Henry Cavill did not return as Superman in the DCU, but Jason Momoa’s recasting sends hope of his return as an underutilized Superman villain.

Sometimes, in the grand shuffle of Hollywood casting decisions, it feels like a game of musical chairs—when the music stops, you’re left holding a character you’ve barely had a chance to make your own. Jason Momoa’s recent announcement that he’s officially joining James Gunn’s DC Universe as the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo is a perfect example.

Jason Momoa in Aquaman | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

It’s like watching a quarterback swap jerseys mid-game—unexpected, but full of possibility. And it’s got us wondering: if Momoa can bounce from Aquaman to Lobo, why can’t Henry Cavill play the role of his dreams? After all, he earlier expressed his favorite villain as Brainiac, the ultimate foe of Superman.

Cavill made his Superman debut in Man of Steel back in 2013, and it was clear from the get-go that this was a man who gets the character. But despite the hype and fan love, the DCEU quickly derailed, leaving Cavill’s Superman in limbo.

Can Henry Cavill make a comeback to DC?

Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent was undoubtedly one of the best castings of Zack Snyder’s DCEU. Fans loved his portrayal as the Last Son of Krypton, and waited for a really long time for his return after Zack Snyder’s Justice League. However, his return was limited to a small cameo in Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam, after which he never donned the S-symboled suit again.

Henry Cavill in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

When James Gunn took over the reins of DC films and shows with his rebranded DCU, there was still hope for Cavill fans to see him back as the Man of Steel. Excitement punched through the roof and flew sky-high when Cavill let go of one of his favorite roles, Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher, possibly to focus on another project. Many speculated that this was his long-awaited return to the role that put him on the Hollywood map. However, the reality was far from that, as along with Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Ben Affleck, and Ezra Miller, Cavill was not invited to reprise his role in DCU as well.

However, since Jason Momoa, who played Aquaman/Arthur Curry in the DCEU, was called back to play a new role in DCU, there is a renewed sense of hope that Cavill might see his return as well, albeit in a new form. One that he might like very much.

In one of his older interviews with Joe.ie, Cavill had mentioned a list of his favorite comic book villains, with Brainiac as his favorite. This was during his Justice League press tour when he was playing Kal-El. His return to the DCU can still be possible, much like Momoa, flipping sides from heroic to a darker shade. And Cavill is still in James Gunn’s good books, which might give him a chance to redeem himself, though not as Superman but as one of his biggest nemesis, Brainiac.

Jason Momoa finally gets to shine in his dream role as Lobo

Jason Momoa | Credit: Instagram\@prideofgypsies

Jason Momoa’s story is what a Hollywood dream looks like. From once struggling to pay rents, to starring in some of the biggest franchises, he has seen it all. Whether it is Game of Thrones’ Khal Drogo, Dune’s Duncan Idaho, or DCEU’s Aquaman, Momoa has aced them all with his tough-as-nails personality. And DCU’s Lobo is the kind of character he doesn’t even have to act; he can just be himself and fans would believe it.

After the DCEU’s infamous crash left Aquaman like a fish out of water, Momoa had almost lost all hopes of ever returning to the franchise. But he did not lose hope, and in one of his Instagram posts he mentioned how if he ever gets a call to be back again in the franchise, he won’t hesitate. And guess the character he was dying to play back then? The Czarnian bike-riding shotgun-wielding space menace, Lobo.

In fact, when he first joined the DCEU, Momoa had hoped Snyder had called onto him to play someone cool as Lobo, but was a bit disappointed when he was cast as Aquaman. But he made the character his own, and his portrayal certainly didn’t disappoint.

Years later, when he finally got the call from James Gunn, Momoa could not contain his excitement, going so far as to show off the script. The fans, too, joined him in celebration, as a majority of them had already fancasted him as Lobo. If Gunn can make dream casting come true, can he also bring back Henry Cavill for another dream role? Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope so!

Lobo will be debuting in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow on June 26, 2026.