Zack Snyder Shares Photos of Henry Cavill in Christopher Reeve’s Original Superman Suit

by

Zack Snyder shared a Christmas gift for fans: two photos of Henry Cavill as Superman. What excited people was that Cavill was wearing the actual suit Christopher Reeve famously wore in the original Superman movies. Snyder captioned one of the photos simply, “Henry Cavill. The original Superman suit. This photo. It was undeniable.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by zack snyder (@zacksnyder)

Zack Snyder shared photos that were shown to Warner Bros. executives while they were deciding who should play Superman in the 2013 film Man of Steel. According to Snyder, after showing these photos, everyone at Warner Bros. agreed that Henry Cavill was the perfect choice, marking the start of his journey as Superman.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by zack snyder (@zacksnyder)

Originally, Reeve’s Superman costume was bright and featured the classic, tight-fitting trunks seen in the comics. Cavill’s later suit was much darker and didn’t include those. However, even a single picture of Reeve in the costume was enough to convince Warner Bros. he was the right choice for the role. Director Zack Snyder felt it was ‘undeniable,’ suggesting Cavill wasn’t just chosen to play Superman – it felt like fate.

The Superman Legacy

Since late September, Zack Snyder has been sharing photos on Instagram of Henry Cavill in his Superman costume from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Cavill previously played Superman in films like Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2017). Snyder had to leave the Justice League project—and what fans called the “Snyderverse”—due to a personal family tragedy that occurred during filming.

Henry Cavill last played Superman in a brief scene after the credits of the 2022 film Black Adam. However, Warner Bros. had already decided the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) had reached its end and gave James Gunn control to completely restart the DC franchise.

The latest photos Zack Snyder shared strongly suggest he sees Henry Cavill as the ultimate Superman. By featuring Cavill in a suit reminiscent of the one worn by Christopher Reeve, Snyder is creating a connection between the classic Superman films and his own vision. This establishes a unique legacy that future actors playing the role may not be able to claim.

An Evolving Mythos

Zack Snyder’s DC movies weren’t universally loved, particularly because of their serious and sometimes unusual storytelling. However, almost everyone agreed Henry Cavill physically embodied Superman. While many fans still hoped for the continuation of Snyder’s vision, it’s highly unlikely to happen. It’s possible, though, that the spirit of that universe is changing, shifting from traditional comic book storylines to a narrative where Cavill legitimately takes over the mantle from Christopher Reeve.

Many fans believe Henry Cavill didn’t get a fair chance as Superman and are hoping he’ll reprise the role. This situation reminds some of the legend of King Arthur – a king who once ruled and may return – and echoes storylines from certain Superman comics. Sharing photos of Cavill in his classic costume, especially during a time when people often feel sentimental, creates a sense of missing what we had and wondering what could have been. It seems Zack Snyder still views Cavill as the perfect Superman, despite the end of both the DC Extended Universe and his own vision for it.

Read More

2025-12-31 00:56