Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the star of DC’s Black Adam, recently commented on the news that Henry Cavill, who played Superman in recent DC films, would not be returning to the role. While Johnson had played a role in bringing Cavill back to the role, it seems that the changing of the guard at DC means that he won’t be returning after all.
In an interview with Variety, Johnson addressed Cavill’s departure and how he and the Black Adam team did their best to deliver a great movie with the best people:
“You know, all that I could do and that we could do when we were making ‘Black Adam’ was to put our best foot forward, surround ourselves with the best people, and then also deliver the best movie we could. Our audience score was in the 90s. Critics took a couple of shots. That’s just the business of it, though.”
Johnson also compared the situation to a new owner taking over a pro football team and replacing the coach and quarterback:
“It’s almost like when you have a pro football team, and your quarterback wins championships and the head coach wins championships. And you have a new owner, and the new owner comes in and says not my coach, not my quarterback, I’m going to go with somebody new.”
While Johnson kept his response classy, it’s clear that the news of Cavill’s departure was tough for him to swallow, especially since he had played a role in bringing him back. Instead of directly naming Henry Cavill, he referred to him as “the best people.” Moreover, he likened the situation to a professional sports decision, indicating that his perspective was pragmatic rather than emotional.
It’s worth noting that the studio’s handling of Cavill’s comeback and subsequent departure was unfair, as he was led to believe he would have a second run as Superman before all the plans changed. Cavill took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the situation, echoing Johnson’s high-road approach:
“The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that.”
With both stars now commenting on Cavill’s departure, it’s hopefully a sign that they can move forward and leave this disappointment behind them. Black Adam is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
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