Henry Cavill improvised in a highly controversial DCEU scene that made it more impactful, but is still a topic of heated discussion among fans.

No matter how often it’s discussed, Man of Steel always feels like it deserves more love, it’s just that good! Among its many memorable moments, none has sparked more debate than the jaw-dropping scene where Cavill’s Superman takes a drastic turn and snaps Michael Shannon’s General Zod’s neck.

Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel | Credits: Warner Bros

That moment has ignited countless discussions, and honestly, Cavill’s performance was nothing short of brilliant. And interestingly, he improvised a lot of it!

Henry Cavill Improvised One of the Most Controversial Scenes in the DCEU!

Superman killing General Zod was a HUGE moment in Man of Steel, marking not just the film’s most controversial scene, but potentially the entire DCEU’s. Traditionally, Superman embodies a lighter tone with his picture-perfect persona and representing all things good and right, but Man of Steel took a darker approach, and boy did it do it right.

From Jonathan Kent discouraging Clark from saving a school bus full of kids to urging him to let him die in a tornado, the film certainly pushed boundaries.

However, it’s the dramatic climax of Zod’s death that truly ignited debate. This moment redefined Superman as more than just a typical superhero. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Henry Cavill revealed that his reaction after the killing was completely improvised, he said,

The killing of Zod gave a reason for the character never to kill again. Superman falling to the ground and screaming afterward — I don’t think that was originally in the script, but I wanted to show the pain he had. I did far more emotional takes they didn’t choose; tears were happening.

He just killed the last remaining member of his species. That’s the choice he made in that moment, and he’ll never do that again. There’s an opportunity for growth after that, to explore the psyche of Superman as a deep, seemingly invulnerable god-like being but with real feeling on the inside.

Michael Shannon as General Zod in ‘Man of Steel.’. Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

While the killing stirred up plenty of controversy, Henry Cavill’s magnificent portrayal kept fans from feeling disconnected from Superman or the character’s ideals. It was a choice he had to make, one that he would regret for the rest of his life. This moment transformed him and altered how the world saw him. Ultimately, despite his superpowers, he remained a man grappling with the weight of his actions as a human, not a god.

Christopher Nolan Wasn’t Initially on Board with Man of Steel Ending!

Christopher Nolan, like millions of other fans, found the ending of Man of Steel very dark and wasn’t always on board with the idea. Before the story was even fully fleshed out, he had reservations about Superman killing Zod.

In an episode of The Empire Film Podcast, director Zack Snyder and writer David S. Goyer shared that Nolan, who initially collaborated with Goyer to develop the film’s story and pitched it to the studio, initially opposed that pivotal moment in the movie’s climax. He said,

Killing Zod was a big thing. And that was something that Chris Nolan originally said, ‘There’s no way you can do this’…. Originally, Zod got sucked into the Phantom Zone along with the others.—Originally, Chris didn’t even want to let us try to write it. Zack and I said, ‘We think we can figure out a way that you’ll buy it.

Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

After Goyer crafted the heat vision scene, which presented a dire situation where innocents would die unless Superman snapped Zod’s neck, that is what convinced Nolan, and thank goodness it did! While the DCEU’s darker, grittier tone may not have been the best fit for every character, it certainly worked for Superman.

This approach allowed the character to be more nuanced and complex, and break free from the cookie-cutter persona, turning him into a far more intriguing superhero than he had ever been.

Man of Steel is streaming on Max.