Zack Snyder couldn’t say anything other than, “This is what Superman looks like,” when Henry Cavill donned the previous, classic Superman costume for Man of Steel’s test shoot. Indeed, Cavill was perfect in the role of the hero, even though we didn’t get to see him too much, as the previous version of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) didn’t quite work out. Now, James Gunn and Peter Safran are trying to breathe new life into the franchise, starting with a Superman film set to release next year. Tom Brittney (Outlander), who was a strong contender for the role, claims that the costume tore while he was wearing it during the audition because, according to tradition, he had to wear the previous Kal-El suit for the audition. Gunn confirmed this, but clarified that it was one of the original costumes.
Brittney appeared on the Hellish podcast, where the discussion turned to the Superman casting, as the British actor was competing for the role alongside David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, and Jacob Elordi (though Elordi eventually backed out). How did the audition go? Of course, he wore the Man of Steel costume:
"Yes, it was Henry Cavill’s Superman suit – the one he wore in the previous films. It takes about half an hour to get into – to be squeezed into. And yeah, I think I might’ve accidentally torn it. I was more muscular than Henry Cavill, so that’s probably why it happened."
Naturally, fans were skeptical, thinking that the story might not be true, after all, a man from far away can say whatever he wants, right? So, one fan asked James Gunn on Threads if the story was true, as he is the producer of the franchise and the creator of Superman. Gunn’s response: "Yes, Tom messed it up, and then Corenswet came in and was too tall, so the costume just tore apart. By the way, Tom is really one of my favorite actors. He’s an incredibly talented guy." Another fan still didn’t want to accept that one of the original costumes was destroyed, so they asked the studio head if it was a replica. Gunn didn’t sugarcoat it: "It was one of the originals, but let’s note that it wasn’t in the best condition anyway."
This is a bit symbolic, isn’t it? If Man of Steel’s costume “tore apart,” then no one else can wear it, at least until it’s fixed. But there’s no need to fix it because there’s a new suit, and a new star in David Corenswet. An era has officially ended. Okay, let’s not overdramatize it! There are usually multiple versions of such costumes in the wardrobe, and Gunn himself clarified that it was one of the originals that Cavill wore.
The new Superman will hit theaters in July 2025, and the first trailer will be released soon. Recently, Gunn also explained what the key difference will be between the DCU and the MCU.
