“That would have finished his trilogy”: Zack Snyder’s Endgame Plans for Henry Cavill Were So Terrifyingly Brilliant We’re Scared James Gunn’s Superman Won’t Ever Live Up to It

Zack Snyder had lofty plans for Henry Cavill’s Superman, which fans will never get to see play out.

Zack Snyder had numerous plans for Henry Cavill’s Superman within the DC Extended Universe, yet unforeseen events precipitated the franchise’s decline. With James Gunn at the helm, reconstructing a new epoch of heroes and villains for the DC Universe, the question arises: will his vision rise to the occasion?

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel / Warner Bros. Pictures
With the news of the upcoming Superman movie, it’s quite inevitable to wonder what would have happened with Cavill’s version had he never taken off the cape and suit.

Zack Snyder Reveals Original Plans For Henry Cavill’s Superman

Zack Snyder spoke with GQ and extensively discussed Superman’s narrative in the once-promising DCEU franchise.

It’s birth, deaths, and resurrection, really is what the first three movies are. In the end, they’re Superman stories. I think the people get sidetracked by Batman a little bit.

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel / Warner Bros. Pictures
Indeed, “Man of Steel” was intended to be a trilogy. Henry Cavill could have enjoyed a highly successful career portraying the Last Son of Krypton. Snyder’s vision for the character involved a dramatic arc: “We killed Superman because I needed to resurrect him.”

The director stated that in “his death and resurrection, he goes almost full circle,” and that being kind is what he would consider as “the purest form of Superman.” Snyder also shared the most shocking plan he had for Superman:

At his peak, he was going to have to succumb to the anti-life, be destroyed, turn the clock back, and then get his chance for this battle against Darkseid that would, if you will, sort of finish his like trilogy of like becoming this guardian of the planet, and sort of return him to his humanity. That was our hope.

Indeed, fans will not have the opportunity to see these grandiose movie plans for Superman come to fruition, as Snyder has concluded his involvement with the DCEU. The director has shifted his focus to his own passion projects. Nevertheless, James Gunn stands ready to carry forward the superhero legacy.

What Is The Plot Of James Gunn’s Superman?

David Corenswet in Superman / Warner Bros. Pictures
James Gunn’s announcement of an upcoming Superman film seems to have appeased fans after the heartbreaking exit of Cavill as Clark Kent. The Guardians of the Galaxy director previously clarified a rumor that’s been making rounds online. He wrote via Threads: 

The primary protagonist of Superman is, shockingly, Superman. The main villain of Superman is, shockingly, Lex Luthor. I don’t know where all the stuff is coming from that it’s something other than this. There are so many stories coming out every day it’s difficult to deal with, and every time I strike something down I’m giving it attention.

Indeed, the story remains as fans recognize it, yet it’s the twists, turns, and conflicts that add spice and flavor. Gunn was evidently frustrated by the spread of these false reports online.

Conversely, while he keeps the plot of Superman under wraps, the remarkable and awe-inspiring nature of Snyder’s concepts undoubtedly sets a high bar to surpass.

Man of Steel is available to watch on Max, while Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.