In the latest shakeup from Warner Bros., Henry Cavill will not reprise his role as Superman after all.
The 39-year-old actor penned a letter to fans and posted it to Instagram on Wednesday night.
“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran, and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,” he began.
“After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” Cavill added. “The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”
Cavill made his debut as Superman in 2013 in Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel.” He reprised the role in 2016’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and 2017’s “Justice League.”
Gunn echoed Cavill’s announcement in a series of Wednesday tweets that also revealed he and Safran are writing a new film about Superman.
“Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year,” he said.
“Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill. But we just had a great meeting with Henry, and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future,” Gunn promised.
Gunn and Safran were announced as co-chairmen and CEOs for the film, TV and animation division of DC Studios, a newly formed Warner Bros. sector that replaced DC Films in October.
They each have extensive experience with the superhero genre, having brought some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe’s most popular characters to life in hit films and series such as Marvel’s blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy”; DC’s highest grossing movie, “Aquaman”; as well as “Shazam!,” “The Suicide Squad” and HBO Max‘s live-action series, “Peacemaker.”
Just a few weeks ago, Dwayne Johnson admitted that he “fought for years” with studio executives to bring Cavill back as Superman. But for now, he’s hanging up his cape.