Henry Cavill has confirmed that his portrayal of Superman in the upcoming Man of Steel is based on the recently modified character depicted in the DC relaunch.
The new Superman is a bit more moody and a somewhat of a loner. This attitude marks a huge shift from the previously canonical cheery and happy-to-help Superman of yore.
Superman is an alien, and now he finally feels it – being incapable of truly relating to any of the people around him.
Unique among the famous DC heroes, Superman is not using a mask to hide himself when he’s a hero, he uses one to hide himself when he’s not. Superman is the real guy, that’s who he truly is, and Clark Kent is the disguise.
While this has always been true to a certain extent, the concept was never really explored in-depth before the most recent stories. It didn’t begin quite as recently as the new #1s, however. Superman’s back story has been slowly rewritten over the last few years, including the popular retelling of his journey to Metropolis, and his establishment as Superman, Birth Right. The new Superman also features a revamped costume – looks more like armor than spandex, and no longer includes underware outside of the pants – which we’ve already seen Cavill sporting in promotional photographs.
Now, we learn direct from the actor’s mouth that it’s not just the costume and altered story that will be reflected in the film: Superman’s new moodier attitude will also be there.
“When that was announced, everyone went, ‘Arrhhh! Everything’s changed,’” Cavill said at a press event for the just released film Immortals, in which he also stars. “It’s part of the evolution of the character. There is a modernization to it, and certainly our style is making him easier to associate with because it’s pretty tough to associate with an invulnerable alien.”
“There are a lot of people who have dedicated their life to loving this character. Their opinion does matter. I’ve done my research on the source material. I have my opinions on the various bits and bobs, but sometimes there will be a little gem out there about one of the books, and I’ll say to myself, ‘Yeah. That’s a good point.’”
Expect to see Cavill’s Superman smile less, with barely any banter with bad guys, at least compared to previous Superman films. Also, expect a small outcry from fans and critics alike, who perhaps have not seen and enjoyed the new Superman, and feel he’s being depicted incorrectly.
Man of Steel is directed by Zack Snyder and stars Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, and Amy Adams. The film – which is still in production – remains on track to hit theaters on June 14, 2013.
