Whether one likes it or not, Henry Cavill is the Superman we have currently and the one we will have for years to come. He is the leader of this new DCU and is this generations Superman. So, why is it that some people still aren’t content with him as Superman? Perhaps it’s because Christopher Reeve was so associated with the character for so many years and certain fans are not accepting of a new actor. These concerns should be gone after Man of Steel because Cavill established himself as the new Superman.
Today I’ll try to defend Cavill and explain why he is the perfect man to play the Man of Steel.
5. Director – Not Actor
Whenever anyone begins to say they don’t like the new Superman, eventually the argument reaches the point of “I don’t like a dark and brooding Superman, that’s Batman’s job.” While a fair point itself, we’ve only seen him in the role once so far. He could evolve out of the darkness and become a symbol of hope like he is supposed to be.
Being a dark character really isn’t up to the actor himself – it’s up to the director. Cavill at times takes some of director Zack Synder’s hits for Superman. He is just a loyal solider doing what is being asked of him. Being a darker version of Superman is more the call of the director and not the actor, so that argument against Cavill doesn’t really hold water.
4. Physique
You can debate about whether the suit is good or not but you cannot deny that Cavill certainly fills it out. When looking at him, there is no denying he certainly looks the part. What is even more impressive is his desire to attain that figure. Cavill asked Synder not to CGI any part of him and for his physique to be all natural, to add realism to the role. Cavill is determined to make Superman appear on the big screen as best he can – even the physicality of the character. He wants things to be authentic and as a Superman fan, I can appreciate the hard work and dedication the actor put himself through to give the fans a hulking Superman that they had read for so many years.
3. Loyalty
While he has only made one appearance (with another on the way), Cavill knows he owes a lot to the Superman character and wants to stick with it. He recently stated in an interview that he wants to stay with the role for as long as the studio wants him. He truly has a passion for the character and acknowledges that this role is really what brought him into fame so he wants to stick with it for as long as he can. With other superhero actors staying on for a bit then wanting to leave to pursue other endeavors, it’s nice to hear an actor be so excited about reprising a given role. It makes me more excited as a fan because I can see the actor’s own excitement for the role coming through.
2. Knowledge Of The Character
In the early stages of his casting, Cavill did extensive research on the character of Superman, far beyond what most other actors would do. Even in interviews when asked question from Superman’s perspective, Cavill nails it time and time again showing a true understanding and dedication to the character. It is reassuring as a fan to know that an actor has such a fond love and appreciation for his character that he has put so much time and effort into learning everything he can about the character to further better himself.
1.Understanding of Responsibility
Lastly, Cavill understands the immense pressure that comes with playing the Man of Steel. He knows that for better or for worse, his career will be forever linked to Superman. Whenever he goes out, people will look at him and see Superman. That’s a lot of pressure for any actor but Cavill has stated numerous times that he understands this pressure and wants to be that for people. He wants to be the role model for young children who will see him as Superman. He knows that he is under a lot of scrutiny to uphold the Superman persona and acknowledging it and trying one’s best for the sake of the character and the fans is certainly a commendable feat.
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