Jason Momoa joins James Gunn’s DCU as Lobo, and it gives me hope that Henry Cavill could also get recast and find redemption after his time as Superman abruptly ended. The DCEU had a promising start with Man of Steel, but the universe cratered after several flops left viewers disinterested in the universe. While Gunn’s DCU could be the fresh start DC needs, it’s unfortunate that so many cast members had their time in certain roles cut short. One of the biggest disappointments with the DCEU is what happened to Cavill’s Superman.

Cavill’s Superman only got one solo film before collaborating with other heroes in Batman V. Superman. He returned in Justice League, but it was unclear what his future looked like following the crossover film. After Cavill returned again for a brief post-credit scene in Black Adam, audiences had hoped he’d return for a possible Man of Steel 2. Unfortunately, Gunn quickly killed that hope when he announced Cavill wouldn’t portray the role in 2025’s Superman. After Jason Momoa’s DCU casting, I’m hopeful Gunn can find an opening for Cavill in his universe.

Jason Momoa’s Casting Means Henry Cavill Could Return As A Different DC Character

The Door Is Open For Former DCEU Actors To Join The DCU

A few actors have moved from the DCEU to James Gunn’s DCU, including John Cena as Peacemaker and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. However, they still play the same characters as before. Jason Momoa is the first significant DCEU star who is joining the DCU as a different character. Momoa is ditching his DCEU as Aquaman to play Lobo in the DCU, making his debut in 2026’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Momoa isn’t the first DCEU actor to switch roles, as Nathan Fillion was also recast as Guy Gardner, but he is the first Justice League member to do so.

Momoa’s Lobo casting proves Gunn isn’t against bringing back significant actors from the DCEU. It could be somewhat confusing since some actors are playing the same roles as before, but Gunn is playing fast and loose with what’s canon and what isn’t. This opens the opportunity for other Justice League actors to return to DC, although it’s doubtful that Ezra Miller or Ray Fisher will return to this universe. However, Henry Cavill was already interested in returning to DC, and audiences would love to see him back, even if he’s not Superman.

Cavill’s Recent DC And Marvel Appearance Suggest He’s Still Interested In Playing A Superhero

Audiences Want Cavill To Play A Role In Either Universe

Henry Cavill returned to the DCEU in 2022 in Black Adam, setting up another solo film or an eventual confrontation with Dwayne Johnson’s powerful antihero. While Cavill announced he was putting the cape back on, Gunn killed the project a few months later once he and Peter Safran took control of DC Studios. It was heartbreaking to see Cavill’s Superman role end so abruptly, especially since he has had several roles fall apart, including The Witcher‘s Geralt of Rivia. Cavill’s time as Superman was messy, and audiences were ecstatic to see him return.

Once his Superman was retired, audiences started campaigns for Marvel to hire him. Various fan castings emerged, such as Captain Britain or Hyperion, but one that gained momentum was Cavill as the MCU’s Wolverine. Marvel made that happen temporarily as Cavill had a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine as a Wolverine variant or “The Cavillrine.” Marvel hasn’t cast its new Wolverine yet, but this received a huge applause from the audience. His return as Superman and cameo as Wolverine show he is genuinely interested in portraying a superhero in either universe.

James Gunn Already Expressed Interest In Recasting Cavill

Gunn May Have Plans For Cavill In The DCU

In December 2022, Cavill’s Superman retirement was announced just a few months after Gunn and Safran took over DC Studios. The Guardians of the Galaxy director posted a thread on social media where he confirmed that Cavill would not play Superman in the DCU. However, he gave audiences hope that Cavill could return to DC, saying, “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.”

However, Gunn’s initial statement suggests he wants to work with Cavill, and he knows audiences would love to see the British actor in a DC project, no matter who he’s playing.

It’s important to note that it has been over two years since Gunn shared this comment, meaning many things could have changed since then. Cavill is at a different point in his career than in 2022, and discussions about his return may have fallen through. However, Gunn’s initial statement suggests he wants to work with Cavill, and he knows audiences would love to see the British actor in a DC project, no matter who he’s playing. Momoa’s Lobo casting occurred two years after the DCEU’s demise, so there’s plenty of time for Cavill to choose his perfect role.

Who Henry Cavill Could Play In The DC Universe

Cavill Would Be A Perfect Choice For Many DC Characters

The DC Universe has a vast roster of heroes and villains that could fit Cavill perfectly. Since his DCEU departure, hundreds of fan castings have emerged and some have gained traction while others remain stagnant. A popular option was Lobo, but that’s not happening after Momoa’s casting. Another option is the DCU’s Batman, which could fit for several reasons. Batman: The Brave and the Bold will feature an older Batman mentoring Robin. Cavill is 41 and is expecting his first child, so this version of Bruce Wayne would align with his personal experiences.

Cavill playing Batman after fighting him as Superman in the DCEU would be a full-circle moment. A battle between David Corenswet’s Superman and Cavill’s Batman would have audiences seated on opening night. Other popular fan castings include Bizarro, Jor-El, Booster Gold, Orion, or Apollo in the upcoming The Authority project. Gunn still has plenty of roles to fill, and it’d be surprising if Cavill gets left out of everything on his slate. His time as Superman is over, but Cavill’s DCU tenure could start soon.