It looks like persistence has paid off for Henry Cavill. The young thesp was one of the frontrunners to star in “Superman Returns” and it looks like he stayed in good graces with the suits. As a result, Cavill is donning the tights to play Superman according to Warner Bros., who released a statement anointing the new Kal-El for the currently untitled film which is referred to as “the new Superman movie” and not, as people predicted, “Superman: The Man Of Steel.”
Director Zack Snyder released a statement praising Cavill, saying, “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.” Snyder has got a lot of people to please, including superproducer Christopher Nolan and die hard comic fans, but this casting is a step in the right direction.
What’s interesting is that Cavill is considered an “unknown” to the general public, but by the time Superman flies again in winter 2012, he could very well be a legit Hollywood presence. In addition to the lead role in the coming suspense thriller “The Cold Light Of Day” opposite Bruce Willis, he also stars in the ambitious fantasy actioner “Immortals” coming later this fall. And some viewers might recognize him for his recurring work on Showtime‘s “The Tudors.” Naw, we’re just kidding, no one watches that show.