“What does the S stand for?” asked Louis Lane, to which Superman replied, “It’s not an S. On my world, it means hope.” The iconic exchange from Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man Of Steel starring Henry Cavill pretty much sums up what it means to be Superman. The DC Comics character stands as a symbol of hope and justice above all. An iconic character who has captured the hearts and minds of generations for his legacy and stance for the right, Superman is an inspiration in every way. However, with the advent of cinema, the character has found its way from the pages of print to the tapes of films.

Of the many actors who have played Superman, two stand out – Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill. Notably, the first being the earliest-ever colored live-action adaptation and the latter being the latest one. However, there is a stark contrast between the two iterations.

Henry Cavill lags far behind Christopher Reeve in terms of solo movie ventures

Christopher Reeve captured each and everyone’s figment of imagination when he debuted in the 1978 movie Superman. The actor took over the box office and critics as he essayed the role of Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent, effortlessly. Moreover, he brought his signature charm, humor, and charisma to the character, which fused him with the character. Over the course of nine years that he helmed the role, Reeve starred in three sequels to the original movie.

35 years down the line, Henry Cavill took over Christopher Reeve as the Man Of Steel. Following his debut, Cavill too, helmed the role for nine years. However, something went amiss. Cavill’s Superman came off as a divisive character. Compared to the humor and light-heartedness of Reeves’ movies, the British actor took on a gritty, grim, and darker approach. Although the actor returned soon after in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, it was a crossover with Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. 

The movie followed up with a few more characters added to the roster with 2017’s Justice League, which turned out to be a complete disaster. A critical failure and box office disaster prompted DC Studios to shelve plans for Cavill’s sequel. Thus, leading to the unceremonious exit of a highly potent actor with just one solo movie.

Things began to light up once again as Dwayne Johnson came along and reignited hopes for a Man Of Steel sequel starring Cavill. However, all of it was short-lived.

Man Of Steel 2 is never happening, thanks to James Gunn’s DC reboot

News of Henry Cavill returning for a Man Of Steel sequel spread like wildfire once the actor made a brief cameo in Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. In what was meant to be a pivotal moment for DC, Studios burnt out as quickly as it had ignited. The Rock’s movie failed at the box office and led DC Studios to a full reboot under James Gunn and Peter Safran. The duo took over and announced a clean slate for the next ten years. Moreover, Gunn snubbed Henry Cavill of any potential Superman return as he cast David Corenswet as the new lead for his upcoming movie Superman: Legacy.

However, there is still hope. The last DC movie, Flash, introduced the concept of the multiverse, which might pave the way for Henry Cavill’s return even if not as Superman. However, there is no confirmation for that, as James Gunn is currently building his universe from scratch. Regardless, blame it for studio short-sightedness or lack of creative control, Henry Cavill rightfully deserved a sequel. Many still love the actor for his unique portrayal of Superman. Nonetheless, statistically, Christopher Reeve has the upper hand on Henry Cavill when it comes to the number of solo movies.

What do you think of Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill’s disparity in solo movie figures? Which actor’s portrayal do you prefer as Superman? Let us know in the comments below.