Warner Bros. reportedly sought out "Transformers" director Michael Bay to helm a sequel to "Man of Steel" starring Henry Cavill. This push occurred before the DC Universe underwent its major overhaul and James Gunn took on the task of rebooting Superman.
According to TheWrap, executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy tried to assemble a standalone Superman film starring Henry Cavill back in 2022, with Michael Bay considered as a potential director. This effort predated the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran as the new co-heads of DC Studios, which was officially announced in October of that same year.
Ultimately, those plans did not materialize, paving the way for Gunn and Safran to reimagine the entire DC Universe. This shift led directly to Henry Cavill's departure from the Superman franchise in December 2022, just two months after the new leadership took charge.
Unfulfilled Teases from the DCEU
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Since then, Superman has charted a completely new course. David Corenswet, known for roles in "Pearl" and Netflix's "Hollywood," will inherit the iconic role in James Gunn's reboot. He'll be joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Nevertheless, it's intriguing to consider what a collaboration between Michael Bay and Henry Cavill might have produced.
Both Cavill and Bay remain highly active. Cavill is attached to several projects, including a live-action "Voltron" film and a "Highlander" reboot. Bay recently released the parkour documentary "We Are Storror." While rumors linked him to a film based on the "Skibidi Toilet" meme, Bay took to social media last month to deny directing that particular project.
James Gunn's "Superman" is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025.
