Few characters have silver screen legacies as notable as Superman. Though Henry Cavill is the current incarnation of the character, his reputation on the big screen extends back almost a century -- with Christopher Reeve's version from Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie standing out as one of the most beloved and iconic takes on the hero. To honor that legacy, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder took to social media to share a photo of Cavill in the Reeve suit, and it is basically the best of both worlds. Check it out, below.
Putting modern actors in classic superhero costumes is not an uncommon tactic among directors. In fact, Christian Bale auditioned for the role of Bruce Wayne Batman Begins while wearing a suit from the Joel Schumacher Batman era. However, this photo of Henry Cavill seems particularly notable because of how much it embodies the spirit of the character. The way the sun bathes him feels incredibly reminiscent of the scene in which Supes learns to fly in Man of Steel, and it seems to provide a look at what Zack Snyder had in mind when he began development on the first DCEU movie.
This actually isn't the first time that Zack Snyder has shared a photo of Henry Cavill in the classic Christopher Reeve suit. He has shared behind-the-scenes photos from the early Man of Steel days before, but this Vero photo stands out because it offers up a far more polished look at what Snyder wanted to achieve with the character.
Of course, it's also worth addressing the fact that Christopher Reeve's Superman has maintained an influence over modern takes on the Last Son of Krypton for years. The beloved, wholesome take on the character has left a lasting impression on how we view Superman as a hero, and there have even been rumors that Zack Snyder snuck Reeve into Man of Steel when the film debuted back in 2013.
Now it is a matter of wondering whether or not we will see Henry Cavill return to the Superman role. There have been rumors of the character appearing in films like David F. Sandberg's Shazam!, and Cavill himself has expressed a desire to return to the role for more post-Justice League adventures. Nevertheless, he is not confirmed for any DC Extended Universe appearances just yet, so we are going to have to wait and see how the character's presence evolves as new movies debut on the DCEU continues to grow.
Make sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any and all relevant updates related to the DCEU as more information is made available. Aside from Superman, we will get a chance to see Arthur Curry take center stage later this year when James Wan's Aquaman premieres on December 21.
