David Corenswet opens up about his view on Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder’s version of Superman as he gets ready to play the Man of Steel in the DC Universe. 2025 marks one of the biggest years in history for Superman’s media legacy, as the Man of Tomorrow is finally set to headline his own movie again this summer as part of the DCU timeline.

The last cinematic iteration the world had of Superman was Cavill’s incarnation in the DCEU movie timeline, which began with Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013. Cavill’s Superman has frequently been described as one of the darkest takes on the character, with this often being a divisive topic when it comes to the DC icon.

In a new interview with GQ, Corenswet addressed his old comments from a previous Entertainment Weekly interview in November 2019, where he had spoken about the grittier iteration that Cavill portrayed in Snyder’s franchise. With GQ, Corenswet elaborated on what he meant, as he shared the following about Cavill and Snyder’s Superman:

David Corenswet: I think that’s the least interesting thing I could have said. Simply because with a great character like Superman, you want great artists and writers and actors to explore all of the possibilities of them. The one way they become boring is if you just keep doing the same thing over and over again. And so, just like Chris Nolan took Batman and did something darker and more grounded with the character, Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill explored a side of Superman that hadn’t been explored on the big screen.

So, all I was saying was they’re doing it so well. Whenever they’re finished, I’d love to see the next one go the other way, and let’s see the other side. In the same way, after Chris Nolan’s Batman films and after Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson, there are a lot of people who are like, Where’s our funny, campy, fantastical Batman?

Corenswet previously stated, “I would love to see somebody do an upbeat, throwback [take on Superman]. I love the Henry Cavill dark and gritty take, but I would love to see the next one be very bright and optimistic.” Nearly four years after that interview was conducted, Corenswet was revealed to be the DCU’s Superman on June 27, 2023.

What David Corenswet’s Superman Comments Mean

When it comes to Superman in the DCEU and the Snyderverse, many may have considered Cavill’s take on the character to be darker than previous portrayals. But that doesn’t have to mean it’s a bad thing, and Corenswet’s comments suggest he agrees with that notion, as he references how Superman is consistently reimagined in the world of live-action and animation.

In the end, Superman is a character who is constantly evolving with time, as storytelling is always growing and changing in TV and film. From Corenswet’s commentary, it’s evident that he saw how Snyder and Cavill were taking that approach with Superman, showing the DC legend in a more grounded world.

Our Take On David Corenswet’s Superman Comments

Corenswet’s expansion on his 2019 comments showcases his appreciation for what Cavill and Snyder’s Superman were aiming for, and his understanding of why there are a lot of fans who love that take on the character. The DCEU’s Man of Steel was a fresh and different take on what came before, much as the DCU’s Superman looks set to be.

With James Gunn’s Superman movie getting closer to being released, time will tell how the DCU installment does in comparison to Snyder’s Man of Steel film. Hopefully, Superman will be able to bring the DCU into the era that the DCEU sadly never could during its tenure.

Source: GQ & Entertainment Weekly