Zack Snyder posted rare archival photos to Instagram showing Henry Cavill’s earliest moments portraying Superman, giving fans a glimpse into the process that led to his casting in “Man of Steel.”
The director shared an image he described as the first photograph ever taken of Cavill wearing Christopher Reeve’s Superman suit during screen testing. Cavill wore Reeve’s suit for the “Man of Steel” auditions, and the actor’s performance in that costume helped convince Snyder and studio executives that he was the right choice for the role.
Snyder captioned the post: “15 years ago, on this day, I pressed the shutter and met Superman. The first photo I ever took of Henry Cavill — moments before he stepped into legend. Shot on my Nikon.”
Since joining Instagram last year, Snyder has been steadily posting rare images from his time working within the DC Extended Universe. The photos have ranged from behind-the-scenes moments to alternate looks that never made it into the final films.
Another image shows Cavill wearing the iconic suit with a slightly different hairstyle, suggesting it was captured before filming officially began. Along with the photo, Snyder praised Cavill’s interpretation of the character, describing the actor’s version of Superman as “literally hope personified.”
That concept was central to “Man of Steel,” which established that the “S” emblem on Superman’s chest translates to “Hope” on Krypton.
Snyder also shared an image of Cavill as Clark Kent before fully stepping into the role of Superman. He captioned that post with, “Everyone’s gotta get a job — even Superman. Before saving the world, Clark Kent was waiting tables.”
The darker tone of the DCEU’s Superman has remained a point of debate among fans since “Man of Steel’s” release in 2013. Some embraced the grounded and conflicted approach, while others felt the character drifted too far from the traditional, optimistic hero.
The portrayal of Clark staying hidden well into adulthood divided audiences. For many viewers, it underscored the emotional weight of Jonathan Kent’s death and the consequences of Clark choosing not to reveal himself sooner.
“Man of Steel” remains one of the most discussed entries in the DCEU. The massive destruction of Metropolis, the lack of visible civilian rescues during the final battle, and Superman’s choice to kill General Zod continue to generate debate online. Despite the controversies, the movie has maintained a loyal fanbase that continues to defend Snyder’s interpretation.
Snyder never completed his story arc for Superman. Following the theatrical release of “Justice League” in 2017, which underwent significant changes after Snyder left the project, plans for a direct sequel to “Man of Steel” were no longer moving forward by May 2020.
The DC Universe has since been rebooted under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran at DC Studios. David Corenswet now portrays Superman in Gunn’s vision of the character, which debuted in theaters last summer.
Snyder has continued to share materials from his unrealized plans for the DCEU, including concept art and story details for “Justice League 2” and “3.”
