Following the abrupt conclusion to Henry Cavill’s run as Superman in the DC Extended Universe, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder offers his view on how the actor’s stint as the famed caped crusader should have ended. Snyder’s vision had Cavill’s Last Son of Krypton fully embrace his “humanity.”

Speaking with GQ, Snyder reviewed some of his biggest movies, including Man of Steel, touching on his idea of what Cavill’s final act as Superman would have looked like if he had a say. According to Snyder, he would have built on the ending of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, having him destroyed and returning for a do-or-die showdown with Darkseid, bringing the Kryptonian hero’s story full circle. “He was going to have to succumb to the Anti-life, be destroyed, turn the clock back, and then get his chance for this battle against Darkseid. If you will… that would have finished his trilogy of becoming this guardian, and sort of, return him to his humanity,” Snyder said.

Cavill’s DCEU exit continues to stir up conversations and theories after his Superman return was cut short in 2022. Cavill became a household name thanks to his performances as Clark Kent, featuring in the DCEU’s Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League and Black Adam. Cavill’s Black Adam post-credits cameo appearance seemingly marked the beginning of a fresh run for Cavill as Superman after years of not playing the role. However, James Gunn and Peter Safran opted to move on from Cavill following their takeover of DC Studios shortly after Black Adam premiered, subsequently announcing the creation of the DC Universe with David Corenswet playing the popular superhero in the upcoming Superman reboot.

“He was going to have to succumb to the Anti-life, be destroyed, turn the clock back, and then get his chance for this battle against Darkseid.”

Snyder worked with Cavill for much of his Superman run before exiting Justice League during production due to the sudden death of his daughter. The helmer later released Zack Snyder’s Justice League, his darker director’s cut of the movie he couldn’t complete, with his version garnering more acclaim than the DCEU’s version. However, Snyder’s work with Cavill’s Superman was polarizing at best, with some critics believing it poisoned Cavill’s future as the hero.

Though Cavill’s big-screen run with Superman is over, some believe he could reprise the role at some point. Acclaimed director Matthew Vaughn, best known for his X-Men film adaptations, has suggested he wants to adapt a Superman comic with Cavill suiting up in the role.

Zack Snyder’s Now Working on Rebel Moon Movies

Snyder is promoting his latest film, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, released via Netflix on Apr. 19 following a week-long theatrical run. He has expressed interest in completing his “SnyderVerse” if Netflix ever acquired the rights, allowing him to complete his Justice League trilogy.