When news broke that Henry Cavill was being replaced by David Corenswet in James Gunn's upcoming DCU, the decision was met with quite an uproar. Once upon a time, it seemed unfathomable that anyone could slip into that iconic red cape and honor the character's legacy better than Christopher Reeve did, but Cavill made the role his own in modern interpretations. But in terms of accepting a change by fans, little has changed since then. 

David Corenswet was recently brutally trolled after a clip of him signing autographs at the premiere of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story went viral. "This guy has zero, absolutely zero Aura to be Superman,” said a fan. Corenswet is frequently touted as the contemporary take on Christopher Reeve's Superman, and his vision for the character has always been aligned with Gunn’s. Together, they are about to take a closer look at Clark Kent, apart from the superhero side of things.

One major criticism of Henry Cavill’s Superman was that he came across merely as a 'superhero'. Long before Corenswet was confirmed for the role, he shared with Entertainment Weekly that if given the chance, he would bring a “bright and optimistic” flair to the character and give a "throwback" to the classic superhero- proving he recognized that Superman is more than just a hero who defeats villains. And perhaps it is this belief that has been rekindling fans’ hopes for the Henry Cavill successor lately.

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Fans are now taking to X to support David Corenswet amid the unwarranted vitriol aimed at the actor, before even giving him a chance. 

When it comes to physicality, Henry Cavill, without a doubt, looks every bit like a real-life superhero. But while Superman is often shown as a big, muscled hero, that is not the only way he can be represented. Superman can take on a more compact form without losing an ounce of his strength. And fans are beginning to see that dismissing David Corenswet solely because he does not conform to certain stereotypes- before even seeing his performance- is unfair.

Some fans even prefer David Corenswet over Henry Cavill and the entire Snyderverse. 

David Corenswet has some big shoes to fill, no doubt about it. The weight of expectations is even heavier given the adoration for Henry Cavill. But there is hope that Corenswet will draw on his experience playing complex characters to bring out a new facet of the Man of Steel.

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What do you think about fans defending David Corenswet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!