James Gunn insists he didn't plan Henry Cavill's exit from Superman

James Gunn is actively squashing fan theories alleging that he orchestrated Henry Cavill's exit from the Superman role while he was promoting "The Suicide Squad" in 2021.  

Gunn took to Threads to address the timeline issue, pointing out that he wasn't overseeing DC Studios at the time and hadn't even expressed interest in the position until Peter Safran approached him in late 2022.

The conspiracy theory stems from actor Nathan Fillion's comments to Collider. Fillion recalled Gunn telling him at a premiere party that he'd be playing Guy Gardner (aka Green Lantern) in a new Superman project.  

Fans assumed this conversation took place during "The Suicide Squad" promotions, fueling the notion that Gunn was already scheming Cavill's removal back then.

However, Gunn clarifies that Fillion's memory is off. Their discussion about Guy Gardner happened much later, at last year's party for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" – well after Gunn and Safran were appointed as heads of DC Studios.

Gunn underscores the absurdity of the theory, questioning why he would bother lying about such a thing when the outcome would have been the same. He emphasises that his Superman project was always pitched as a fresh start, not a continuation of Cavill's storyline.

Cavill's fleeting Superman comeback turned into a PR mess last fall. His "Black Adam" cameo and social media announcement seemed to assure his return, only for Gunn and Safran's DC Universe revamp to dash those hopes.  Cavill's abrupt departure, especially after leaving  "The Witcher" series, made the situation even more controversial.

David Corenswet will now take on the iconic role in Gunn's upcoming  "Superman" movie, slated for release on July 11, 2025.