within the DC Elseworlds label in comics, there's almost infinite potential for people like Gal Gadot to reprise her role as Wonder Woman, or Ben Affleck as Batman. The Elseworlds imprint even opens the door to potentially exploring stories with other former DC stars, including Michael Keaton, Brandon Routh, Christian Bale and many more. Ultimately, if the DCU fails to use Elseworlds in this way and never brings back Henry Cavill and other stars, it will be a huge missed opportunity.
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