See DC’s Asher Angel Replacing Henry Cavill As Superman
Henry Cavill being replaced as Superman by Asher Angel was envisioned by a skilled artist.
With James Gunn now directing the DC Extended Universe moving forward, many changes are taking place in existing and upcoming franchises. Many of DC’s most iconic heroes will see massive reboots in their storylines and actor portrayal in this new phase. According to a recent Instagram post, one fan believes that a strong replacement for Henry Cavill’s Superman moving forward could be none other than Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Asher Angel.
The image comes from Instagram user @akithefull, whose page features a number of concept images for various television and movie franchises, including The Mandalorian, The Walking Dead, and Daredevil: Born Again. The concept image is accompanied by a caption that reads, “Asher Angel as The New DCU Superman!!!” Although just a concept image, it’s a compelling piece of art that imagines a younger, more boisterous Superman than Henry Cavill’s portrayal.
Much like Henry Cavill’s, this version of Superman dons the traditional blue spandex, red cape, and Superman logo on the chest. In it, Asher Angel also sports medium-length quaffed hair like many iconic renderings of the character and just the smallest hint of a boyish smirk. It is highlighted by a blue and red space backdrop, tapping into the cosmic origins of the character.
Asher Angel is already a known figure within the DC Extended Universe, playing Billy Batson, the child form of the superhero Shazam! He portrayed Batson in both the original 2019 film Shazam! and its sequel, 2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Although it is unlikely that DC would replace Henry Cavill’s Superman with a star who has already appeared in a prominent role in DC films recently, many things are possible.
Henry Cavill has been portraying Superman since 2013, with his iteration of Superman first appearing in 2013’s Man of Steel and reprising the role in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and in an uncredited cameo appearance in the post-credits scene of Black Adam. Henry Cavill is probably the definitive Superman for modern audiences, but that could soon change with James Gunn’s new take on the superhero.
Gunn recently revealed that he is writing a new Superman film that will focus on a younger version of Clark Kent titled Superman: Legacy. Scheduled to release July 11, 2025, the character will be aged down from Henry Cavill’s version, meaning that DC is on the hunt for a new face for DC’s most recognizable hero.
One interesting tidbit of information about Henry Cavill’s Superman could be linked to the recent trailer of The Flash. The Ezra Miller-led film scheduled to be released on June 16, 2023 features a version of Supergirl played by actress Sasha Calle whose design is more akin to Lara-Lane Kent’s version of the superhero than the more familiar (and usually blonde) Kara Zor-El. This is important because Lara-Lane Kent is the daughter of Clark Kent, meaning it’s very possible that this film’s Supergirl could also have the same father-daughter relation to Henry Cavill’s Superman.
The film’s Supergirl won’t be the same one that will appear in the upcoming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which could give a number of clues as to how DC will navigate adding a new Superman moving forward. It is very possible that the film will set up an alternate universe timeline for DC, and Henry Cavill’s Superman could be played by another actor entirely with a different set of circumstances or backstory.
