With no appearance from Henry Cavill and no sign of Superman news during Warner Bros. SDCC Hall-H panel, disappointment brews among DCEU fans. Although its rumored Black Adam movie would include a supes cameo, the film’s titular star Dwayne Johnson was cryptic about addressing a potential showdown between the two DC powerhouses, raising questions if the studio has any plans to explore a Man of Tomorrow sequel.
Prior to San Diego Comic-Con, Deadline reported that the Man of Steel star would be a part of the presentation to share updates on a potential sequel. However, that hope shattered after Warner Bros. panel ended with just a trailer for Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Black Adam. Moreover, responses from The Rock on Superman prompted doubts if Cavill would reprise or another version of Kal-El would replace him in the DC Extended Universe.
Johnson got to address Henry Cavill’s Superman speaking to Brandon Davis from Comicbook.com. Though he couldn’t confirm if the two would clash, he said:
“I will say this. I will say that Henry is a buddy and he is a phenomenal Superman,” the actor says. “He is a phenomenal Superman and Henry Cavill is the Superman of our generation with respect to the other Supermans of the past. Every time I see him, we have some tequila and I say ‘This guy is Superman.’ My longtime business partner Dany Garcia has been a passionate advocate for Henry Cavill and his career for a very, very, very long time.”
While a headless Superman cameo is rumored in Black Adam, the movie director Jaume Collet-Serra said Teth-Adam “by the time the movie ends, [Black Adam] doesn’t know who Shazam or Superman is”
The no-show by Cavill has shattered hopes among DCEU and particularly the Snyderverse fanatics. Some even mocked Warner Bros. presentation comparing to Marvel Studios’ behemoth panel. Readers can check out reactions below.
😂 just got this in my DMs, had to share #ComicCon#DCEU #MCU #Marvel pic.twitter.com/5W2aSxbZbQ
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) July 24, 2022
"Henry Cavill is the Superman of our generation." –@TheRock#BlackAdam #SDCC pic.twitter.com/WGt1oKi47C
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) July 23, 2022
I have a freakin Superman shirt under my Supes shirt. I was so ready. Pain.☠️
— Matt Ramos (@therealsupes) July 23, 2022
No Superman pic.twitter.com/JOXsiBexQ0
— Matt (@mattbo_0) July 23, 2022
YOOOO HENRY CAVILL JUST SHOWED UP ON STAGE #SDCC pic.twitter.com/KAdDnvtyNO
— Grayson (@KnightFleck) July 23, 2022
Everyone looking at their phones seeing Henry Cavill didn’t come pic.twitter.com/VsaAfFFRRJ
— Nick (@NicholasPascar5) July 23, 2022
no henry cavill pic.twitter.com/J8f2ujmklC
— Vasto Lorde Dms OUT 📝⚰️ (@TheirWarHere) July 23, 2022
As for Henry Cavill’s Superman, nothing. Deadline reported on hearing early buzz that he would make an appearance today in Hall H at SDCC to update on the status of Superman but nope. We got nothing.
Disappointing. pic.twitter.com/tCbt0VzyCp
— Jesabel (@JesabelRaay) July 23, 2022
Once again Marvel knows what they’re doing while DC shits the bed at SDCC by not having a Superman. #BoycottWB https://t.co/tQCcn8eWBW
— Mat Genest (@MathieuGenest8) July 24, 2022
Henry Cavill didn’t come out at the WB panel. pic.twitter.com/gJHEMZaC9K
— John Campea (@johncampea) July 23, 2022
To whoever made up the rumor that Henry Cavill was showing up at #SDCC2022 comic con for Superman newspic.twitter.com/pd0qo9pKxl
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) July 23, 2022
The rock got booed at comic con for insinuating Henry Cavill might not be superman…like this is really one for the history books 😭😭
— merc shitpostin (DONT TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY) (@theSNYDERVERSE) July 23, 2022
Of course not … because this would be good for the #DCEU … and we now know that whatever is good for the DCEU just won't fly with studio executives. https://t.co/FrXfHXil6Z
— Jeremy St.Louis 🇨🇦 (@jrstlouis) July 23, 2022
Twitter convincing itself that Henry Cavill was going to be at #SDCC: pic.twitter.com/drk4Iophz0
— Kasey (@RawbertBeef) July 23, 2022
Marvel is announcing their phase 5 and phase 6 plan whereas DC doesn’t even know who is playing Superman pic.twitter.com/3n367qwbvs
— 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 (@Itssan17) July 24, 2022
It’s ridiculous how badly Warner Bros fumbled their #SDCC2022 panel. No Superman movie, no DCEU update, no future plans revealed, nothing. They gave us two movie trailers and dipped. Meanwhile, fans generated more hype for the panel based on a rumour of Cavill being back. #DCEU pic.twitter.com/lDtQoE3szd
— Ali (@TheGameFlix_) July 24, 2022
So Deadline hyped up a rumor that Henry Cavill would pop up at SDCC… & then nothing happened. Henry is currently filming The Witcher. So why drop that rumor? Deadline doesn’t run things without hearing it from someone credible, maybe someone “credible” told them to hype up SDCC
— The Cultured Nerd (@TheCulturedNerd) July 23, 2022
Me waiting for Henry Cavill to show up but DC ended their panel #SDCC #BlackAdam #DCEU pic.twitter.com/vPbg1OAFCI
— Adi ➐ (@variadithewedge) July 23, 2022
At the minimum, @wbd should realize Henry Cavill as Superman is still a viable franchise option.
One sentence in a Deadline article led to both Superman and Cavill trending before and throughout WB’s #SDCC panel.
Chances are low but fans definitely want to see Superman again.
— Sheraz Farooqi (@SherazFarooqi_) July 23, 2022
It should be noted that neither WB nor Cavill’s rep confirmed or hinted at his appearance for SDCC 2022. Nonetheless, Superman’s vacuum was clearly felt among fans at the Comic-con and on social media. Furthermore, Black Adam including Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller further cements that the upcoming standalone’s events take place in the present timeline.
In addition, The Justice Society of America could even take the Justice League’s place, if that’s Warner Bros. strategy. Nothing is clear at the moment regarding WB’s strategy for DC Extended Universe, with The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom both excluded from WB’s Hall-H presentation, causing more outrage among fans.
Black Adam arrives in theatres on October 21, 2022.
